Salisbury, MD – Trudy Hall, MD, TidalHealth’s Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer, was recently named to the newly formed Commission to Study Trauma Center Funding. Her appointment was made official by Laura Herrera Scott, MD, MPH, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health.
Senate Bill 493 and House Bill 675, signed into law by Governor Wes Moore in May of this year, established the commission to examine the adequacy of trauma funding across the state for operating, capital, and workforce costs.
Trauma centers require significant resources as they specialize in swiftly treating life-threatening conditions and promptly providing resuscitative care. Costs to maintain those resources have increased significantly.
TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, Md. operates the only trauma center on the Eastern Shore. Currently, state reimbursement provides less than 10 percent of the total cost required to keep the service viable.
In 2003, the Maryland General Assembly created the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund to aid Maryland’s trauma system. In the 20 years that have passed, there has been no comprehensive review of this fund despite the industry growing and evolving.
As a result, many trauma centers in Maryland, including the one at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, are experiencing significant funding challenges that could, potentially, lead to the closure of the service if not adequately reimbursed.
This commission to study trauma funding, which features a representative from each of the designated Level I, II, III and pediatric trauma centers in Maryland, is tasked with the goal of finding a permanent funding reimbursement solution.
“Trauma care in the State of Maryland remains at risk and is woefully insufficiently funded to ensure that essential life-saving care that no one at any Maryland hospital or in any Maryland community wants to see eliminated,” said Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, President/CEO of TidalHealth. “Dr. Hall’s appointment to the body is a significant achievement for the people of the Eastern Shore. She brings a passionate voice to the table to ensure our unique trauma challenges, like expanding summer populations at the local resorts and a primarily rural service area, will not be overlooked.”
Dr. Hall has an impressive and proven career of executive level leadership in healthcare facilities across Maryland, including serving for eight years as a commissioner on the Health Service and Cost Review Commission. She is board-certified and a Fellow in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Hall is also a previous Diplomat on the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Cutline: Dr. Trudy Hall, TidalHealth’s Senior vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, has been appointed as a member of the Maryland Department of Health’s Commission to Study Trauma Center Funding.
