Abstract
Inconsistent application of trauma service resources and underevaluation of risk and resuscitation status in elderly trauma patients are problematic. We describe a geriatric protocol that includes initial lactate determination and trauma surgery admission. Protocol compliance rates were initial lactate determination, 67.9%; trauma service admission for overt or compensated (elevated lactate) shock, 73.6%; and trauma service consultation for nonshock patients, 67.8%. Implementation of this protocol resulted in a trend toward reduced mortality and reduced potentially preventable deaths.
MeSH terms
-
Aged
-
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / nursing*
-
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / standards*
-
Emergency Medical Services / organization & administration
-
Emergency Medical Services / standards
-
Emergency Nursing / organization & administration
-
Emergency Nursing / standards*
-
Geriatrics / organization & administration
-
Geriatrics / standards*
-
Guideline Adherence / standards*
-
Hospital Mortality
-
Humans
-
Organizational Policy
-
Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / standards
-
Practice Guidelines as Topic*
-
Program Development
-
Retrospective Studies
-
Shock / mortality
-
Shock / nursing
-
Shock / therapy
-
Wounds and Injuries / mortality
-
Wounds and Injuries / nursing
-
Wounds and Injuries / therapy