In 1992 the Texas Department of Health divided the state into 22 regions called "trauma service areas." A regional advisory council ("RAC") was formed in each region to develop and implement the trauma system for that region. Since there was no funding available when the program was implemented, these councils were formed and the work was done by dedicated volunteers in various medical professions. Our goal is to fully implement the statewide trauma system in order to reduce the number of trauma incidents, preventable deaths, reduce the severity of trauma-related disability, and to make sure that all Texas trauma victims receive the best care possible. For the past few years, we have also been helping hospitals make sure they are prepared to respond to a bio-terrorism attack or a wide-scale natural disaster.

 

The Big Country Regional Advisory Council (BCRAC) is an organization of local citizens representing all health care entities within Texas Trauma Service Area "D" (TSA-D). The BCRAC was chartered by the Texas Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Management to develop, implement, and monitor regional emergency services and to oversee trauma system networking. 16 counties are included in TSA "D". Participant volunteers are hospitals, physicians, nurses, emergency medical service (EMS) providers, and other individuals interested in trauma care.

The Big Country Regional Advisory Council (TSA-D) was incorporated on August 12, 1994 and services the 
following counties:

             Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Fisher, Haskell,
             Jones, Knox, Mitchell, Nolan, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor, & Throckmorton
 

Mission

The mission of the Big Country Regional Advisory Council is to facilitate the development, implementation and 
operation of  a comprehensive emergency services plan encompassing all health-care related issues, 
including, but not limited to, trauma, natural and man-made disasters, as well as medical and population 
specific needs based on accepted standards of care to decrease morbidity and mortality as defined by Texas 
Department of State Health Services.  

 

The organization will solicit participation from all health-care facilities, organizations, professional societies, community representatives and entitles related to health-care within the designated trauma service area.  It will encourage multi-community participation in providing health-care, work to promote the improvement of facilities and services, and cooperate with all entities, agencies, and organizations in the establishment of an efficient and effective system of health-care for all whom may require such services.