Characteristics of twice-transferred, rural trauma patients

Kristen C Sihler; Alfred R Hansen; James C Torner; G Patrick Kealey; Lori J Morgan; Craig Zwerling

doi:10.1080/10903120290938418

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Characteristics of twice-transferred, rural trauma patients

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Characteristics of twice-transferred, rural trauma patients

Kristen C Sihler, Alfred R Hansen, James C Torner, G Patrick Kealey, Lori J Morgan and Craig Zwerling

Prehospital emergency care, Vol.6(3), pp.330-335

07/2002

DOI: 10.1080/10903120290938418

PMID: 12109579

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Abstract

Undertriage has seldom been evaluated in the trauma population. In rural states patients often go to the nearest hospital first, where they are evaluated and, if necessary, transferred to another hospital. If they are undertriaged when transferred to the second hospital, they will require a second transfer to a higher-level trauma center. The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of all trauma patients at a level I trauma center from 1996 to 1999 who were seen at two acute care facilities because of a single acute traumatic event before reaching the trauma center. Ninety-three patient charts were analyzed. Forty-six percent of the patients were victims of a motor vehicle crash. Patients were mostly transferred to the level I trauma center for non-spine orthopedic injuries (28%), followed by spine injuries (14%) and head injuries (13%). These patients were stable, as manifested by an average trauma score of 11.6. However, there was a significant positive interaction between injury severity score and time to definitive care. The authors infer from the data analysis that more serious or complex injuries took longer to evaluate. Since these patients were physiologically stable, reducing the number of twice-transferred trauma patients will involve refining transfer protocols concerning the need for specialty care.

Hospitals, Rural - standards

Risk Assessment

Humans

Medical Audit

Trauma Centers

Male

Injury Severity Score

Iowa

Triage - standards

Wounds and Injuries - therapy

Emergency Medical Services - trends

Time Factors

Emergency Medical Services - standards

Patient Transfer - standards

Wounds and Injuries - diagnosis

Female

Retrospective Studies

Evaluation Studies as Topic

Patient Transfer - trends

Details

Title: Subtitle: Characteristics of twice-transferred, rural trauma patients
Creators: Kristen C Sihler - Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa Ciy, USA
Alfred R Hansen
James C Torner
G Patrick Kealey
Lori J Morgan
Craig Zwerling
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Prehospital emergency care, Vol.6(3), pp.330-335
DOI: 10.1080/10903120290938418
PMID: 12109579
NLM abbreviation: Prehosp Emerg Care
ISSN: 1090-3127
eISSN: 1545-0066
Publisher: England
Grant note: CCR703640-12 / ODCDC CDC HHS
Language: English
Date published: 07/2002
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Emergency Medicine; Surgery; Injury Prevention Research Center; Neurosurgery
Record Identifier: 9983995140602771

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