"After-hours" staffing of trauma centres and outcomes among patients presenting with acute traumatic coagulopathy.

Objective: To examine the effect of the "after-hours" (18:00-07:00) model of trauma care on a high-risk subgroup - patients presenting with acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC).

Design, Participants And Setting: Retrospective analysis of data from the Alfred Trauma Registry for patients with ATC presenting between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2011.

Main Outcome Measure: Mortality at hospital discharge, adjusted for potential confounders, describing the association between after-hours presentation and mortality.

Early predictors of functional disability after spine trauma: a level 1 trauma center study.

Study Design: Retrospective review on prospective cohort and explicit chart review.

Objective: To identify early spine trauma predictors of functional disability and to assess management compliance to established spine trauma treatment algorithms.

Summary Of Background Data: Identification of early (within 48 hours) spine trauma predictors of functional disability is novel and may assist in the management of patients with trauma.

Early predictors of mortality after spine trauma: a level 1 Australian trauma center study.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To identify early independent mortality predictors after spine trauma.

Summary Of Background Data: Spine trauma consists of spinal cord and spine column injury.

Chemical-biological-radiological (CBR) response: a template for hospital emergency departments.

Chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) incidents have the potential to shut down emergency departments that do not have an adequate CBR response. Secondary contamination also poses a threat to the safety and wellbeing of staff and other patients. On activation of a CBR response, "clean" and "contaminated" areas should be clearly marked, and all patients decontaminated before being allowed into the emergency department or outpatients department.