Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
09:52
Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Reducing "cry wolf"--changing trauma team activation at a pediatric trauma centre
Catherine Bevan1, Clara Officer, Joe Crameri
1Trauma Service and Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital and University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. cath.bevan@rch.org.au
The Journal of Trauma
|March 12, 2009
Summary
A new three-tiered trauma paging system (TPS) efficiently uses surgical resources. This system improved resource allocation without compromising patient care by appropriately classifying trauma patients into three activation levels.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Care
- Surgical Resource Management
- Healthcare Systems Optimization
Background:
- Scarce surgical resources necessitate efficient allocation in pediatric trauma centers.
- Transitioned from a single-tier to a three-tiered trauma paging system (TPS).
- Investigated the appropriateness of patient classification within the new tiered system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a three-tiered TPS in optimizing surgical resource utilization.
- To determine if patient classification accuracy was maintained or improved.
- To assess the impact on trauma team activation and resource allocation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of trauma registry data from 12 months pre- and post-implementation.
- Compared single-tier TPS activations with three-tier TPS (Level I, II, III) activations.
- Correlated TPS activation levels with injury severity proxies (admission status, major/nonmajor trauma).
Main Results:
- Reduced overall surgical team activations by 60% with the three-tiered TPS.
- Observed appropriate major trauma classification in 58% (Level I), 35% (Level II), and 15% (Level III) of activations.
- Found only 2 of 20 major trauma patients in Level III were potentially misclassified, without compromising care.
Conclusions:
- The three-tiered TPS enhances surgical resource efficiency.
- The system effectively categorizes trauma patients, minimizing misclassifications.
- Implementation supports optimized resource allocation without negatively impacting patient outcomes.
