A regional medical operations center improves disaster response and inter-hospital trauma transfers.
BACKGROUND
Delays in both inter-hospital trauma transfers and disaster response are common. We hypothesized patient flow could be improved by formal adoption of systems that improve cooperation and communication.


METHODS
The regional trauma database of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma and the Regional Medical Operations Center (RMOC) database were queried to test the hypothesis.


RESULTS
A total of 9507 trauma patients were transferred. Medcom resulted in decreased transfer process times. The RMOC was activated during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. During two 24-hour periods, the RMOC coordinated the inter-hospital transfer of 781 patients and the movement of thousands of evacuees and special needs patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Medcom, an organized system combining a communications center with formal trauma center cooperation, improves patient flow and reduces trauma transfer times. The RMOC, based on the same principles of cooperation and communication, allows for rapid transfer of hospitalized and special needs patients during disaster/mass casualty situations.
Epley
Eric E
EE
The Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Stewart
Ronald M
RM
Love
Preston
P
Jenkins
Donald
D
Siegworth
Gina M
GM
Baskin
Toney W
TW
Flaherty
Stephen
S
Cocke
Robert
R
D019992:Databases as Topic; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems; D006801:Humans; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013781:Texas; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy