UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Trauma

Title: Trauma Center Accessibility

Keywords: level I, Level II, Level III, Trauma Center, Accessibility (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/5/2022 by Robert Flint, MD (Emailed: 11/27/2022) (Updated: 11/26/2022)
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This study found that 22% of Americans do not have access to a trauma center within 60 minutes. Eight percent of the population relied on Level III centers.  Not unexpectantly, Black and Native Americans were overly represented in the group receiveing care at Level III centers. White and Native Americans were over represented in the group without access to trauma care within 60 minutes. Most disappointing of all, none of this has changed since 2010. Some states have a robust trauma network, while others need to evaluate their needs and potentially add Level III centers to cut down the time to trauma care.  What is your area's trauma coverage and what level?

References

Jarman, Molly P. PhD, MPH; Dalton, Michael K. MD, MPH; Askari, Reza MD; Sonderman, Kristin MD, MPH; Salim, Ali MD; Inaba, Kenji MD

Accessibility of Level III trauma centers for underserved populations: A cross-sectional study

Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery: November 2022 - Volume 93 - Issue 5 - p 664-671

doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003725