@article{ref1,
title="Full time trauma service leads to improved Level III trauma center outcomes",
journal="American journal of surgery",
year="2010",
author="Daniel, Craig O. and West, T. A. and Craig-Blanco, Phyllis S. and Myers, John G. and Stewart, Ronald M.",
volume="200",
number="6",
pages="734-9; discussion 739",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Level III trauma centers are an effective component of a healthy trauma system. This study examined the effectiveness over time of a Level III trauma center in a predominately rural region. METHODS: For analysis, the data were divided into 2 equal time spans: an early period (1997-2002) and a late period (2003-2008). A dedicated trauma service was implemented in 2003. RESULTS: A total of 8,689 patient outcomes were analyzed. In those patients with an injury severity score of 15 or less, 49 of 3,307 (1.5%) patients died in the early period, and 74 of 4,244 (1.7%) died in the late period (P = .40). In those with an injury severity score greater than 15, 66 of 402 patients (16.4%) died in the early period, whereas 81 of 736 (11.0%) patients died in the late period (P = .01). Despite the increased injury severity, overall mortality rates remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a full-time trauma service resulted in improved outcomes including a 33% mortality reduction in the severely injured.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-9610",
doi="10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.07.026",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.07.026"
}