Injury
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Efforts to improve teamwork in trauma include simulation-based team training with a non-technical skills (NTS) focus. However, there is a lack of evidence to inform the development of team training programs for maximum uptake of NTS in clinical practice. This descriptive paper aims to evaluate the extent NTS were practiced by the trauma team in a Level 1 trauma hospital after NTS training and to identify facilitators and barriers to use of NTS in clinical practice. ⋯ NTS were being used by frontline clinicians in real world trauma resuscitations to varying degrees, depending on organisational, team and cognitive facilitators and barriers. Facilitators to the implementation of NTS skills during trauma emergencies included team composition, roles and responsibilities, procedural compliance and leadership. Barriers included decision making and communication. This study described team members experience of using NTS in 'real world trauma resuscitation' to inform future team training interventions.
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Getting the right patient, to the right place, at the right time is dependent on a multitude of modifiable and non-modifiable factors. One potentially modifiable factor is the number and location of trauma centres (TC). Overabundance of TC dilutes volumes and could be associated with worse outcomes. We describe a methodology that evaluates trauma system reconfiguration without reductions in potential access to care. We used the mature trauma system of New South Wales (NSW) as a model given the perceived overabundance of urban major trauma centres (MTC). ⋯ Redistribution of the number of MTC in the Sydney basin could be achieved without a significant impact on potential access to care. Our approach can be utilized as an initial tool to evaluate a trauma system where overabundance of coverage is present.
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There is known variability in the quality of care delivered to injured children. Identifying where care improvement can be made is critical. This study aimed to review paediatric trauma cases across the most populous Australian State to identify factors contributing to clinical incidents. ⋯ The peer-review of paediatric trauma cases assisted in the identification of contributing factors to clinical incidents in trauma care resulting in 26 recommendations for change. The prioritisation and implementation of these recommendations, alongside a uniform State-wide trauma case review process with consistent criteria (definitions), performance indicators, monitoring and reporting would facilitate improvement in health service delivery to children sustaining severe injury.