Abstract

Decreasing Response/Transport Times by Developing Regional Trauma Catchment Areas
Track: Health and Human Services
Author(s): Bryan Rees, Tom Lynch, Tino Arellano, Krista Hanni

With no hospital trauma center in Monterey County, California, most trauma cases resulting from vehicle accidents throughout 2006 were transported by air to surrounding areas for treatment. Prior to 2007, there was no protocol to ensure that these patients were transported to the closest trauma center. Geographic information system (GIS) technology was used to create catchment areas within Monterey County to dispatch the closest emergency medical services (EMS) aircraft unit and to transport patients to the nearest appropriate regional facility, ensuring proper treatment in the shortest period of time. Incident location and frequency from the Monterey County Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, EMS aircraft flight data, and trauma registry data from facilities in surrounding counties were collected and analyzed to produce regional catchment areas. Transport protocols were developed based on the generated catchment areas. Potential benefits include shorter response and transport times for trauma patients.

Bryan Rees
Monterey County Health Department
19065 Portola Drive, Suite I
Salinas , California 93908
United States
Phone: 831.755.5013 *30
E-mail: Reesbe@co.monterey.ca.us

Tom Lynch
Monterey County EMS
19065 Portola Drive, Suite I
Salinas , California 93908
United States
Phone: 831.755.5013
E-mail: LynchTG@co.monterey.ca.us

Tino Arellano
Monterey County EMS
19065 Portola Drive, Suite I
Salinas , California 93908
United States
Phone: 831.755.5013
E-mail: ArellanoT@co.monterey.ca.us

Krista Hanni
Monterey County Health Department
1270 Natividad Road
Salinas , California 93906
United States
Phone: 831.755.4586
E-mail: hannikd@co.monterey.ca.us