@article{ref1,
title="Good Neighbors? The Effect of a Level 1 Trauma Center on the Performance of Nearby Level 2 Trauma Centers",
journal="Annals of surgery",
year="2011",
author="Haas, Barbara and Gómez, David and Neal, Melanie L. and Hoeft, Christopher and Ahmed, Najma and Nathens, Avery B.",
volume="253",
number="5",
pages="992-995",
abstract="OBJECTIVE:: In this study, we sought to determine whether the proximity of a level 1 trauma center (TC) might affect the performance of a nearby level 2 TC. BACKGROUND:: With the exception of research and teaching programs, level 2 TC must function at a level similar to that of level 1 TC, and provide high quality, definitive care to severely injured patients. However, the role of a level 2 TC within a region might vary significantly depending on the local trauma care environment. We postulated that the case mix, regional role and outcomes of level 2 TC are greatly influenced by the regional presence of a level 1 TC. METHODS:: Data were derived from the National Trauma Databank (9.0), limiting to adults with Injury Severity Score ≥9. Level 2 TC were classified as either isolated trauma centers (ITC, >30 miles from the closest level 1 TC) or neighbored trauma centers (NTC, ≤30 miles from the closest level 1 TC). Regression was used to calculate risk-adjusted mortality at each center type. RESULTS:: Fifty-five thousand six hundred and fifty-five patients were identified at 161 centers; 55% of patients were cared for at ITC (n = 84 centers). Case mix varied significantly across center type; in particular, ITC received significantly more transfer patients than NTC. After adjusting for differences in case mix, patients at ITC had a 12% lower risk of death than patients treated at NTC (0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.98). CONCLUSIONS:: Level 2 TC assume different roles depending on the local trauma system configuration. Ideally, a level 2 TC should benefit from the presence of a nearby level 1 TC through collaborations in care protocols and shared case reviews. However, these data suggest the opposite: level 2 centers in proximity to level 1 centers might perform at a lower than expected level.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-4932",
doi="10.1097/SLA.0b013e3182122346",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0b013e3182122346"
}