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Senator outlines changes to New Hampshire's trauma review committee to broaden representation
Summary
Sen. Suprante told the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee that SB 421 would expand membership on the statewide trauma medical review committee to include all four hospital trauma‑levels, a trauma survivor, injury‑prevention and rehabilitative‑medicine voices, and require an annual trauma system report to the governor.
Sen. Suprante, the prime sponsor of SB 421, told the House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs that New Hampshire's trauma statute has not been updated since 1999 and needs broader representation and clearer accountability.
"Trauma ... remains the leading causes of death between the ages of 1 and 44," Suprante said, arguing the committee should include representatives from every trauma‑hospital level, a survivor voice, injury‑prevention professionals, a Highway Safety Office representative and rehabilitative medicine experts.
The bill would revise the committee's membership and responsibilities and require an annual trauma‑system report to the governor listing trauma hospitals by name and level, committee activities, recommendations for improvement and data on leading causes of injury and death. Suprante also said the Senate added a study committee to review two EMS‑related boards at the Department of Safety so the state can align oversight across the system.
During questioning, members pressed who appoints new members and whether EMS first responders were represented. Suprante said EMS has been part of the trauma medical review committee but that previous membership was physician‑heavy; the bill seeks to ensure all four trauma‑hospital levels have a seat. She said statute already names the commissioner of safety as the appointing authority for the trauma medical review committee and that she is willing to accept a technical amendment directing the prime sponsor to call the first meeting.
Representative Weber urged that one House appointment be selected by the minority leader to ensure bipartisan input; Suprante agreed to consider that change. Committee members also asked for clarification about how the annual report would be disseminated; Suprante and proponents said it would inform placement of air‑medical services and flow into EMS and hospital protocol work that affects care in the field.
The committee closed the public hearing after no additional witnesses signed up. Next procedural steps — amendments or votes — were not taken at the hearing.
