No time to spare: improving access to trauma care

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Increased attention on U.S. trauma care system adequacy post-9/11.
• Questions arise regarding daily trauma care coverage (e.g., MVA, GSW).
• Despite more trauma centers, a national plan for timely access is absent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the proportion of U.S. residents with access to a trauma center within one hour.
• To assess geographic coverage of specialized trauma care services.
• To inform policy on trauma system planning and resource allocation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized objective measures of travel times and distances.
• Calculated estimated travel times via ground and air ambulance.
• Assessed population reachability to trauma centers based on residential location.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of residents cannot reach a trauma center within the critical one-hour timeframe.
• Geographic disparities in trauma center access were identified.
• Current trauma center distribution may not ensure equitable access for all populations.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight critical gaps in the U.S. trauma care system's accessibility.
• Urgent need for a national plan to ensure timely access to specialized trauma care.
• Results provide data to guide improvements in trauma system design and emergency preparedness.