@article{ref1,
title="A resource-based assessment of trauma care in the United States",
journal="Journal of trauma",
year="2004",
author="Nathens, Avery B. and Jurkovich, Gregory J. and MacKenzie, Ellen J. and Rivara, Frederick P.",
volume="56",
number="1",
pages="173-178",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The resources needed and those available to support trauma care for a given region are currently unknown. Resource use and availability were evaluated for injured subjects across a large sample of the United States. METHODS: This population-based study of trauma-related discharges in 18 states represented all four geographic regions of the United States. Hospital discharge and bed-utilization rates as a function of injury severity were assessed. Resource availability was evaluated by determining state trauma center density. RESULTS: This study evaluated 523,780 trauma patients discharged from 2,317 hospitals. The discharge rate for all trauma was 412 per 100,000 person-years, whereas the rate for major trauma was only 44 per 100,000 person-years. More than one third of the patients with major trauma received care at centers not designated for trauma care. The hospital bed utilization rate was 2,095 days per 100,000 person-years. The availability of trauma centers varied greatly across states, ranging from 0.9 to 6.6 centers per million population. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial minority of major trauma patients in the United States are treated in nondesignated trauma centers. The variability in the availability of trauma resources indicates a lack of consensus with respect to the resources required for trauma system implementation.",
language="",
issn="0022-5282",
doi="10.1097/01.TA.0000056159.65396.7C",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.TA.0000056159.65396.7C"
}