Trauma registry reengineered.

A successful trauma registry balances accuracy of abstraction and timeliness of case submissions to achieve quality performance. Staffing to achieve quality performance is a challenge at times based on competitive institutional need. The aim of this performance improvement timing study was to identify trauma registry job responsibilities and redesign the responsibilities to create increased abstraction time and maintain accuracy of data abstraction.

Community gun safety in Central Pennsylvania.

Firearm-related injuries are a public health issue in the United States. In rural Pennsylvania, it is a familiar way of life to have a gun or guns in the home. Safety behaviors along with gun storage in the home, specifically where there are young children (aged 6 years and younger), are a concern for this level I regional resource center in rural Pennsylvania.

Trauma return appointment study: a performance improvement initiative.

Ensuring that trauma patients will follow up in a clinic after a hospital stay is always a difficult challenge. This was the case for a rural trauma center in north central Pennsylvania serving 31 counties with a patient maximal travel time of 3½ to 4 hours. Performance improvement outcomes found that ensuring follow-up appointments are made is a system challenge.

Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation: a pediatric case report.

Atlanto-occipital dislocation, once considered rare and fatal, has become more common. Reasons for improved survival are training, efforts of prehospital care givers, improved diagnostics, and a collaborative healthcare approach to the patient. Advanced prehospital care strategies and diligence in educating prehospital providers are the core elements in preventing further injury and facilitating injury identification.