title: Trauma systems.
abstract: The major goal of a trauma system is to enhance the community health. This occurs through a process of assessment, policy development, and ongoing assurance. This can be achieved by (1) identifying risk factors in the community and creating solutions to decrease the incidence of injury, (2) providing optimal care during the acute and the late phase of injury, including rehabilitation, and (3) maintaining the objective to decrease overall injury-related morbidity and mortality and years of life lost. Disaster preparedness also is an important function of trauma systems, and using an established trauma system network facilitates the care of victims of natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, City Tower, 333 City Boulevard West, #700, Orange, CA 92868, USA. dhoyt@uci.edu
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coimbra
mesh_terms: D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*