[Realization and implementation of a trauma network of the German Association of Trauma Surgery (DGU) exemplified by the Trauma Network of eastern Bavaria].

The quality of care of seriously injured persons in Germany is nationally and internationally recognized to be at a high level. However, there are local discrepancies. In 2006 the German Association of Trauma Surgery published the White Paper for the Management of the Seriously Injured. The goal of the paper is a further increase in the quality of care of seriously injured persons. A crucial point of the publication is the call to establish regional trauma networks in Germany. Work on this project has been carried out in eastern Bavaria since spring 2007. The first meeting of the Trauma Network of eastern Bavaria took place in July 2007. On 3rd September 2008 the university hospital of Regensburg was the first clinic audited in Germany. To date nearly 75% of all hospitals in the trauma network of eastern Bavaria have been audited. The establishment of a regional trauma network is a multifactorial event. Essential factors in the development of the trauma network were found to be the communication between the head physicians and the nomination of an appointee of the regional trauma network. For the head physicians the 9 meetings of the trauma network since July 2007 functioned as the communication platform. These exchanges of the head physicians are necessary to animate a trauma network. The appointee of the regional trauma network--most suitably a member of staff of the speaker of the trauma network--is essential to guarantee communication between meetings and to manage prompt responses to questions from the network. This article describes the experiences gained during the implementation of the trauma network in eastern Bavaria.