Evaluation of a virtual geriatric trauma institute.
Geriatric trauma patients require specialized care. Objective of this study was to compare outcomes for geriatric trauma patients before and after the implementation of a virtual geriatric trauma institute. This is a retrospective chart review of 583 trauma patients older than 65 years admitted to a rural level 1 trauma center before and after the implementation of a geriatric trauma institute. Length of stay was decreased from 4.99 to 3.9 days (P = .0014). Emergency department length of stay was decreased by approximately 10 minutes (P = .059), and time from the emergency department to the operating room was decreased by 470 minutes (P = .262).
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (Dr Katrancha), Johnstown, Pennsylvania; and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center (Ms Zipf), Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth D
ED
Katrancha
Jami
J
Zipf
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014218:Triage; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*