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JOINT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE REDUCTION OF

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PEDIATRIC DEATHS FROM INJURY AND ILLNESS

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2018 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Jani Iwamoto

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House Sponsor: Raymond P. Ward

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This joint resolution highlights the impact of pediatric deaths and injuries on the state
11     of Utah and encourages the Department of Health to establish a pediatric quality
12     improvement program and a Pediatric Trauma Quality Assurance Network.
13     Highlighted Provisions:
14          This resolution:
15          ▸     highlights the impact of pediatric deaths and injuries on the state of Utah;
16          ▸     emphasizes the importance of reducing pediatric deaths and injuries; and
17          ▸     encourages the Department of Health to establish a pediatric quality improvement
18     program and a multi-stakeholder Pediatric Trauma Quality Assurance Network to
19     advise the department on triage, transport, transfer, and treatment of ill and injured
20     pediatric patients.
21     Special Clauses:
22          None
23     

24     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          WHEREAS, children make up 32% of the population in Utah;
26          WHEREAS, injury is the leading cause of death in the pediatric population;
27          WHEREAS, from 2001 through 2014, 1,003,054 pediatric patients were hospitalized in
28     Utah;
29          WHEREAS, from 2001 through 2014, 27,968 pediatric patients were hospitalized for

30     injury in Utah;
31          WHEREAS, from 2001 through 2014, 3,189 children died from either illness or injury;
32          WHEREAS, from 2001 through 2014, 580 children died as a result of injury;
33          WHEREAS, from 2003 through 2013, 27% of pediatric patients were over-triaged to a
34     Level I pediatric trauma center;
35          WHEREAS, the over-triage of pediatric trauma patients resulted in unnecessary
36     transport charges in excess of $8,900,000;
37          WHEREAS, Utah Code Section 26-8a-250 directs the Department of Health to
38     establish a statewide trauma system;
39          WHEREAS, Utah Code Section 26-8a-205 directs the Department of Health to
40     establish a pediatric quality improvement resource program; and
41          WHEREAS, the Department of Health has not yet established a pediatric quality
42     improvement resource program in accordance with Utah Code Section 26-8a-205:
43          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
44     urges the Department of Health to establish a pediatric quality improvement program in
45     accordance with Section 26-8a-205.
46          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the Department of
47     Health to convene, as part of the pediatric quality improvement program, a multi-stakeholder
48     Pediatric Trauma Quality Assurance Network to recommend methodology, standards, and
49     guidelines to reduce morbidity, mortality, and the cost of injury and illness to pediatric patients
50     in Utah.
51          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the Department of
52     Health to continue working to find effective and innovative ways to reduce the impact of
53     pediatric injury in the state.
54          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Department
55     of Health.