Trauma registries; current status and future prospects

Article Abstract:

The proliferation of powerful and relatively inexpensive computers and statistical software has renewed interest in establishing local trauma registries that can aid researchers in collecting and analyzing data concerned with injury prevention. The trauma registry as part of the growing number of trauma centers can act as an import social tool for the surveillance of traumatic injuries. Often, however, the costs and methods required for the success of trauma registries have been grossly underestimated. The methods, procedures and costs required for providing such a service are discussed. A major purpose for the development of the registry is the creation of a trauma database that can be made available to hospital personnel and will provide data that is needed for an overall surveillance of injury morbidity and mortality. Analysis should allow the recognition of trends that may result in new interventions to prevent such injuries. Successful data collection must be simple and the data must be subjected to quality control. The data can be used as the basis of regularly scheduled morbidity and mortality conferences where the causes, interventions, and results of treatment are open to scrutiny and discussion. The development of a successful facility requires a strong commitment of resources and time. The institution must bear in mind the necessary costs and be confident that the registry will bring the desired improvement in patient care and other professional benefits. In most environments physicians are responsible for the design, implementation, and quality assurance of the registry, but are not involved in operations. Hospitals should be careful to staff the registry with trained employees who understand data collection and entry. With time, procedures relating to gathering and analyzing data dealing with outcomes will be developed in the trauma registries as they have been with others, such as the cancer registry. Optimally such hospital monitoring of trauma and the care of trauma patients will lead to better methods of treatment and strategic methods of injury prevention.

Statistics, Information services, Hospital records

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National survey of trauma registries - United States, 1987

Article Abstract:

The Centers for Disease Control is in the process of developing case criteria and uniform minimum data for the classification and national monitoring of trauma registries (TR). This is being done in response to concerns that ineffective injury surveillance has hindered public health measures to limit injury. TRs have been defined as information systems that monitor hospital and prehospital care of severely injured persons. These registries are implemented at the hospital level or are centrally located, serving a region or state. Thus far, information has been compiled from surveys of emergency medical service directors and trauma coordinators. Inconsistencies were found in case criteria, data content, coding, and methods for the use of data. The next stage in this process will be to develop standards for TRs. Of those individuals who responded to the surveys, 80 percent of the emergency medical service directors and 66 percent of the trauma coordinators endorsed this plan of action. Adaptation of existing TR systems or the development of a new one are two possibilities. An editorial notation by the Centers for Disease Control mentioned that, once in place, these centralized TRs will be helpful in evaluating the quality of trauma care and supporting prevention initiatives. They will also be used as a source of data for existing morbidity and mortality surveillance programs.

Emergency medicine

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Progress in Development of Immunization Registries--United States, 1999

Article Abstract:

Most states and territories are implementing immunization registries to track childhood immunization. This was the conclusion of the 1999 Immunization Registry Annual Report (IRAR) of 64 jurisdictions (grantees) that receive federal immunization funds. The jurisdictions includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Chicago, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, San Antonio, American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Three (5%) commonwealths or territories reported no registry activity, 16 (26%) reported planning or pilot-testing of registries, and 43 (69%) reported implementing registries.

Children, Information management, Vaccination of children, Vaccination, Registries (in medicine), Registries (Medicine)

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