Moose-Motor Vehicle Collision: A Continuing Hazard in Northern New England.

Background: Moose-motor vehicle collisions (MMVC) are especially dangerous to vehicle occupants because of the height and mass of the animal, which often collapses the roof and has a direct impact into the passenger compartment.

Study Design: Public data on MMVC were obtained from the states of New England (NE), and trauma registry data from centers in NH and ME.

Results: For all of NE, the annual incidence of reported MMVC has declined from a peak of >1,200 in 1998, but has still averaged >500 over the last 5 years, predominantly in ME, NH, and VT.

Secondary overtriage: the burden of unnecessary interfacility transfers in a rural trauma system.

Importance: Unnecessary interfacility transfer of minimally injured patients to a level I trauma center (secondary overtriage) can cause inefficient use of resources and personnel within a regional trauma system.

Objective: To describe the burden of secondary overtriage in a rural trauma system with a single level I trauma center.

Design: Retrospective analysis of institutional trauma registry data.