Trauma Transport Protocols & Inter-facility Transport Guidelines

Trauma Transport Protocols (TTP) describe the procedures used by the emergency medical services prehospital provider for dispatch of vehicles, assessment of the extent and severity of injuries of trauma patients and determination of the destination (facility) to which trauma alert patients are transported. TTP's are a legal document that should outline, as accurately as possible, the actual procedures followed by the emergency medical service provider, written within the context of section 395.4045, Florida Statutes and Chapter 64J-2, Florida Administrative Code.

Trauma Transport Protocol Manual December 2004

When to Submit TTP's:

• Applying for initial licensure as an EMS provider.
• A change in medical directors for the EMS provider.
• A change in ownership of the EMS provider.
• A change in hospital destination for the routine transport of trauma alert patients. Any change in EMS providers or health care facilities that will impact transportation requirements.

The approval period for TTPs is the same as the EMS provider's two-year licensure period, unless revisions are made to department approved TTPs during that period.

Who Does Not Submit TTPs: (return to top)

• A service that provides only inter-facility services and does not respond to the scene of an injury to provide stabilization of injured patients in prehospital settings. The EMS provider needs to submit to the Bureau of EMS either a copy of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Need or a letter from the director or chief of the service stating that it is an inter-facility service only.
• If TTPs have not changed since they were last submitted.  A letter from the Medical Director should be sent to the Bureau of EMS acknowledging that fact.

INTER-FACILITY TRANSFER GUIDELINES (Return to top)

Inter-facility Transfer Guidelines

The Department of Health State Trauma System Plan, December 2000 - 2005, mandates the development of the Inter-facility Transfer Guidelines, and specifically states in Goal 18, "To have a coordinated system between acute care hospitals and trauma centers for appropriate inter-facility transfer of trauma victims". The purpose of these guidelines is to assist in the appropriate transfer of trauma patients between non-trauma centers and trauma centers. It is also to assist in the delivery of all adult and pediatric victims, identified by the Inter-facility Transfer Guidelines, to hospitals that are capable of providing the level of care necessary to save lives and reduce morbidity. These hospitals will usually be State-Approved Trauma Centers and State-Approved Pediatric Trauma Referral Centers. It is recognized that there are circumstances due to geographical unavailability of a trauma center that it would be in the best interest to transfer the patient to a community hospital rather than a trauma center. To disseminate information through placement of the inter-facility transfer criteria poster in emergency departments of acute care hospitals to facilitate the appropriate transfer of trauma patients between non-trauma centers and trauma centers. The Guidelines were written and approved by the Florida Committee on Trauma.

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

For more information:
Email: Trauma Program
Write to:
Florida Department of Health
Division of Emergency Medical Operations
Trauma Program
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-18
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1738

Phone: (850) 245-4440
Fax: (850) 488-2512

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