Factors Influencing Time to Definitive Care in Hip Fracture Patients in a Rural Health System.

Background: Current literature has not adequately addressed factors affecting wait times for hip fracture surgery in the rural setting.

Objective: This study aims to assess the factors affecting admission, transit, and preoperative wait times that impact the timeliness of hip fracture surgery within a rural health system.

Methods: A single-center retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural community comprising five community hospitals and two receiving hospitals.

Evaluation of a Novel Mechanical Venous Thromboembolism Compression Device in Trauma Patients: A Pilot Study.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the fourth most common preventable hospital-acquired complication for hospitalized trauma patients. Mechanical prophylaxis, using sequential compression or intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices, is recommended alongside pharmacologic prophylaxis for VTE prevention. However, compliance with device use is a barrier that reduces the effectiveness of mechanical prophylaxis.

Mass Casualty Mini Drills on Trauma Surgery Department Staff Knowledge: An Educational Improvement Study.

Background: Over the last decade, the United States has witnessed an increase in mass casualty incidents (MCIs). The outcome of an MCI depends upon hospital preparedness, yet many hospitals are unfamiliar with their facility MCI procedure. Educational training drills may be one method to improve staff knowledge of policy and procedure.

Effectiveness of Multimodal Pain Therapy on Reducing Opioid Use in Surgical Geriatric Hip Fracture Patients.

Background: There is a need for appropriate pain control in the geriatric hip fracture population to prevent diminished function, increased mortality, and opioid dependence. Multimodal pain therapy is one method for reducing pain postoperatively while also decreasing opioid use in the geriatric hip fracture patient. This study aimed to determine whether multimodal pain therapy could decrease opioid use without increasing pain scores in surgical geriatric hip fracture patients.

Improved Survival for Rural Trauma Patients Transported by Helicopter to a Verified Trauma Center: A Propensity Score Analysis.

Objectives: Recent studies using advanced statistical methods to control for confounders have demonstrated an association between helicopter transport (HT) versus ground ambulance transport (GT) in terms of improved survival for adult trauma patients. The aim of this study was to apply a methodologically vigorous approach to determine if HT is associated with a survival benefit for when trauma patients are transported to a verified trauma center in a rural setting.

Methods: The ascertainment of trauma patients age ≥ 15 years (n = 469 cases) by HT and (n = 580 cases) by GT between 1999 and 2012 was restricted to the scene of injury in a rural area of 10 to 35 miles from the trauma center.