The clock begins ticking the instant that the car crashes, the worker falls, or the bullet rips into the victim.
Then it's a race against time and distance. A trauma patient's chances of survival increase dramatically if he or she receives care within the "golden hour" immediately following injury. Rapid response by emergency medical technicians in ground and air ambulances is critical. So is the distance to the nearest trauma center - a special hospital facility with the resources and medical specialists to handle the most severe injuries.
Most hospitals with an emergency room are not trauma centers. In Georgia, only 15 of the state's 152 acute-care hospitals are - an alarmingly inadequate number. Georgia should have approximately 25-30 designated trauma centers in strategic locations to adequately address trauma and emergency preparedness needs.
It's about time... to save as many as 700 lives a year.
Although some regions of Georgia have excellent trauma care, gaps exist. Georgians in many areas simply do not have fast access to trauma care. As a result, of the estimated 40,000 cases of major trauma each year in Georgia, only about 10,000 are treated in designated trauma centers.
Access to trauma care is a matter of life and death. Trauma is the number one killer of Americans between the ages of one and 44, and the number three cause of death across all age groups. Studies report that as many as one third of trauma deaths occurring in areas without an organized trauma care system are preventable. Georgia's trauma death rate is significantly higher than the national average: 63 of every 100,000 people compared to the national average of 56 per 100,000. If Georgia's death rate improved to the national average, it would mean a difference of as many as 700 more lives saved every year.
It's about time ...that Georgia has a statewide trauma system.
Georgia's trauma death rate is above the national average because Georgia does not have an adequate statewide trauma system.
The movement to establish a statewide trauma system in Georgia began 30 years ago. In 2006, the state legislature began a study of the infrastructure and funding mechanisms needed and in 2007 lawmakers passed Senate Bill 60 and created the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission to continue the work. But the specific infrastructure and funding solutions remain unresolved as the Legislature enters the 2008 session.
The keys are establishing an integrated trauma infrastructure throughout the state, and easing the financial burden on those who provide trauma care, but are not paid for their services. State health officials estimate the cost of uncompensated care by hospitals, physicians and EMS providers at approximately $275 million a year. Those losses discourage hospitals from adding trauma centers, and pressure participating hospitals to close their trauma centers.
Now it's time for action that will ensure that trauma care will be available for our families, our neighbors and us.
More delay means more lives lost.
Now is the time for Georgia's safety officials, business leaders and citizens to join with hospitals administrators, physicians, nurses, and EMS providers in declaring support for development of a statewide trauma system.
This Web site examines trauma care in Georgia. It is sponsored by the Georgia Statewide Trauma Action Team (GSTAT), a coalition of hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS) providers, physicians, nurses and others interested in creating a statewide trauma system. The cost of licensing and maintaining this Web site is underwritten by a grant from Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Inc. We hope it enlightens you, and inspires you to join us in working for a statewide trauma system.
