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Interhospital transfer of trauma patients from emergency departments may delay emergency interventions and is resource-intensive, especially in rural areas. That there is a benefit of transfer is assumed, but not known. Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive child and adult trauma patients who presented to any of 42 nontertiary hospital EDs in Oregon (most in rural areas) from 1998 through 2003 and who required admission or transfer.
Of 10,176 patients, 37% were transferred to a level I or II trauma center. In-hospital mortality rates were 4% for patients admitted to nontertiary care hospitals, 8% for those transferred to level I trauma centers, and 10% for those transferred to level II centers. Transferred pati…