The impact of trauma centre accreditation on patient outcome.
Trauma centre accreditation originated as a North American initiative in the 1970's with the aim of standardising and improving care for injured patients. This system of grading a hospital's ability to receive serious trauma has subsequently spread, most notably to Australasia. Many studies have focussed on determing whether this accreditation results in improved patient outcomes. We review the evidence to date, which suggests significant mortality reductions albeit from mainly Class III studies and reflect on the future sustainability of this initiative given mounting financial pressures.
DeBritz
James N
JN
Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Maryland School of Medicine, R Adams Cowley Shock-Trauma Centre, 22 South Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201, United States.
Pollak
Andrew N
AN
D000068:Accreditation / Q000191:economics; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000592:standards*