title: A public-private trauma center network in Florida harnesses data to improve care quality for an aging population.
abstract: As the US population ages, trauma systems face new challenges in addition to the long-standing problem of access. Patients ages sixty-five and older are more likely than younger patients to fall and suffer serious injury or death as a result. This older patient population, when compared with younger cohorts, suffers higher mortality rates, has more comorbidities-diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions being the more serious among them-and takes more medications, which can complicate treatment. The University of South Florida (USF) Medical School and the HCA hospital system have partnered to create a network of five trauma centers in underserved areas of the state to increase access to trauma care for all Floridians while maintaining a special focus on geriatric trauma care. Collecting and analyzing data for improving care quality and undertaking research is a central aim of the partnership. Based on their research findings, trauma surgeons in the USF/HCA Trauma Network have identified best practices and codified them in standard operating procedures.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DuVernay
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005431:Florida; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Access To Care; Elderly; Hospitals; Quality Of Care; Trauma Care