Trauma Routing Algorithm for Pediatrics

Study Summary

Traumatic injury is the leading cause of pediatric death in the United States for those forty-four years of age and younger. Pediatric trauma patients generally have reduced mortality when treated at pediatric trauma centers rather than at adult centers or non-tertiary care facilities. However, nearly half the US pediatric population lives over fifty miles from a Level I or II Trauma Center. While air ambulances are readily available in many jurisdictions, few guidelines and little evidence dictate their appropriate use, especially with regard to pediatric trauma. Previous research is mixed regarding mortality benefit from helicopter Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in injured children. Previous attempts to develop appropriate field triage criteria have failed due to poor sensitivity and specificity for identifying the critically injured child. The current high rate of overtriage is particularly concerning in today's cost-conscious medical community. This research study aims to categorize pre-hospital pediatric trauma in North Carolina, to determine what benefits helicopter EMS provides in the North Carolina trauma system, and to formulate an enhanced screening tool for pre-hospital use to help determine which patients are suitable candidates for helicopter EMS transport.