American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma Verification Review: Does it Really Make a Difference?
- 1 November 2002
- journal article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
- Vol. 53 (5), 811-816
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-200211000-00001
Abstract
Although not directly involved in designation per se, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma verification/consultation program in conjunction with has set the national standards for trauma care. This study analyzes the impact of a recent verification process on an academic health center. Performance improvement data were generated monthly from the hospital trauma registry. Forty-seven clinical indicators were reviewed. Three study periods were defined for comparative purposes: PRE (January, June, October 1997), before verification/consultation; CON (April 1999-October 1999), after reorganization; and VER (November 1999-September 2000), from consultation to verification. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) quantitative and qualitative changes were observed in numbers (percent) of patients reaching clinical criteria. These included prehospital, emergency department, and hospital-based trauma competencies. Trauma patient evaluation (including radiology) and disposition out of the emergency department (< 120 minutes) improved in each study section (PRE, 21%; CON, 48%; VER, 76%). Enhanced nursing documentation correlated with improved clinical care such as early acquisition of head computed axial tomographic scans in neurologic injured patients (PRE, 66%; CON, 97%; VER, 95%). Intensive care unit length of stay (< 7 days) decreased (PRE, 87%; VER, 97.8%). Other transformations included increase in institutional morale with recognition of trauma excellence within the hospital and resurgence of the trauma research programs (60 institutional review board-approved projects). The ACS verification/consultation program had a positive influence on this developing academic trauma program. Preparation for ACS verification/consultation resulted in significant improvements in patient care, enhancement of institutional pride, and commitment to care of the injured patient.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- Rural Trauma: The Challenge for the Next DecadeThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1999
- Trauma Faculty and Trauma Team Activation: Impact on Trauma System Function and Patient OutcomeThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1999
- Impact of a Dedicated Trauma Service on the Quality and Cost of Care Provided to Injured Patients at an Urban Teaching HospitalThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1999
- Influence of a Statewide Trauma System on Pediatric Hospitalization and OutcomeThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1997
- Influence of a Statewide Trauma System on Location of Hospitalization and Outcome of Injured PatientsThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1996
- An Evaluation of Patient Outcomes before and after Trauma Center Designation Using Trauma and Injury Severity Score AnalysisThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1995
- Trauma Center DesignationThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1995
- Impact of the Los Angeles County Trauma System on the Survival of Seriously Injured PatientsThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 1992
- Improved trauma care in a rural hospital after establishing a level II trauma centerThe American Journal of Surgery, 1990
- Impact of a Trauma System on Outcome of Severely Injured PatientsArchives of Surgery, 1987