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Access to pediatric trauma care in the United States

Michael L Nance1, Brendan G Carr, Charles C Branas

  • 1Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. nance@email.chop.edu

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|June 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Millions of children lack access to pediatric trauma centers (PTCs), especially in rural areas. This study catalogs US PTCs and highlights disparities in pediatric trauma care access.

Area of Science:

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Pediatric trauma care requires specialized resources and timely access to verified trauma centers.
  • Existing data on the distribution and accessibility of pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) in the United States is limited.
  • Understanding geographic and demographic disparities in access to pediatric trauma care is crucial for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create a comprehensive catalog of verified pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) across the United States.
  • To estimate the accessibility of age-specific trauma care for children under 15 years old.
  • To identify areas and populations with limited access to pediatric trauma care.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study utilizing national, state, and local trauma system data to identify verified and candidate PTCs.
  • Access-to-care analysis using US block groups to determine the percentage of the pediatric population within 60 minutes of a PTC.
  • Calculations considered both ground and air transport.

Main Results:

  • 170 verified PTCs were identified in 41 states.
  • An estimated 71.5% of children under 15 had access to a PTC within 60 minutes by air or ground transport.
  • 17.4 million children lacked access within 60 minutes, with significant disparities in rural versus urban areas.

Conclusions:

  • Significant variations in pediatric trauma care resources exist across US states and population densities.
  • Many children, particularly those in rural regions, are underserved by current pediatric trauma care systems.
  • A standardized, verified catalog of PTCs is essential for accurate needs assessment and future trauma system optimization for pediatric populations.
Abstract

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