emDocs - September 13, 2017 - By McAninch S - Edited by: Koyfman A and Long B
"Trauma patients with significant injuries may arrive at the non-trauma designated hospital by various means: they may check-in through triage, be “dropped off” unexpectedly (in the parking lot), or arrive under the care of pre-hospital providers. Trauma patients with significant injuries and illness have better outcomes if transferred to a designated trauma center. Trauma center transfer guidelines exist to help identify such patients. Additionally, in pediatric patients, a Revised Trauma Score of < 12 or a Pediatric Trauma Score of < 8 are indications for transfer to a pediatric trauma center. If you are working in a non-trauma center, and your trauma patient appears “sick” at any point in care (even if on primary survey), meets any aforementioned criteria for transfer to a trauma center, or may require resources beyond you or your facility, then your priorities are to provide life-stabilizing care and then transfer to the nearest accepting trauma center as soon as possible. In the first of this two-part series, we will discuss personal mental preparation and creating a calm and safe resuscitation environment for the “sick” trauma patient in the non-trauma center. The second part of the series will discuss the clinical aspects of a focused trauma resuscitation in the non-trauma center and process improvement..."
*
emDocs - October 31, 2017 - By McAninch S - Edited by: Koyfman A and Long B
"Part One discussed creating and maintaining a calm, orderly, and relatively quiet resuscitation environment that is goal-oriented to complete life-saving tasks. Part two will discuss the clinical care of the “sick” trauma patient in the non-trauma center and suggestions for trauma process improvement. Clinical care includes early activation of transfer process, prioritized trauma survey physical exam, and application of “damage control resuscitation” treatment principals, as feasible in the non-trauma designated center..."