|
Abstract
|
To determine the medical and economic impact of nonaccidental trauma at a regional trauma and emergency care facility, a prospective patient database was used to follow up all victims of intentional injury admitted during one year. Specific patient data were combined with financial data to determine the medical outcome, expenditure, and hospital reimbursement. We found that 17% of the 2451 trauma patients admitted to our facility were victims of nonaccidental injury. The majority of these patients were severely injured, with an average hospital stay of six days. Hospital charges averaged $13,000 per patient. Three fourths of these individuals required governmental funding for medical care. Six months after completion of the review, only two thirds of all expenditures had been reimbursed. These patients represent a high medical services use group and consume a disproportionately high percentage of medical resources.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Luna et al. was to improve the understanding of the medical, social, and economic burdens of nonaccidental injury.
METHODOLOGY:
A quasi-experimental, cross-sectional design was employed using secondary analysis of a trauma center registry, medical examiner records, and social and ethnic data from the 1980 Census. Researchers compiled data on demographic characteristics of nonaccidental injury victims as well as information about the mechanism of injury, injury severity (assessed using the Abbreviated Injury Scale and Injury Severity Score), and regional social and ethnic data. Data were obtained for the 402 patients admitted to a large urban trauma center from July 1, 1985 to June 30, 1986 as a result of their nonaccidental injury (assault or suicide).
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Ninety percent of the victims of intentional injury were male, and disproportionate members of ethnic minorities were victims (Whites 55%, Blacks 24%, Native Americans 7%, and Asians and Hispanics the remaining 14%). The majority of victims were severely injured, and survivors were hospitalized an average of six days. Seventy five percent of the patients were unemployed at the time of their injury and only 31% had private medical insurance. The total cost of the entire groups medical care was $1.7 million. Six months after the completion of this study, the hospital had been reimbursed for only $1.2 million, 74% of the total owed. The authors conclude that the victims of nonaccidental injury represent a socially and economically disadvantaged group who require governmental funding for health care, and that facilities responsible for providing care for these victims will not be adequately compensated for.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
1980s
Hospital Visits
Emergency Room Visits
Public Health Approach
Public Health Services
Violence Effects
Violence Injury
Socioeconomic Factors
Injury Effects
Cost Analysis
Adult Injury
Adult Victim
Juvenile Injury
Juvenile Victim
Victim Characteristics
Victim Injury
Physical Victimization Effects
Language: en |