Preparation of the trauma response in a UK emergency department

Abstract

An immediate, effective team response is needed in order to properly cater to the needs of trauma patients. This paper aims to review some of the strategies that can be implemented in Emergency Departments to reduce errors and improve decision-making in major trauma. It focuses on the phase prior to the patient's arrival, and in the first few minutes afterwards -as there is evidence that an organised response at this point creates the ideal conditions for all subsequent activity, such as transfer of the patient for further imaging and the requirement for emergency surgery.

Factors impeding the effective utilisation of an electronic patient report form during handover from an ambulance to an emergency department

“…This information is currently restricted to primarily care pathways and guidelines issued by the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee, pharmaceutical information within the British National Formulary, and guidance on information to be recorded via ATMIST (a handover tool defined as Age of patient, Time of incident, Mechanism of injury, Injuries suspected, vital Signs, Treatment administered). 22,23 The limited information access also caused frustration, with interviewees noting that they would value access to information about local care guidelines, specific individual patient needs, and patient history with the ambulance service. This is because paramedics decide whether the patient needs to be conveyed to an ED, taken home, or released at the scene after stabilisation, while also taking into account the patient or carer’s wishes.…”

“…The complexity of the case and/or the likely 24 The limited information access also caused frustration, with interviewees noting that they would value access to information about local care guidelines, specific individual patient needs, and patient history with the ambulance service. This is because paramedics decide whether the patient needs to be conveyed to an ED, taken home, or released at the scene after stabilisation, while also taking into account the patient's or carer's wishes.…”

The trauma call

“…The trauma team must work in an unfamiliar environment under pressure, and this can lead to mistakes and near misses 3. Good technical expertise and understanding of human factors are important 45.…”

La collaboration interprofessionnelle lors de la prise en charge d’un polytraumatisé aux urgences : une revue de la littérature

“…Or, chaque institution a sa propre méthode de communication et des critères préétablis pour activer l'équipe dédiée aux soins du polytraumatisé (46). Pour ce faire, il existe des systèmes d'alerte en traumatologie à une ou plusieurs vitesses (49). En fait, le système à une vitesse est une prise en charge par une équipe complète en traumatologie pour tous les patients polytraumatisés, sans exception.…”