Medical Staffing Models of Inpatient Major Trauma Services in Australia and New Zealand

To quantify and describe the different medical specialty staffing models utilised by inpatient trauma services in Major Trauma Centres in Australia and New Zealand.

A standardised telephone survey of all Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) in Australia and New Zealand was conducted between May and August 2024.

16/27 (67%) of MTC's in Australia utilise multi-specialty staffing models for their inpatient trauma service. Two of the seven (29%) MTC's in New Zealand utilise a multi-specialty staffing model.

This study presents the results of a survey of all adult and paediatric major trauma centres in Australia and New Zealand. It quantifies and describes medical specialist staffing models of inpatient major trauma services. Two-thirds of MTC's in Australia and almost one-third of MTC's in New Zealand utilise multi-specialty medical specialist staffing models for their inpatient trauma services. The range of non-surgical specialties employed in these roles includes Emergency Physicians (FACEM), Anaesthetists (FANZCA) and Intensivists (FCICM). Of those services that utilise a multi-specialty model, there is wide variation in the number and mix of specialties involved, as well as in the structure and function of the admitting services.