An Injury-Based Approach to Quantify the Predictability and Time Sensitivity of Common Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries

Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a serious public health concern resulting in over 1.2 million deaths worldwide. Detection and prompt treatment of MVC injuries is crucial in reducing morbidity and mortality. The goal of the pre-hospital trauma system is to appropriately triage patients such that they receive the "right treatment" at the "right place" and at the "right time". An injury-based approach was taken that examined two of the three different facets of injuries to identify injuries necessitating treatment at a Level I or II trauma center (TC). The three facets of injury include severity, predictability, and time sensitivity. Severity is associated with injuries which have a high mortality and high threat-to-life. Predictability is associated with injuries which are identifiable by emergency medical personnel upon arrival at the scene. Predictable injuries were scored based on an analysis of occult injuries and an analysis of the transfer of patients from a non-TC to a TC. Time sensitivity is associated with injuries that require prompt treatment to avoid death for the patient.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Schoell, Samantha

• Advanced Automatic Crash Notification

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/39261

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/39261