Outcomes of Severely Injured Adult Trauma Patients in an Australian Health Service: Does Trauma Center Level Make a Difference?

Abstract

Severely injured patients treated at a level III center had a higher mortality rate than those treated at a level I center. Most problems identified occurred in the emergency department and were related to delays in care provision. This research highlights the importance of efficient prehospital, in-hospital, and regional trauma systems, performance monitoring, peer review, and adherence to protocols and guidelines.