Jennifer Parks1, Larry M Gentilello, Shahid Shafi. 1. Department of Surgery, Division of Burns, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX 75390-9158, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been alleged that smaller hospitals transfer out uninsured trauma patients (wallet biopsy), putting the financial burden on major trauma centers. 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). 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). CONCLUSIONS: There was no relationship between lack of insurance and likelihood of transfer to a major trauma center.
BACKGROUND: It has been alleged that smaller hospitals transfer out uninsured traumapatients (wallet biopsy), putting the financial burden on major trauma centers. 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). 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). CONCLUSIONS: There was no relationship between lack of insurance and likelihood of transfer to a major trauma center.
Authors: Adil H Haider; Taimur Saleem; Jeffrey J Leow; Cassandra V Villegas; Mehreen Kisat; Eric B Schneider; Elliott R Haut; Kent A Stevens; Edward E Cornwell; Ellen J MacKenzie; David T Efron Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2012-02-07 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: M Kit Delgado; Michael A Yokell; Kristan L Staudenmayer; David A Spain; Tina Hernandez-Boussard; N Ewen Wang Journal: JAMA Surg Date: 2014-05 Impact factor: 14.766
Authors: Ryan P Calfee; Chirag M Shah; Colin D Canham; Ambrose H W Wong; Richard H Gelberman; Charles A Goldfarb Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2012-12-05 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: Kristy Kummerow Broman; Sharon Phillips; Rachel M Hayes; Jesse M Ehrenfeld; Michael D Holzman; Kenneth Sharp; Sunil Kripalani; Benjamin K Poulose Journal: J Surg Res Date: 2015-08-20 Impact factor: 2.192
Authors: Suck Ju Cho; Sang Min Sung; Sung Wook Park; Hyung Hoi Kim; Seong Youn Hwang; Young Hwan Lee; Jung Hong Cho Journal: Chonnam Med J Date: 2012-12-21