Implementing a Trauma Consult Protocol for Geriatric Trauma Patients
Author
Kelly, Lorraine
Abstract
Geriatric patients are at increased risk for death due to undertriage after a trauma. The purpose of the quality improvement project was to implement a geriatric trauma consult protocol on the elderly population aged 70 and over to identify occult injuries and decrease complications. At the project site, the majority of geriatric trauma patients with a single site injury such as a hip fracture are classified as a level IV trauma. Level IV trauma patients are rarely seen by a member of the trauma team. The inclusion criteria for the project were level IV trauma patients aged 70 years and older with a single site injury admitted under inpatient status by the designated hospitalist group. The hospitalist physician initiated the trauma consult. The project was guided by the Institute of Health Model for Improvement framework and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma recommendations. The protocol was implemented over 14-weeks with biweekly PDSA cycle review and protocol updates. The findings show that 32% of the eligible patients received a trauma consult with zero occult injuries identified. There were no complications in the patients that received a trauma consult. One unplanned ICU admission and four urinary tract infections were recorded in the patients with no trauma consult. The project aligns with the Triple Aim and Healthy People 2030 by providing increased access to care which improves patient experience, improves the health of the aging population, and decreases costs by identifying injuries or illness prior to costly complications.
Date
2021-04-24
Citation:
APA:
Kelly, Lorraine.
(April 2021).
Implementing a Trauma Consult Protocol for Geriatric Trauma Patients
(DNP Scholarly Project, East Carolina University). Retrieved from the Scholarship.
(http://hdl.handle.net/10342/8963.)
MLA:
Kelly, Lorraine.
Implementing a Trauma Consult Protocol for Geriatric Trauma Patients.
DNP Scholarly Project. East Carolina University,
April 2021. The Scholarship.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/8963.
September 30, 2023.
Chicago:
Kelly, Lorraine,
“Implementing a Trauma Consult Protocol for Geriatric Trauma Patients”
(DNP Scholarly Project., East Carolina University,
April 2021).
AMA:
Kelly, Lorraine.
Implementing a Trauma Consult Protocol for Geriatric Trauma Patients
[DNP Scholarly Project]. Greenville, NC: East Carolina University;
April 2021.
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Intergenerational Trauma in African and Native American Literatures
Craddock, Tina (East Carolina University, 2014)The enslavement and persecution of African and Native peoples has been occurring in the U.S. since the 1600s. There have been justifications, explanations and excuses offered as to why one race feels superior over another. ... -
Trauma Informed Care: Improving Appointment Adherence in an Outpatient Behavioral Health Setting
Foushee, Constance (2018-04-23)Exposure to a traumatic life event can lead to lifestyle practices that adversely affect one's health. Nearly three-fourths of Americans have experienced a traumatic life event. The purpose of this quality improvement ... -
Improving Care for Children Affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences
Hawkins, Jennifer (2020-07-28)The deleterious health effects of ACEs are well documented in the literature. Addressing ACEs and the effects trauma may have on children is an important prevention strategy for individual and public health. The negative ...