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Journal Article

Citation

Mullins RJ, Hedges JR, Rowland DJ, Arthur M, Mann NC, Price DD, Olson CJ, Jurkovich GJ. J. Trauma 2002; 52(6): 1019-1029.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97201-3098, USA. mullinsr@ohsu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12045626

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients injured in rural counties are hypothesized to have improved survival if local hospitals are categorized as Level III, Level IV, and Level V trauma centers. METHODS: Data were abstracted on patients with brain, liver, or spleen injuries who were first treated in 16 rural hospitals in Oregon (with categorized trauma centers) and 16 hospitals in Washington (without categorized trauma centers). Logistic regression models evaluated survival up to 30 days after hospital discharge. RESULTS: Among Oregon's 642 study patients, 63% were transferred to another hospital. Among Washington's 624 patients, a higher proportion, 70%, were transferred. Risk-adjusted odds of death for Washington patients (reference odds, 1) were the same as for Oregon patients (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-1.28). Most patients died after transfer to another hospital. CONCLUSION: In states with a prevailing practice of promptly transferring brain-injured patients, survival of these patients may not be enhanced by categorization of hospitals as rural trauma centers. To further improve the outcome of these patients, policy makers should adjust statewide trauma system guidelines to enhance integration and to perfect coordination among sequential decision makers.

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