@article{ref1,
title="Effects of trauma center consolidation on adult trauma at a rural Level 1 trauma center",
journal="American surgeon",
year="2024",
author="Heard, Matthew A. and Bray, Sheree and Archer, Allen and O'Quinn, Payton C. and Wheeler, Hannah and Leonard, Matthew and Burns, J. Bracken",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the impact of consolidation of two rural level 1 trauma centers on adult trauma patients presenting to the remaining level 1 trauma center. To our knowledge, a study assessing the impact of trauma center consolidation on adult trauma patients had yet to be performed. <br><br>METHODS: A single institution, retrospective study was conducted at a rural level 1 trauma center. Adult trauma patients who presented to our center from January 2017 to January 2022 were included. The cohorts spanned 33 months pre- and post-consolidation. Multiple demographic and outcome measures were gathered. Data were analyzed using the student's t-test and Chi-squared testing. <br><br>RESULTS: There was a 33% increase in overall trauma activations and 9% increase in transfers from outside facilities post-consolidation. The post-consolidation group was significantly older, had higher mean injury severity score, and decreased hospital-free days. The post-consolidation group also saw an increase in ICU admission and surgical intervention. While there were no significant differences in ICU-free days or ventilator days, patients in the post-consolidation group with the highest level of activation who required both surgical intervention and ICU admission experienced decreased mortality. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The consolidation of trauma services to a single level 1 trauma center in a rural Appalachian health system led to higher trauma volume and acuity, but most importantly decreased mortality for the most severely injured trauma patients.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-1348",
doi="10.1177/00031348241241703",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00031348241241703"
}