BACKGROUND: The majority of the US population live in urban areas, yet more than half of all trauma deaths occur in rural areas. The Rural Trauma Team Development Course (RTTDC) is developed to improve the outcomes of rural trauma and we aimed to study its effect on patient transfer. METHODS: Trauma referrals 2 years before the RTTDC training were compared with referrals 2 years after the course. RESULTS: Of the 276 studied patients, 97 were referred before the RTTDC training and 179 patients were referred after the course. Transfer acceptance time was significantly shorter after the RTTDC training (139.2 ± 87.1 vs 110 ± 66.3 min, P = .003). The overall transfer time was also significantly reduced following the RTTDC training (257.4 ± 110.8 vs 219.2 ± 86.5 min, P = .002). Patients receiving pretransfer imaging had a significantly higher transfer time both before and after RTTDC training (all Ps < .01). Mortality was nearly halved (6.2% vs 3.4%) after the RTTDC training. CONCLUSION: The RTTDC training was associated with reduced transfer acceptance time and reduced transfer time.
BACKGROUND: The majority of the US population live in urban areas, yet more than half of all trauma deaths occur in rural areas. The Rural Trauma Team Development Course (RTTDC) is developed to improve the outcomes of rural trauma and we aimed to study its effect on patient transfer. METHODS:Trauma referrals 2 years before the RTTDC training were compared with referrals 2 years after the course. RESULTS: Of the 276 studied patients, 97 were referred before the RTTDC training and 179 patients were referred after the course. Transfer acceptance time was significantly shorter after the RTTDC training (139.2 ± 87.1 vs 110 ± 66.3 min, P = .003). The overall transfer time was also significantly reduced following the RTTDC training (257.4 ± 110.8 vs 219.2 ± 86.5 min, P = .002). Patients receiving pretransfer imaging had a significantly higher transfer time both before and after RTTDC training (all Ps < .01). Mortality was nearly halved (6.2% vs 3.4%) after the RTTDC training. CONCLUSION: The RTTDC training was associated with reduced transfer acceptance time and reduced transfer time.
Authors: Gavin Tansley; Nadine Schuurman; Matthew Bowes; Mete Erdogan; Robert Green; Mark Asbridge; Natalie Yanchar Journal: Can J Surg Date: 2019-04-01 Impact factor: 2.089
Authors: Zachary M Bauman; John Loftus; Alex Hodson; Ashley Farrens; Valerie Shostrom; Jessica Summers; Paige E Phillips; Charity H Evans; Lisa L Schlitzkus Journal: World J Surg Date: 2020-05 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Michael Noonan; Alexander Olaussen; Joseph Mathew; Biswadev Mitra; De Villiers Smit; Mark Fitzgerald Journal: Medicina (Kaunas) Date: 2019-08-30 Impact factor: 2.430