By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK – A statewide trauma system would greatly improve emergency treatment in Arkansas but would be even more effective if new laws were enacted to curb common injuries physicians treat every day, an emergency physician said Friday.

Dr. Dave McLario, a trauma physician at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, spoke during a town hall meeting hosted by the hospital to discuss a proposed statewide trauma system that lawmakers will take up during the legislative session that convenes Monday.

Arkansas is one of three states without a trauma system and the only state without a Level 1 trauma center. Children’s Hospital would be in line to be one of at least two hospitals in the state to receive the highest designation if the Legislature appropriates $25 million to $30 million to fund a statewide system.

McLario noted Arkansas ranked last among the states in a recent study on how states support emergency patients.

“That’s not so good,” he said, but added that factoring a statewide trauma system into the score would still leave Arkansas within the bottom half.

Stricter laws would help, he said.

“One of the things that I think is disheartening for my colleagues is we still see children with gunshot wounds. We need stronger gun laws. We need more powerful child safety seat legislation, we need a variety of things that may not cost as much money as … a trauma system,” McLario said.

“I think we could save a great number of lives and we could save those almost immediately if we had the will to do those things,” he said. “I know there are issues of personal liberty … but I wonder if community responsibility supersedes.”

More than 100 people, mostly health care professionals, attended Friday’s meeting, the last of four held across the state.

Dr. James Graham, chief of emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital and chairman of the Arkansas Trauma Advisory Council, said the proposed system would better coordinate medical care by hospitals, paramedics and other emergency personnel across the state.

“Our lack of a proper system of care results in high losses, both in human and dollar terms,” he said, noting Arkansas ranks third nationally in the rate of motor vehicle deaths.

The goal of a statewide trauma system, Graham said, is “having the right people in the right place and getting the right person to the right place for care.”

Gov. Mike Beebe has said he would propose raising the state cigarette tax by 50 cents a pack or more to pay for a statewide trauma system and other health-related programs.

Dr. Kent Westbrook, a surgeon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a member of the advisory council, said he expects the Legislature to approve the tax hike. He said lawmakers support the program, they’re just struggling with how to fund it.

“I believe it will get through,“ he said.

If the measure passes, Graham said in addition to high-level trauma centers, Arkansans can expect to see grants available to help hospitals improve their trauma preparedness and development of a trauma registry.

He said a “trauma dashboard,” which provides an electronic communications link so hospitals can guide the timely transfer of injured patients to hospitals with the most appropriate services, has already been implemented through a $200,000 grant from the governor’s emergency fund.