Analysis of an American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) Approved Pilot Project: Increasing Provider Communication During Interhospital Transfer.

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma requires physician-to-physician communication prior to interhospital transfer. This requirement can be difficult to achieve in high-volume trauma centers. This pilot project utilizes trauma advanced practice providers (APPs) as the primary communicator, in lieu of the trauma surgeon, prior to interhospital transfer. The hypothesis suggests that APPs can provide safe recommendations and accurately triage patients for the highest level trauma alert. From January to April 2018, a total of 1,145 patients were transferred to a Level I or Level II trauma center. All interhospital trauma transfers were dispatched through a designated transfer center APP (TCAPP). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the frequency of core TCAPP recommendations, including reversal agents for anticoagulants, antibiotics for open fractures, direct admission criteria, administration of blood products, and triaging to the highest level of trauma activation. TCAPP triage accuracy was analyzed and reported as percentages. Percentages are compared between independent groups using a chi-square test. Prior to implementation of the TCAPP role, provider-to-provider communication occurred in less than 1% of interhospital transfers; TCAPP-to-provider communication occurred 92% of the time (p < .001). During the study period, the TCAPP made 398 care-related recommendations. Three (<1%) TCAPP recommendations were deemed inappropriate. The TCAPP (89.7%) and physician (89.9%) triage accuracy was not significantly different (p = .43). Interhospital transfer communication and recommendations can be performed safely and accurately by a trauma trained APP.

eFAST Simulation Training for Trauma Providers.

Current trauma recommendations include completing chest and pelvis radiographs and Focused Abdominal Sonography in Trauma (FAST) examination in the trauma bay; however, expanding literature indicates that thoracic ultrasound scans are more sensitive than chest radiography in the detection of pneumothorax. In an urban, Level II trauma center in central Ohio, the author implemented an evidence-based practice project. This project focused on a lack of provider knowledge of the expanded Focused Abdominal Sonography in Trauma (eFAST) examination. The training consisted of a lecture and a simulation training session. To monitor the success of the implementation, pre- and postimplementation testing of the provider's competence with the eFAST technique using the Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS) was completed. The pre- and posttest implementation showed an increase of the OSAUS score by 16.9%. The author also reviewed charts pre- and postimplementation to demonstrate the utilization rates of eFAST. After training, the utilization rates increased by 66% (p < .05). Overall, the project implementation was a success and demonstrated the importance of frequent literature review and implementation of this literature into practice.