Citation

DeBritz JN, Pollak AN. Injury 2006; 37(12): 1166-1171.

Affiliation

Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Maryland School of Medicine, R Adams Cowley Shock-Trauma Centre, 22 South Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2006.07.010

PMID

17098237

Abstract

Trauma centre accreditation originated as a North American initiative in the 1970's with the aim of standardising and improving care for injured patients. This system of grading a hospital's ability to receive serious trauma has subsequently spread, most notably to Australasia. Many studies have focussed on determing whether this accreditation results in improved patient outcomes. We review the evidence to date, which suggests significant mortality reductions albeit from mainly Class III studies and reflect on the future sustainability of this initiative given mounting financial pressures.

Language: en