Section 836IAC1-2.1-4. Transportation destination procedures

   (a) Upon arrival at an incident, emergency medical services personnel shall assess the condition of each patient using the field triage decision scheme to determine the appropriate transport destination.

  (b) Patients determined to need trauma center care by virtue of their satisfying either step one or step two of the field triage decision scheme shall be transported to a trauma center, unless transport time exceeds 45 minutes or, in the judgment of the emergency medical services certified responder, a patient's life will be endangered if care is delayed by going directly to a trauma center, in which case the patient shall be transported to the nearest appropriate hospital as determined by the provider's protocols.

  (c) Patients determined to need trauma center care by virtue of their satisfying either step three or step four of the field triage decision scheme shall be transported to either a trauma center or the nearest appropriate hospital, as determined by the provider's protocols.

  (d) Patients who do not meet the field triage decision scheme criteria for trauma center care may nonetheless be transported to a trauma center if permitted under the provider's protocols. (Indiana Emergency Medical Services Commission; 836 IAC 1-2.1-4; filed Jul 9, 2012, 2:52 p.m.: 20120808-IR-836100628FRA)