Pre-notification of Trauma Patients at a Trauma Centre
Author Information
Author(s): Lauri E Handolin, Juhapetteri Jääskeläinen
Primary Institution: Töölö Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Hospital
Hypothesis
The study aims to analyze the information provided by pre-notifications of arriving trauma patients and the response of trauma team activation based on this information.
Conclusion
Pre-notification phone calls are crucial for preparing emergency department personnel for incoming trauma patients.
Supporting Evidence
- The median estimated elapsed time from pre-notification to arrival was 15 minutes.
- Trauma team was activated for 61% of the pre-notified patients.
- 11% of the cases had an estimated elapsed time of 5 minutes or shorter.
Takeaway
When an ambulance calls ahead to let the hospital know a trauma patient is coming, it helps the doctors get ready to help them faster.
Methodology
The study retrospectively analyzed pre-notification information from 700 consecutive trauma patients over a 12-month period.
Limitations
The study did not compare pre-notified information to clinical findings or outcomes in the hospital.
Participant Demographics
The study involved trauma patients arriving at Töölö Hospital, primarily from a catchment area of about 1.5 million people.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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