Trauma Services
Improving care, reducing preventable death from injury
Overview
Trauma Services coordinates the programs and activities of the Alaska system. This includes:
- Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data relating to injury patterns and care
- Promoting high quality trauma care at Alaska’s acute care medical facilities
- Facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration among stakeholders involved in the prevention and treatment of traumatic injuries.
What is a trauma system?
A trauma system is a preplanned, coordinated approach to caring for people with serious injuries, covering everything from prevention and emergency care to recovery and rehabilitation.
An inclusive trauma system incorporates every community healthcare facility to match the needs of the injured to the appropriate level of care. This means ensuring that the most severely injured have timely access to the highest level of care while minimizing unnecessary transports for those that can be safely treated closer to their home communities. Trauma centers at all levels (I-V) collaborate to improve care, make the best use of resources, and ensure equitable access to high-quality treatment regardless of where injuries occur.
Components of the Alaska Trauma System
For a trauma system to run efficiently, it needs to include all healthcare facilities across the state in an organized manner.
Department of Health staff
- Trauma Program Manager
- Trauma Registry Manager
Alaska Trauma Registry Database
- Hospital submitted data on all trauma admissions, transfers, and mortalities
Alaska Trauma System Review Committee (TSRC)
- Advisory, multidisciplinary medical review organization
- Develops care guidelines, oversees Trauma Center designations, promotes injury prevention and trauma care advocacy, addresses system trauma care issues
Trauma Centers
- Healthcare facilities designated at varying levels to provide optimal injury care based on available resources and capabilities