The GOAL-Trauma Study Blog
Understanding Trauma Systems
A trauma system is a co-ordinated healthcare effort that aims to provide optimal care for those with traumatic injuries, from the pre-hospital phase right through to rehabilitation. It is well known that a well-integrated trauma system, with seamless transitions between its phases of care, can lead to dramatic improvements in trauma patient outcomes.
According to the American College of Surgeons, a trauma system’s components can be subdivided into five areas: access to trauma services and prehospital care, acute hospital care, rehabilitation, prevention and education, and research activities.
The increasing recognition of the importance of trauma systems has been pivotal in the international drive to develop formal trauma system care
The concept of the modern trauma system initially originated in the USA, following the publication of Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society in 1966. This identified civilian trauma as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, and spurred coordinated efforts between prehospital and hospital healthcare professionals to rapidly assess and treat trauma patients. This resulted in improved survival rates.
In many developed countries, a “hub-and-spoke” model is utilised, whereby a main larger trauma centre provides bidirectional support to the smaller trauma units linking to it. The structure of a trauma system is arguably more influential to trauma patient outcomes than any individual medical or surgical interventions.
