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Published on: January 20, 2019
Communication technology in trauma centers: a national survey
Yan Xiao1, Young-Ju Kim, Sharyn D Gardner
1Program in Trauma, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|January 26, 2006
Summary
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are crucial for trauma team coordination. This study found cellular phones are vital for hospital-field communication, but high-volume centers need improved methods for team coordination.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Trauma Surgery
- Health Communication
Background:
- Information and communication technologies (ICTs) play a recognized role in coordinating trauma care.
- Effective communication is essential for timely and efficient trauma team activation and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the types and frequency of ICT use in activating and organizing trauma teams.
- To identify advantageous and disadvantageous communication methods in Level I/II trauma centers.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted.
- Questionnaires were mailed to trauma directors and clinicians across 457 US trauma centers.
- Data were collected from 254 directors and 767 clinicians.
Main Results:
- Shortwave radio was the predominant method for pre-hospital communication (67.3%).
- Manual paging (56.7%) and computerized group paging (36.6%) were primary methods for reaching trauma surgeons.
- Computerized group paging (53.7%) and regular telephones (49.8%) were most advantageous; email and whiteboards were least advantageous.
- Attending surgeons favored cellular phones over overhead paging.
Conclusions:
- Cellular phones are increasingly important for hospital-field communication in trauma care.
- High-volume trauma centers require more accurate communication methods for both field and internal hospital coordination.
- Optimizing ICT use can enhance trauma team activation and patient care coordination.