Trauma Centers Effective, in Long Run

Trauma center networks can be effective in saving the lives of car crash victims, but only after being in place for at least 10 years, which is how long it takes to work out the kinks in the system, researchers say.

Trauma center systems are designed to give people with serious injuries quick access to hospitals with specialized teams of doctors. An accident victim in an area with a trauma system would be taken to the closest trauma center, which would not always be the closest hospital.

In a study in today’s Journal of the American Medical Assn., researchers looked at 22 states that set up or had existing trauma systems from 1979 through 1995.

Although car crash deaths fell nationwide throughout the period, the death rate after 15 years was 8% lower in states with trauma center systems, the researchers reported.

There appeared to be no reduction in crash deaths within the first 10 years of trauma system implementation. Declines were noted after 10 years and became statistically significant at 13 years, said the researchers, led by Dr. Avery B. Nathens of the University of Washington’s Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

“Over time, trauma center protocols mature, triage policies are implemented, referral patterns and transfer policies change, and ultimately patient outcome improves,” they wrote.

About 44 states have some sort of trauma system in place, said Harry Teter, executive director of the American Trauma Society, a group of trauma centers and health care professionals.