Citation

Briese A, Register L, DeWees T, Carballo CJ, Gratton A, Acquista E, Powers WF, Novosel TJ, Hope WW, Yon JR. Am. Surg. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Southeastern Surgical Congress)

DOI

10.1177/00031348231180922

PMID

37401475

Abstract

Trauma triage criteria are constantly being refined for improved identification of severely injured patients. When errors occur, they should be tracked, and triage criteria adjusted to minimize these events. Two time periods of trauma registry data at a single rural level II trauma center were retrospectively compared to evaluate demographics, injuries, and outcomes to identify triage errors. In 300 activated trauma patients during 2011, overtriage was 23% and undertriage was 3.7%. In 1035 activated trauma patients during 2019, overtriage was 20.5% and undertriage was 2.2%. Mortality decreased over time overall. In 2019, Trauma I patients were older, spent more time on the ventilator, and in the ICU (all P <.001). Trauma II patients were also older, had lower ISS, hospital days, and ventilator days (all P <.001). During rapid growth, evaluation of overtriage and undertriage can provide useful feedback for hospital staff to refine triage choices and improve patient outcomes.

Language: en

Keywords

trauma; overtriage; trauma center growth; trauma triage; undertriage