title: Systems of provision and delivery of hand care, and its impact on the community.
abstract: Hand injuries are important causes of impairment in the United States. They are one of the top causes for days lost from work and they impose a great economic burden on the country. In less affluent regions of the world, the impact of hand injuries on the population is even more dire, rendering the affected to life-long disability. When one considers that 85% of the world's population lives in low to middle income countries, the global deleterious effect of hand trauma becomes apparent. This paper is a review of pertinent literature available on the provision and delivery of trauma care around the world. While specific reference to hand surgery care is sparse, we will infer trauma management in these countries, synthesised from available literature, to the provision of hand surgery care. We will also examine programs around the world that are implemented at an affordable cost to the respective countries.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 2130 Taubman Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0340, USA. kecchung@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Schaub
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data