A Major Problem for the Health Service p Worldwide injury is a major public health problem p The commonest cause of death between the ages of 1 and 40 years is injury p For every fatality there are 2 survivors with serious and permanent disability p There appears to be a strong relationship between social deprivation and injury p Facilities for treatment of the injured and their effectiveness varies across the UK

Our Healthier Nation Quotes from this document indicate the importance of ‘injury’ and its consequences: “ It is clearly important that we continue to reduce the number of deaths from accidents.” “… many people suffer prolonged distress and poor quality of life as the result of a serious accident ”

Is there potential for improvement in the care of injured patients? Working Party on the Management of Patients with Major Injury, Royal College of Surgeons 1988 “….this report reveals significant deficiencies in the management of seriously injured patients.” “Standards of hospital care of the injured should be monitored through a national audit scheme…..”national audit scheme…..”

Improvements in systems of trauma care may be achieved by :- p Enhancing pre-hospital care, ensuring –appropriate medical intervention –rapid transfer to best local facility p Assessing the use of helicopters p Adopting ATLS principles p Integrating trauma care services within and between hospitals p Investing in rehabilitation services and p Auditing and Researching injury and systems of care

Trauma Network Trauma Network Background p 1988 the Major Trauma Outcome Study was established p st REPORT published in BMJ: - UK mortality rate higher than US - large interhospital variation - slow response time - lack of senior input p 1994 Statistical analysis was improved and modified p 1996 New funding system1998 p 104 hospitals in Europe audited their trauma services through the Network

Widespread Participation Annual new Attendances at A &E Departments < 30,000 30, ,000 40, ,000 50, ,000 60, ,000 70, ,000 >80,000 Total Active members October

Trauma Network Trauma Network Objectives p collect and analyse clinical and epidemiological data p provide a statistical base to support clinical audit p aid the development of trauma services and inform the research agenda

Quality Cycle Health Care Systems Measurement Analysis

Measurement Measurement Data collection should be: u Accurate u Complete u Comprehensive

Measurement / Data Collection Simple vs Complex Accurate, complete, comprehensive

Patient Inclusion Criteria u Admission > 72 hours u Admission to an intensive care area u Transfers for continuing care > 72 hours u All deaths u Excluding: Fractures of the femoral neck or single pubic rami (age > 65yrs) OR SIMPLE isolated injuries

The Trauma Network Analysis INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT r Common standards for severity measurement r Common measures for performance assessment

Assessment of Trauma Severity Anatomical Injury Physiological Measurements Age Blunt/Penetrating Probability of survival of individual patients Hospital Comparisons

Physiological - Revised Trauma Score p Is a physiological measurement and p by convention, recorded on arrival at hospital The RTS includes: p Respiratory rate p Systolic blood pressure p Glasgow Coma Scale

Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS 90) 1 injury = 1 code with a range of Injury Severity Score (ISS) Uses a formula to represent multiple injuries in 1 number with a range of

INJURY SEVERITY SCORE INJURY SEVERITY SCORE Example Abbreviated Injury Scale Small subdural haematoma4 Parietal lobe swelling3 Major liver laceration4 Upper tibial fracture (displaced)3 ISS = = 41

Ps cannot be applied to individuals If the Probability of Survival (Ps) of an injured patient = 0.4 Then, on average, 6 out of 10 patients will die

The Trauma Network Reports Monthly: Clinical activities Quarterly: Outcome statistics (anonymous) Process filters Ad Hoc Reports Formatted data

Process Measures r Time intervals –injury and arrival at A&E –arrival in A&E and 1st doctor seeing the patient –transfer to another hospital r Seniority of staff r Haemo/pneumothorax –evidence of chest drains r # skull, brain & spinal injury (AIS3+ ) –evidence of CT scan –immobilisation of spine –recorded GCS

Hospital comparisons Summary Ws scores and 95%CI. Blunt injuries, excl. referrals

Morbidity u Wider variation than with mortality u Inadequate scoring systems u What to estimate? –temporary –permanent

Trauma Audit - Closing the loop D Yates, J Bancewicz, M Woodford, P Driscoll, RAC Jones, R Kishen, D Marsh, S Hollis. Injury (1994) 25:511

Conclusions and lessons learnt u Close inter-disciplinary cooperation and clinical improvement at a senior level. u Application of protocols to provide continuity of care from the scene of the accident through to the hospital ward. u Frequent statistical analysis of performance at audit meetings to ‘close the loop’ is an essential part of the strategy to improve trauma care.

Setting quality standards National Institute for Clinical Excellence Clinical Governance Commission for Health Improvement National Service Frameworks