BACKGROUND

Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Councils are here for you!

We are one of 11 RETACs designated by Colorado law. We run within a framework of regular planning and budgeting cycles. Our mission is to support efficient collaboration among counties, agencies, and hospital facilities, driving toward cost-effective planning and goal implementation.

The Board of County Commissioners in each county appoints the board of directors. This board governs the Northeast Colorado RETAC. This structure ensures equal representation and balanced expertise from both pre-hospital and facility-based sectors. Our 18 directors across the nine counties work to uphold the highest standards of care and coordination.

Our Mission

Our mission is to enhance coordination and collaboration among hospital and prehospital providers, support all emergency medical and trauma services organizations within our region, and promote equitable patient care through access to safety, education, and resources.

Counties

Directors

Classes

Providers Trained

RETACs are Responsible For:

Collaborate for EMS and Trauma systems development

Planning, coordinate and advisory capacity

Pre-hospital Trauma destination guidelines

Coordinate regional grant process

Coordinate & facilitate regional systems development projects, funding and programs

Submit Biennial plans & goals to CDPHE with reflection of the EMTS 15 components

A short history of RETACs

EMS Act of 1978

1978

Beginning of EMS regulation in Colorado.

EMS Funding Bill of 1989

1989

Created the Highway users tax funds (HUTF) EMS Account with $1 surcharge:

60% EMS provider grants
20% divided between 63 counties ($15k each)
20% for CDPHE

Trauma System Formed

1995

Hospitals voluntarily submitted applications to become designated Trauma Centers Area Trauma Advisory councils (ATACs) were formed funded by 20% county HUTF.

Colorado (EMS & Trauma) Integrated EMTS system formed

2000

State Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council (SEMTAC) was formed.
ATACs transitioned to become the Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Councils (RETACs).
Specific county subsidy funding ceased. Statue set funding for RETAC funding to be $75,000 and $15,000 per county.

Organization Inception

2001

The Northeast Colorado RETAC was formed.

Increased CDPHE Funding

2010

HUTF funds increased to $2 Total State HUTF funds now around $10 million and grant funding $6 million.

Increase FTE’s to the CDPHE EMTS Division.

No funding increase to RETACs, funds have not changed since 2000.

10% of the overall funds formally allocated, developed into Systems Improvement 603 grants.

RETAC Supplemental Funding Added

2016

Supplemental funding $20,000 began.

Funding Cuts

2018-2020

DMV changed their formula, reducing HUTF $1.6 million.

Dept of Revenue removed trailers from HUTF further reducing EMS funding significantly.

New Supplemental Funding

2022

General fund supplemented HUTF $2 million.

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