JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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To determine the incidence, nature, demographics, severity, and hospital charges associated with inpatient treatment of firearm-related injuries. ⋯ Firearm-related violence is a major cause of hospitalization of young urban black males and represents a significant cost to publicly financed health care. The impact on individual hospitals is highly disproportionate. While hospital discharge data can be used for population-based surveillance of firearm-related trauma, there is need for improvement in local, state, and national surveillance of these injuries.
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To measure the incidence of fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries in a rural setting. ⋯ Incidence rates and case-fatality ratios for firearm injury in this rural setting were greater than expected, based on national estimates, perhaps because of greater proportions of rifle injuries and self-inflicted injuries.