Nurses at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, a Level II trauma center in Colton, Calif., began a 48-hour strike on Tuesday. The county hospital is now on diversion, with any injured patients being taken to nearby Loma Linda University Medical Center, according to a San Bernardino County Sun report. Approximately 300 county-employed nurses are taking part…
Author: Trauma News
A group of U.S. Army researchers recently proposed a new diagnosis for sleep disorders related to trauma, according to a Stars and Stripes report. Trauma-associated sleep disorder (TSD) includes disruptive sleep behaviors such as screaming, thrashing, sleepwalking and nightmares. Physicians saw an increase in sleep disturbance among soldiers following combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,…
A new study in the Journal of Neuroscience shows that traumatic brain injury can disrupt the function of the brain’s “waste removal system,” according to a press release from the University of Rochester Medical Center. When this occurs, toxic proteins may accumulate in the brain, setting the stage for the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such…
American and Swedish researchers have found that elevated blood levels of a brain-enriched protein shortly after sports-related concussion can predict the severity of post-concussion symptoms, according to a University of Pennsylvania press release. The protein is calpain-cleaved αII-spectrin N-terminal fragment, known as SNTF. The complete findings were released in the Journal of Neurotrauma. SNTF is…
Trauma activation fees have skyrocketed in recent years, according to a Tampa Bay Times report. Nearly 20% of centers charge more than $15,000 for a trauma activation. Hospitals in California and Florida top the list of centers charging the highest trauma fees. The report is based on records gathered from 267 hospitals in 30 states.…
Patients with less complex fractures but no insurance were more likely than insured patients to be transferred to a Level I trauma center for definitive care, according to a study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. The study compared fracture patients taken directly to the Level I center to those arriving by transfer from another…
Spine trauma injuries in infants and toddlers differ significantly from spine injuries in older children, according to a recent study from the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. The study examined 206 children treated at a Level I pediatric trauma center. Infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 3) were much more likely than older children (ages 4…
Vicis, a venture-backed startup company in Seattle, is developing a football helmet that will protect players against traumatic brain injury, according to GeekWire. Today’s polycarbonate football helmets are based on designs developed in the 70s. According to Vicis, while these helmets protect against skull fracture, they do not adequately mitigate the forces likely to cause…
Indiana University Health recently donated 1,500 tourniquets to the Indiana State Police. The donation was made during the annual IU Health Orthopedic Trauma Symposium, which took place November 7 in Indianapolis. IU Health Methodist Hospital is the state’s largest Level I trauma center. Col. Mark French (pictured above) accepted the donation on behalf of the…
Voters in Maricopa County, Ariz., overwhelmingly approved a proposition last week that allows the Maricopa Integrated Health System to make critical upgrades to its Level I trauma center. Voters approved Proposition 480, a $935 million bond measure, by 63% to 37%. The funding will be used to upgrade Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. The public…