title: Full-time orthopedic traumatologists enhance rural trauma center pelvic fracture outcomes and financials.
abstract: We hypothesized that full-time orthopedic traumatologists would increase interfacility transfer patients with pelvic ring injuries at a trauma center seeking American College of Surgeons Level I verification. A trauma registry query identified 790 patients with pelvic ring injuries admitted to a trauma service over 10 years. The study groups included 173 patients 3 years before and 405 patients 3 years after recruitment of two full-time orthopedic traumatologists. Interfacility transfers of patients with pelvic ring injuries requiring operative procedures were increased over 230 per cent (P < 0.01) with full-time orthopedic traumatologists. Financial analysis showed enhanced hospital margin per patient and decreased direct costs (P < 0.01). Complications, mortality rates, and length of stay were decreased (P < 0.01). Full-time orthopedic traumatologists enhance pelvic ring injury patient interfacility transfers, operative procedures, outcomes, and financials at a Level I trauma center in a rural setting.
authors.affiliation: Wellmont Holston Valley Trauma Center, ETSU College of Medicine, Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. gmt0@charter.net
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Testerman
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Easparam
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D012042:Registries; D019035:Rural Health Services; D013714:Tennessee; D014194:Traumatology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016896:Treatment Outcome