Telematics in acute trauma care.

Area of Science:

• Traumatology
• Health Services Research
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Traffic accidents in Germany cause 20,000 deaths and 5 billion Euros in productivity loss annually.
• Trauma center level is a key predictor of trauma-related mortality.
• The German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU) initiated regional trauma networks for data exchange.

Purpose of the Study:

• Establish the TraumaNetwork NorthWest (TNNW) to improve trauma care.
• Reduce patient transportation time to appropriate hospitals.
• Implement standardized pre-hospital and in-hospital trauma care protocols.

Main Methods:

• Formation of the TraumaNetwork NorthWest (TNNW) involving 49 German and 3 Dutch hospitals.
• Development of specialized software for trauma care data management.
• Planned pre- and post-analysis of the network's impact on transportation time and mortality.

Main Results:

• The TNNW was founded in April 2008, uniting regional hospitals and emergency services.
• Custom software is being developed to support network operations.
• The project serves as a DGU pilot, with potential for nationwide adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Regional trauma networks are crucial for optimizing trauma care delivery.
• Standardized protocols and efficient communication are key to reducing mortality.
• This pilot project has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for traffic accident victims in Germany.