Abstract

Background
This study compared the performance of trauma care in an urban and a suburban hospital before and after the enhancement of emergency and intensive care. Method: The medical records of patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit following trauma from 1994 to 1995 and from 2002 to 2003 were examined. The standardized W (Ws), the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the Ws, and the predicted survival rate (Ps) were calculated. During each period, each hospital's actual survival rate was compared with the 95% CI of the Ps according to the revised trauma score (RTS) and injury severity score (ISS). Spell out RTS and ISS. Result: From 1994 to 1995, 225 and 121 records from the urban and the suburban hospitals were reviewed, respectively. The 95% CI's of the Ws were -2.30 to 2.73 and -11.40 to -5.90, respectively. The actual survival rate of the suburban hospital was significantly lower than the predicted survival rate at all RTS. From 2002 to 2003, 315 and 268 records from the urban and the suburban hospitals were reviewed, respectively. The 95% CI's of the Ws was -3.56 to 0.24 and -3.73 to 0.26, respectively. There was no difference between the actual survival rate and the predicted survival rate. Conclusion: An enlargement of the capacities of emergency and intensive care may improve the performance of trauma care at a small suburban hospital.

• Keywords: Trauma outcome, TRISS, Urban, Suburban