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Hospitalist services could improve trauma outcomes, study says

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, March 31, 2009

More than 90% of trauma patients should be admitted by a trauma surgeon in accordance with recommendations from the American College of Surgeons for Level I trauma centers. However, patients with minor injuries could be treated by a nonsurgical hospitalist team, which can improve overall efficiency, according to a new study, “Effects of a nonsurgical hospitalist service on trauma patient outcomes,” published in the April issue of Surgery.

Researchers at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, CO, compared the outcomes of trauma patients admitted by a trauma surgeon versus trauma patients admitted by a nonsurgical hospitalist. They found it was acceptable for hospitalists to admit non-severe injuries and could be an alternative model for trauma centers, concluded the study.

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