Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-11-259 - Establishment and Maintenance of a Trauma Registry; Compliance; Confidentiality

Establishment and Maintenance of a Trauma Registry; Compliance; Confidentiality

The board for licensing health care facilities shall establish and maintain a registry of persons who are treated for trauma at designated trauma center or at comprehensive regional pediatric centers (CRPCs).

In the interest of furthering the purpose of this section, this statute authorizes the board to collect injury incidence information from designated trauma centers and CRPCs. This information may include medical records and patient-identifying information. The board may also analyze the information and conduct studies into the causes and consequences of traumatic injury.

The board also has the authority to create rules in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act to administer the registry and its activities. The regulations may require that a certain form be used to report information, and the regulations may impose penalties for failure to abide by reporting requirements. 

A hospital that is designated as a trauma center or a CRPC shall complete and submit the reports required by this section if they would like to continue being designed as such a center.

If a report could reasonably reveal the identity of a patient or the identity of the reporting facility, that information shall not be available to the public. Information submitted under this section shall only be used for analyzing the causes and consequences of serious trauma and for ensuring that care to trauma patients is provided in a timely and appropriate manner. The specific information that pertains to licensed health care professionals or licensed health care facilities shall be confidential, shall not be subject to public inspection, and shall not be used to initiate disciplinary complaints. In addition this information may not be admissible in any administrative proceeding for licensure discipline. The board will specify conditions under which data can be made available to the public.

If a person reports or discloses information under this section they shall not be liable for any civil action unless they knowingly disclose false information.