In 1998, the Mississippi Legislature amended the Emergency Medical Services Act of 1974 to create a statewide inclusive trauma care system, Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 41-59-1, et seq. These statutes authorize and direct the Mississippi State Board of Health to develop, create regulations for, and administer a uniform statewide trauma care system through the Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Emergency Planning and Response, acting as lead agency.

Accordingly, the Board adopted regulations, to be known as “The Mississippi Trauma Care System Regulations” to address each component necessary for this development. These Regulations have been developed through a consensus process with advice of nationally recognized trauma system consultants, the Mississippi Trauma Advisory Committee and staff of the Mississippi State Department of Health.