[Centers for geriatric trauma DGU® : Distribution and development in Germany].

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery and Geriatric Care
• Healthcare System Analysis
• Public Health and Demographics

Context:

• Increasing demographic shifts necessitate improved healthcare for geriatric patients, particularly in trauma care.
• Orthogeriatric co-management is becoming crucial for addressing the complex needs of elderly trauma patients.
• The German trauma network (ATZ-DGU) provides a framework for specialized geriatric trauma care.

Purpose:

• To characterize German geriatric trauma centers (ATZ-DGU), detailing departmental structures, collaborations, and trauma care levels.
• To analyze the geographical distribution of ATZ-DGU sites across Germany.
• To compare the distribution of ATZ-DGU facilities with national hospital and population data.

Summary:

• 147 ATZ-DGU were identified, with 152 offering in-house orthogeriatric co-management.
• 86% of facilities with trauma surgery departments were certified as Trauma Centers (TCs), with varying levels (II, III, I).
• ATZ-DGU distribution correlated with hospital numbers, inhabitants, and total cases, but not the elderly population proportion. New federal states showed fewer ATZ-DGU and disparities.

Impact:

• Findings highlight a distribution of trauma care levels reflecting distinct focuses: severe injury treatment versus geriatric co-treatment.
• The analysis reveals potential disparities in geriatric trauma care access, particularly in Germany's new federal states.
• The study suggests a need for strategic planning to ensure equitable distribution of geriatric trauma services nationwide.