(Nashville, TN) - Senator Rosalind Kurita (D-Clarksville) was honored today by the Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Surgeons for sponsoring legislation to fund the state's ten trauma centers. Sen. Kurita, a nurse by profession, was recognized by Dr. Julie Dunn, M.D., during the group's annual meeting at Paris Landing State Park.

"Trauma is the leading cause of death for those aged 1 to 45," said Sen. Kurita. "Over 17,000 people a year receive treatment in a Tennessee trauma center so I felt it was essential that we fund these crucial treatment centers."

Automobile crashes and other motorized vehicle incidents account for about half of the trauma cases in Tennessee annually. Tennessee has six Level I trauma centers, one Level II, and three Level III trauma centers. Several other Tennessee hospitals provide some level of trauma services.

Sen. Kurita sponsored an amendment which added two cents to a pack of cigarettes to fund the centers. In 2005, uncompensated trauma costs for Tennessee Level I trauma centers was $37.6 million. That figure includes uncompensated costs from the uninsured and uncompensated TennCare costs. Level I centers also incur a "readiness cost" of $14 million per center per year. The readiness costs include funding to meet equipment, space and physician requirements as well as 24/7 availability of surgery.