The status of injury in upstate South Carolina

In conclusion, injuries are a leading cause of emergency room visits and hospital admissions in the upstate of South Carolina. Age was a major factor in the type of injury risk, hospitalization and, once hospitalized, length of stay and cost of hospital care. Future research efforts should include both quantitative and qualitative approaches to develop a more precise profile of persons who are most at risk for injury due to falls, motor vehicle crashes and intentional injuries. Information is also needed on follow-up care, including the cost of care post-hospital discharge and after discharge from the emergency room. The recommendations offered in this report may provide health care providers and health care agencies in the four-county upstate region with a guide to begin examining the major types of injuries that occur within their respective communities. Moreover, populations that are disproportionately affected may be delineated, and interventions may be specifically designed for and implemented in partnership with these populations.