TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2009//
TI  - Financial triage in transfer of trauma patients: a myth or a reality?
JO  - American journal of surgery
A1  - Parks, Jennifer
A1  - Gentilello, Larry M.
A1  - Shafi, Shahid
SP  - e35
EP  - 8
VL  - 198
IS  - 3
N2  - BACKGROUND: It has been alleged that smaller hospitals transfer out uninsured trauma patients (wallet biopsy), putting the financial burden on major trauma centers. <br><br>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). <br><br>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). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: There was no relationship between lack of insurance and likelihood of transfer to a major trauma center.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0002-9610
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.01.012
ID  - ref1
ER  -