The History and Evolution of the Trauma Program Manager/Coordinator.

Area of Science:

• Trauma surgery
• Healthcare administration
• Medical program management

Background:

• The trauma program manager (TPM) role has significantly evolved since the 1980s.
• Historically, TPMs managed diverse responsibilities including education, data collection, clinical activities, research, and quality assurance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the self-perceived functions and scope of work of TPMs in the United States.
• To understand how the TPM role varies across different healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Survey sampling methodology was employed.
• Data was collected from TPMs across the United States.

Main Results:

• TPMs at higher-volume trauma centers dedicate more time to program administration.
• TPMs at lower-volume trauma centers concentrate more on registry and clinical duties.
• Significant variability in the TPM role persists despite evolution.

Conclusions:

• The TPM role is dynamic, expanding and refining over time.
• Hospital volume is a key factor influencing the scope of TPM responsibilities.
• Standardization of the TPM role remains a challenge due to ongoing variability.