West Region Trauma System

West Region designated trauma facilities.

More information is available on the Dept of Health website.

The American College of Surgeons performed an assessment of the WA EMS & Trauma Care System. Full Report and Recommendations.

West Region Quality Improvement Forum (QIF)

Mission Statement:

Continuously Strive to Optimize EMS/Trauma Patient Care and Outcome

West Region Trauma Quality Improvement Forum Information

West Region Quality Improvement Plan

More information can be found on the Dept of Health website.

Lessons Learned from WEST REGION Trauma QIf Committee Case Reviews

February 8, 2024: Full Trauma Activaton w/ amputation requiring higher level of care.

Several opportunities for improvement were identified during QI process: Delay of transfer, blood resuscitation ratio, decompensation during transfer out, and communication.

Lessons learned:

· Hospital Trauma Committee lacked EMS representation. EMS representation is necessary to help fill in the gaps (explain EMS protocols, decisionmaking and documentation practices).

· Communicaton and teamwork are important to successful trauma resusciation.

· A protocol for patient care is needed when a delay in transport is anticipated. Staff need to be prepared to monitor and treat critical trauma patients.

· All agency records are needed in order to provide complete picture of patient care during trauma resusciation.

December 14, 2023: Pediatric Emergency Resuscitative Thoracotomy Algorithm

. Summary and Key Points

- Pediatric ER Thoracotomy for traumatic arrest or severe hemorrhagic shock

- Decision based on vitals and signs of life

- No difference between blunt vs penetrating

- Orderly sequence of steps performed rapidly

April 2023: ER - Delivery of Praxbind

· Closed Loop Verbal Communication.

· Use Your Team.

June 2023: - Tourniquet use

. Hard to second guess decisions made in the field.

. Weigh the risk vs benefit when placing a tourniquet.

. Know that we grossly overuse pre-hospital tourniquests (as a nation).

. Tourniquet placement can improve mortality.

. Patients don’t always fit into a box….must use our judgement.