Multiregion Trauma Center Follow-Up Protocol for Transferred Trauma Patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Trauma centers routinely utilize the Injury Severity Score for performance improvement. Yet, transferring facilities do not always have access to patients' final Injury Severity Score. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a multiregion Injury Severity Score follow-up feedback protocol for transferring facilities to receive standardized information on patient treatment and the ability to calculate an accurate follow-up Injury Severity Score of transferred patients. METHODS: This project included 25 Adult and Pediatric Level I, II, and III trauma centers within three regional trauma systems in a Midwestern state. This project included trauma centers that used one of the two different trauma registry software systems as a solution to develop and implement a protocol for follow-up feedback for transferred trauma patients. A template was created to capture data posttransfer to calculate a final Injury Severity Score. RESULTS: The feedback protocol was well received by participating regions. Implementation revealed the impact of variable trauma registry software on the ability to create multi-institution feedback programs. CONCLUSION: Trauma systems can implement similar strategies to ensure transferring trauma centers routinely receive standardized, timely patient feedback.