Evaluation of the quality of hospital care for major trauma.
A retrospective analysis of trauma care in five hospitals was undertaken. Eight hundred twenty-three charts met criteria for major trauma. A panel of surgeons reviewing 237 selected charts found the quality of care unacceptable in 16%. Unacceptability rates between hospitals ranged from 7 to 58%. Injury severity score rather than length of stay appears to be a better method for selecting patients at greater risk for poor care.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006760:Hospitalization; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014922:Wisconsin; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*