Citation

Parks J, Gentilello LM, Shafi S. Am. J. Surg. 2009; 198(3): e35-8.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Division of Burns, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX 75390-9158, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.01.012

PMID

19427626

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It has been alleged that smaller hospitals transfer out uninsured trauma patients (wallet biopsy), putting the financial burden on major trauma centers.

METHODS: We undertook a retrospective analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank to compare patients who received care at major trauma centers after being transferred from another hospital (transfer group, n = 72,900) with patients who received definitive care at a smaller hospital (nontransfer group, n = 6,826).

RESULTS: Transfer patients were more likely to be uninsured (18% vs 14%; P <.001), but were more severely injured (Injury Severity Score, 11 +/- 10 vs 7 +/- 7; P <.001), or had multiple injuries. After adjustment for these differences, uninsured patients were no more likely to be transferred than insured ones (odds ratio,.95; 95% confidence interval,.88-1.04; P =.3).

CONCLUSIONS: There was no relationship between lack of insurance and likelihood of transfer to a major trauma center.

Language: en