Pressure builds over Georgia’s $58 million trauma windfall

Georgia researchers have found the death rate for trauma victims in the state is 20% higher than the national average. If Georgia met the average, 700 lives would be saved yearly, the researchers said. The Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission recently received $58 million in state money to distribute to doctors, hospitals, and emergency medical service crews that specialize in emergency trauma care for the most severe injuries.The funding represents the first major infusion of state cash to support these providers, many of whom lose money providing trauma care. But the tough part for the commission is to fairly calculate how much to give each provider.