Author: Robert Fojut

A group of U.S. researchers recently launched a series of studies exploring the concept of trauma surgeons as high-performance athletes. Their goal is to build a model that links physiologic markers to functional performance measures. Ultimately, they hope to identify modifiable targets that can be used to protect trauma surgeon function and help ensure peak…

Trauma teams are showing increasing interest in resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and other techniques of minimally invasive resuscitation. In response to the growing enthusiasm, the Endovascular Resuscitation & Trauma Management (EVTM) Symposium is delivering cutting-edge educational programs to an international audience of trauma professionals and related specialists. The first EVTM Symposium…

In April a broad coalition of trauma stakeholders met in Bethesda, Md., to begin implementing the recommendations of the landmark Zero Preventable Deaths report. The report, which was developed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), proposes the creation of a joint civilian-military trauma system in the U.S. The goals are to…

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of infant death from physical abuse in the United States. According to researchers, clinicians miss approximately 30% of AHT diagnoses, often because clinical signs of trauma are unclear. Last week in JAMA Pediatrics, a group of Pittsburgh researchers described a system for diagnosing AHT using a rapid…

Performance improvement is a key part of every trauma program. But according to David Kashmer, MD, MBA, many trauma teams fail to make effective use of their most important PI resource — data. “Using data incorrectly in performance improvement can actually decrease quality,” said Dr. Kashmer, a trauma and acute care surgeon and healthcare quality…

Older adults make up a growing percentage of trauma patients. In response, trauma centers worldwide are seeking ways to improve care for injured elders. At this year’s Annual Scientific Assembly of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), five teams presented research on geriatric trauma. Their findings point out several opportunities to improve…

Injury care leaders know that higher trauma center volume correlates with better patient outcomes. But what happens when a trauma center gains or loses patient volume over several years? The question is more than just academic. In many regions of the U.S., new trauma centers have cut into patient volumes at long-established trauma programs. In…

The theory of trauma performance improvement is relatively straightforward. Mastering the art of trauma PI can be much more challenging. Three trauma experts shared practical ideas for leading successful PI projects during a session at the 2016 Annual Conference of the Trauma Center Association of America. They discussed effective strategies for identifying PI cases, performing…

In recent decades, trauma care professionals have made significant progress in reducing the burden of injury. But according to Samir Fakhry, MD, chief of the division of general surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), there is one area that needs more attention — the treatment of mental and emotional health after discharge.…

How can you make your injury prevention program more effective? Leaders from three Level I trauma centers shared proven strategies for building a strong injury prevention program during a session at the 2016 Annual Conference of the Trauma Center Association of America. The speakers discussed ways to develop funding sources, build public support for IP…