Differences in trauma team activation criteria among Norwegian hospitals.
BACKGROUND
To ensure the rapid and correct triage of patients in potential need of specialized treatment, Norwegian hospitals are expected to establish trauma teams with predefined criteria for their activation. The objective of this study was to map and describe the criteria currently in use.


METHODS
We undertook a cross-sectional survey in the summer of 2008, using structured telephone interviews to all Norwegian hospitals that might admit severely injured patients.


RESULTS
Forty-nine hospitals were included, of which 48 (98%) had a trauma team and 20 had a hospital-based trauma registry. Criteria for trauma team activation were found at 46 (94%) hospitals. No single criterion was common to all hospitals. The median number of criteria per hospital was 23 (range 8-40), with a total number of 156 and wide variation with respect to physiological "cut-off" values. The mechanism of injury was commonly in use despite a well-known, large over-triage rate.


CONCLUSIONS
In recent years, Norwegian hospitals have gradually established trauma teams and criteria for their activation. These criteria show considerable variation, including physiological "cut-off" values.
Larsen
Kristin T
KT
Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Uleberg
Oddvar
O
Skogvoll
Eirik
E
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057209:Hospital Rapid Response Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009664:Norway; D014947:Wounds and Injuries
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2007 Oct;51(9):1178-83
17714579
Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2009 Jan 09;17:1
19134177
N Engl J Med. 2006 Jan 26;354(4):366-78
16436768
J Trauma. 1983 Mar;23(3):173-8
6339731
Bull Am Coll Surg. 1994 May;79(5):21-7
10134114
Emerg Med J. 2007 May;24(5):372-3
17452719
Am J Surg. 2007 May;193(5):630-4; discussion 634-5
17434371
Bull Am Coll Surg. 1976 Sep;61(9):15-22
1028507
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2006 Jan 12;126(2):145-7
16415933
Emerg Med Australas. 2005 Oct-Dec;17(5-6):480-7
16302941
Prehosp Emerg Care. 2006 Jul-Sep;10(3):287-94
16801263
J Trauma. 2008 Dec;65(6):1253-7
19077609
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2007 Oct;51(9):1172-7
17711567
J Trauma. 2006 Mar;60(3):529-35; discussion 535-37
16531850
Arch Surg. 1995 Feb;130(2):171-6
7848088
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2006 May 11;126(10):1335-7
16691271
Resuscitation. 2001 Jan;48(1):17-23
11162879
Arch Surg. 2001 Jul;136(7):752-6
11448384
Am Surg. 1995 Apr;61(4):363-7
7893107
Injury. 2008 Sep;39(9):986-92
18674759
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2001 Aug 30;121(20):2364-7
11603042
MMWR Recomm Rep. 2009 Jan 23;58(RR-1):1-35
19165138
J Trauma. 2001 May;50(5):908-13
11371850
Crit Care Med. 1981 Sep;9(9):672-6
7273818
J Trauma. 1996 Nov;41(5):870-3; discussion 873-5
8913219
Am J Emerg Med. 1996 Mar;14(2):124-9
8924131
J Trauma. 1989 May;29(5):623-9
2657085
Acad Emerg Med. 2004 Jan;11(1):1-9
14709422
Ugeskr Laeger. 2006 Aug 28;168(35):2916-20
16982023