Big Sky Times

The Montana State Trauma Care Committee (MT-STCC) is set to receive the esteemed 2024 Peregrine Award for Trauma Innovation during a virtual awards ceremony on May 15. The MT-STCC was selected for this national honor due to its development and execution of the Montana Interfacility Blood Network (MT-IBN), a system that was initiated in April 2022, connecting existing hospital personnel who transport trauma patients across the region.

This groundbreaking project employs intermediary facilities to transfer lifesaving blood to transportation personnel en route to definitive care, thus enabling trauma patients in rural areas access to blood supplies during extended emergency transports. "This innovative program has revolutionized how we deliver critical care across our frontier communities," stated Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton.

The MT-STCC, a committee consisting of 15 members appointed by Governor Greg Gianforte, serves as an advisory body to DPHHS. Alyssa Johnson, the Trauma System Manager for DPHHS and one of the committee members, will accept the award on behalf of the committee.

Montana's expansive geography—over 147,000 square miles with an average population density of approximately seven people per square mile—presents unique challenges in healthcare delivery. The state's vastness is marked by pockets of healthcare availability with varying access to blood products for transfusion. Weather conditions often impede timely transport, frequently necessitating multiple hours in ground transport to definitive care.

Hemorrhage remains a significant cause of preventable death in trauma cases, accounting for 30 percent to 40 percent of trauma mortality. Studies have shown that rural residents are 14 percent more likely than non-rural residents to die from traumatic injury.

The MT-IBN addresses these challenges by ensuring blood availability in geographically distant cases where patients may otherwise not survive. This innovative network enables dozens of unaffiliated hospital systems and small critical access facilities to share blood without the patient having to stop for care at the intermediary facility.

"The MT-IBN project is a result of incredibly collaborative work across the state,” said Gordon Riha, MD FACS, assistant trauma medical director at Billings Clinic Level 1 Trauma Center. “This initiative is uniquely Montana at its core, as it will provide life-saving blood products for those who live in rural regions of Montana. There is no doubt this concept will save countless lives in areas of limited blood availability.”

The Peregrine Award for Trauma Innovation celebrates trauma teams that excel in resourcefulness and creative thinking to develop new ideas that improve care for injured patients. The award, administered by Peregrine Health Services, includes a $2,500 grant for the MT-STCC to use for program needs.

“Being selected for the 2024 Peregrine Trauma Innovation award is an incredible honor and validates the work carried out by the State Trauma Care Committee in creating the Montana Interfacility Blood Network,” says Johnson. “We are immensely proud to be recognized on a national level for our efforts to overcome the unique challenges of trauma care in rural America.”

To learn more about MT-IBN, visit Education and Resources (mt.gov). Details regarding the MT-STCC can be found at Boards - View (mt.gov).