Open-source code maps traumas for targeting interventions: Applying the model to compare penetrating traumas with "Stop the Bleed" training locations

Am J Surg. 2024 Nov:237:115789. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.115789. Epub 2024 May 31.

Abstract

Background: To improve equitable access to geospatial analysis, a free open-source R package, called Rosymap, was created to map trauma incident locations.

Methods: To demonstrate the R package, penetrating trauma events for all patients who received care at a level one trauma center, and the locations of all "Stop the Bleed" training locations between 2019 and 2022 were geospatially analyzed.

Results: The level one trauma center treated 1531 patients for penetrating traumas between 2019 and 2022. Using Rosymap, a map was produced showing the poor overlap in distribution between penetrating traumas and "Stop the Bleed" training locations.

Conclusion: Rosymap, a free open-source GIS R package, visualized that the majority of "Stop the Bleed" training locations were not performed within clusters of penetrating traumas serviced by our level one trauma center. These results suggest that trauma providers and public health advocates should consider geospatial analysis when planning interventions and when attempting to choose locations equitably and accurately. To facilitate and promote the implementation of geospatial analysis, Rosymap is available as open-source code.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Trauma Centers*
  • Wounds, Penetrating* / epidemiology
  • Wounds, Penetrating* / therapy