The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 192, Issue 5 , Pages 685-689 , November 2006

Improving outcomes in a regional trauma system: impact of a level III trauma center

Presented at the 2005 Western Trauma Associaton Annual Meeting, Jackson Hole, WY, February 27th–March 4th

  • Michael L. Barringer, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Cleveland Regional Medical Center, 200 W. Grover St., Shelby, NC 28150, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1-704-487-8591; fax: +1-704-480-9726.
    • ,
  • Michael H. Thomason, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
    • ,
  • Patrick Kilgo, M.S.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
    • ,
  • Linda Spallone, R.H.I.A., C.S.T.R.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA

Received 27 June 2005 ,Revised 28 November 2005

References 

  1. Certo TF, Rogers FB, Pilcher DB. Review of care of fatally injured patients in a rural state: 5 year follow-up. J Trauma. 1983;23:559–564
  2. Kearney PA, Terry L, Burney RE. Outcome of patients with blunt trauma transferred after diagnostic or treatment procedures of four-hour delay. Ann Emerg Med. 1991;22:882–886
  3. Veenema KR, Rodewald LE. Stabilization of rural multiple-trauma patients at level III emergency departments before transfer to a level I regional trauma center. Ann Emerg Med. 1995;25:175–181
  4. Rogers FB, Osler TM, Shackford SR, et al. Study of the outcome of patients transferred to a level I hospital after stabilization at an outlying hospital in a rural setting. J Trauma. 1999;46:328–333
  5. Richardson JD, Cross T, Lee D, et al. Impact of level III verification on trauma admissions and transfer: comparisons of two rural hospitals. J Trauma. 1997;42:498–503
  6. Mullins RJ, Hedges JR, Rowland DJ, et al. Survival of seriously injured patients first treated in rural hospitals. J Trauma. 2002;52:1019–1029
  7. Boyd C, Tolson M, Copes W. Evaluating trauma care: the TRISS method. J Trauma. 1987;27:370–378
  8. Gabbe B, Cameron P, Wolfe R. TRISS: Does it get better than this?. Acad Emerg Med. 2004;11:181–186
  9. Stewart TC, Lane PL, Stefanits T. An evaluation of patient outcomes before and after trauma center designation using Trauma and Injury Severity Score analysis. J Trauma. 1995;39:1036–1040
  10. Piontek FA, Coscia R, Marselle CS, et al. American College of Surgeons (Impact of American College of Surgeons verification on trauma outcomes). J Trauma. 2003;54:1041–1047
  11. Sampalis JS, Lavoie A, Boukas S, et al. Trauma center designation: initial impact on trauma-related mortality. J Trauma. 1995;39:232–239
  12. Esposito TJ, Sanddal TL, Reynolds SA, et al. Effect of a voluntary trauma system on preventable death and inappropriate care in a rural state. J Trauma. 2003;54:663–670
  13. Brennan PW, Everest ER, Griggs WM, et al. Risk of death among cases attending South Australian major trauma services after severe trauma: the first 4 years of operation of a state trauma system. J Trauma. 2002;53:333–339
  14. Abernathy JH, McGwin G, Acker JE, et al. Impact of a voluntary trauma system on mortality, length of stay, and cost at a level I trauma center. Am Surg. 2002;68:182–192
  15. Barquist E, Pizzutiello M, Tian L, et al. Effect of trauma system maturation on mortality rates in patients with blunt injuries in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. J Trauma. 2000;49:63–70
  16. Mullins RJ, Mann NC, Hedges JR, et al. Preferential benefit of implementation of a statewide trauma system in one of two adjacent states. J Trauma. 1998;44:609–617
  17. Mullins RJ, Veum-Stone J, Hedges JR, et al. Influence of a statewide trauma system on location of hospitalization and outcome of injured patients. J Trauma. 1996;40:536–546
  18. Shackford SR, Hollingsworth-Fridlund P, Cooper GF, et al. The effect of regionalization upon the quality of trauma care as assessed by concurrent audit before and after institution of a trauma system: a preliminary report. J Trauma. 1986;9:812–820
  19. Sampalis JS, Denis R, Lavoie A, et al. Trauma care regionalization: a process-outcome evaluation. J Trauma. 1999;46:565–581
  20. Karsteadt LL, Larsen CL, Farmer PD. Analysis of a rural trauma program using the TRISS methodology: a three-year retrospective study. J Trauma. 1994;36:395–400

PII: S0002-9610(05)00864-0

doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2005.11.006

The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 192, Issue 5 , Pages 685-689 , November 2006

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