New Study Shows 20% of Trauma Deaths Are Preventable

A recent study has revealed that 20% of trauma deaths in the United States are preventable. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine urges healthcare providers to turn to lessons learned by the military.

Trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans under 45, with 148,000 deaths in 2014. This panel cites that one of the reasons these deaths are preventable is that there is not an oversight group for those patients who need trauma care.

The current methodology in treating trauma patients is for emergency personnel to drive ambulances faster, and medical flight operators to fly faster, but this study urges emergency trauma staff to care for patients by stopping bleeding or resuscitating during patient transport.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control Prevention triage guidelines determine the type of facility and treatment of patients. Patients who were incorrectly sent to a hospital and later sent to a trauma center were 25% more likely to die.

Two-thirds of all Americans live within one hour of a Level 1 Trauma Center by either car or plane. Connecticut has 12 verified trauma centers.