Reports on RETAC Activity

Biennial Plans

Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Councils (RETACs) are required to submit a biennial plan in odd-numbered years on a template provided by the department (25-3.5-605 (2.5)(b)). Visit each council's web site for the current plan or contact the RETAC coordinator. Plans should include demographics of the region, details of the planning process, accomplishments of previous goals and objectives; and plans must set goals to improve the emergency medical and trauma system within their region for the next two-year period. Much of the guidance for creating a plan is found in 6 CCR 1015-4 RULES PERTAINING TO THE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM, CHAPTER 4.

The State Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council (SEMTAC) must review the plans for adequacy.  The FY12 biennial plans were reviewed by SEMTAC and the department and all were deemed adequate. Some comments about all of the RETAC biennial plans in general include:

• Plans enabled reviewers to learn a great deal about the state
• RETACs did a good job detailing their area; good use of maps
• A column should be added to the review tool for each item so that positive feedback can be included
• Not always clear how accomplishments are measured
• How do RETACs quantify “need”?  Use of terms such as “frequently” and “often” are difficult to validate
• Providing link to websites was very helpful
• Plans should be a two-year roadmap such that anyone two years later can identify the direction and progress
• When is a goal finally done?

For questions regarding a specific biennial plan, please contact the RETAC coordinator/executive director.

Statewide (Regional) Needs Assessment Project (SNAP)

C.R.S. 25-3.5-704(2)(c)(II)(F) mandates the identification of regional emergency medical and trauma system needs through the use of a needs assessment instrument developed by the department; except that the use of such instrument shall be subject to approval by the counties and city and counties included in a RETAC. A task force of representatives from each RETAC, Colorado Rural Health Center, and the Colorado Counties , Inc., directed this effort.

In April 2009, the department contracted with The Abaris Group to work with the task force on finalizing an appropriate tool and then conducting the assessments over the course of three years. Modifying the tool the Western RETAC, through a grant from the Department of Local Affairs, used to conduct an assessment project a few years earlier, resulted in a more user-friendly tool that was implemented for all RETACs. An executive summary, highlighting elements common to many RETACs was produced at the conclusion of the contract and included below.