title: Trauma system development in North America.
abstract: The concepts of organized trauma care, many of which originated in military medicine, have been proven effective in the civilian sector. A formal trauma system includes all phases of care from prehospital through rehabilitation. Although trauma centers assume the leadership role, in a truly inclusive system, all healthcare providers (prehospital providers, community hospitals, and trauma centers) have a defined role in providing care to patients with trauma. As a result, patients receive treatment at the appropriate institution, resources are allocated appropriately, and the clinical outcome is optimized. Such a system ideally is suited to the unique needs of the mass casualty scenario.
authors.affiliation: St Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA. hoffw@slhn.org
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: C William
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009656:North America; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*