Directness of Transport of Major Trauma Patients to a Level I Trauma Center: A Propensity-Adjusted Survival Analysis of the Impact on Short-Term Mortality

Abstract

Transferred patients in a predominantly rural region are at an increased risk of short-term mortality. This suggests that severely injured patients should be transported directly to tertiary trauma centers. For patients requiring immediate stabilization at nontertiary facilities, this should be performed promptly without unnecessary delays.