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Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Original research

Trauma team activation varies across Dutch emergency departments: a national survey

Authors: Rolf E. Egberink, Harm-Jan Otten, Maarten J. IJzerman, Arie B. van Vugt, Carine J. M. Doggen

Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Tiered trauma team response may contribute to efficient in-hospital trauma triage by reducing the amount of resources required and by improving health outcomes. This study evaluates current practice of trauma team activation (TTA) in Dutch emergency departments (EDs).

Methods

A survey was conducted among managers of all 102 EDs in the Netherlands, using a semi-structured online questionnaire.

Results

Seventy-two questionnaires were analysed. Most EDs use a one-team system (68 %). EDs with a tiered-response receive more multi trauma patients (p < 0.01) and have more trauma team alerts per year (p < 0.05) than one-team EDs. The number of trauma team members varies from three to 16 professionals. The ED nurse usually receives the pre-notification (97 %), whereas the decision to activate a team is made by an ED nurse (46 %), ED physician (30 %), by multiple professionals (20 %) or other (4 %). Information in the pre-notification mostly used for trauma team activation are Airway-Breathing-Circulation (87 %), Glasgow Coma Score (90 %), and Revised Trauma Score (85 %) or Paediatric Trauma Score (86 %). However, this information is only available for 75 % of the patients or less. Only 56 % of the respondents were satisfied with their current in-hospital trauma triage system.

Conclusions

Trauma team activation varies across Dutch EDs and there is room for improvement in the trauma triage system used, size of the teams and the professionals involved. More direct communication and more uniform criteria could be used to efficiently and safely activate a specific trauma team. Therefore, the implementation of a revised national consensus guideline is recommended.

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Title: Trauma team activation varies across Dutch emergency departments: a national survey
Authors: Rolf E. Egberink
Harm-Jan Otten
Maarten J. IJzerman
Arie B. van Vugt
Carine J. M. Doggen
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1757-7241
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-015-0185-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Trauma team activation varies across Dutch emergency departments: a national survey

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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