Dear Illinois Trauma/EMSS Professionals,
July 1, 2011 marks the 40th Anniversary of commencement of the Illinois Trauma Center and Emergency Medical Service System (Trauma/EMSS) From clinical and organizational experiences gained at the Cook County Hospital a plan for a “Statewide System of Trauma Centers” was announced by Governor Richard B O’Gilvie in January and in a Special Message on Health Care in April. On July 1, we started of the active program with the designation of four hospital Regional Trauma Centers; Cook County Hospital in Chicago, University of Loyola Hospital in Maywood, St. Johns Hospital in Springfield and Doctors Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. This initiated a comprehensive Trauma/EMSS program as outlined in the attached paper; “The Legacy of the Illinois Trauma/EMSS”. In short this novel program changed the concept and practices of providing Trauma care and EMSS in Illinois and became the template for federal legislation and development of a national program.
Most, if not all of you I presume, are from the “next” generation of dedicated Illinois Trauma/EMSS professionals. You may have varying accounts of the origins of the Illinois Trauma/EMSS program. I have, in my recent senior years, begun writing about this important era. My co-author Ms Theresa Romano remains active in her consulting practice working on these related health care issues. I have attached an anniversary article for your information and enjoyment. Forty years is perceived differently by all of us and much depends on whether you are looking forward or looking back. Our work and the programs we support all come from something prior and so I am sending you several papers of historical interest.
Attached are four additional papers; 1) the original Trauma Plan, 2) the expansion of the initial Trauma focus to a “Total EMSS Concept”. This was later realized with a $4 million Demonstration Contract from a White House EMSS Initiative 3) The originating paper describing the Trauma Registry and #4 The paper that showed the effectiveness of Trauma Regionalization. A paper not attached, reference #94, in the “Legacy” paper produced data that caused the end the abysmal Police Squadroles masquerading as ambulances in the minority communities. Starting as a Governor- focused statewide initiative on trauma care; it was successfully expanded to other types of medical and disaster events. It produced many “firsts”, and became self-sustaining. I think 40 years is a pretty good test.
PS; There will be a book on the History of Surgery at The Cook County Hospital, with J.Yao and K.Printen as editors and a chapter on the History of the Trauma Unit at the Cook County Hospital by myself and K.Nagy. The conceptual and practical origins for the Illinois Trauma program are therein described.
The Illinois Trauma/EMSS soon involved every relevant professional, technical, governmental agency and political element. This radical new approach was immensely popular statewide with the public, professionals,press and politicians of both parties in all sectors. The Illinois Medical Journal was exceedingly helpful and gave generous support with many publications, as referenced in the attached paper.
The Illinois Trauma/EMSS was and still is a great idea. It brought new concepts and old precepts together in a straight forward practical plan. It has moved forward with new science and technologies. The public acceptance was immediate and sustained. Professional organizations, cautious at first, but were soon to join in and continue active involvement. The press and media were attentive and helpful. In the first 5 years we never had a negative story. The politicians were great, universally supported and wanted to be associated. In Chicago, Mayor Daley (1974) called and asked me to help develop the best big city Paramedic Ambulance program, “Even better than Los Angeles”. O’Gilvie remained active as President of the American Trauma Society. Dan Walker became a “convert” and supported the program. This was truly a great time for health care innovation and delivery systems in Illinois.
I continue in this line of work. I am now the Trauma Systems Coordinator with the Indian Health Service (IHS). We serve 1.9 million people, spread out in 35 states, with 44 small hospitals with marginal resources in ultra-rural and wilderness community’s and villages. The IHS Trauma program I am developing for Indian Country is copied from the experiences gained in Southern Illinois during the 1970’s
I am exceedingly proud of the work that you do. I would like to meet all of you; maybe someday I will. Trauma and emergency patient and improving the systems of care remain a continual challenge. Your commitment to the care, systems support and prevention of these acute conditions is one of the “highest” callings. I trust you will enjoy this 40th Trauma/EMSS Anniversary set of papers.
The Illinois Trauma/EMSS is a great story with and we are all part of it.
Thank you all, and good luck
David R Boyd MDCM, FACS
PO Box 779
New Market, MD
21774
drboydmd@yahoo.com
drbmd@comcast.net
