Incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in Saudi Arabia, 2020

Background: The absence of experienced physicians in certain specialties and the lack of medical services necessitates the need for interfacility transfer of patients with traumatic injuries. This study aimed to identify the incidence of interfacility transfers in trauma patients within a 28-day per...

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Main Authors: Nawfal Aljerian, Mohammed Arafat, Abdulrahman Aldhubaib, Ibrahim Almohaimeed, Ali Alsultan, Abdulaziz Alhosaini, Lyla Ashry, Sawsan Alharthi, Ghadeer Al Elawi, Yasir Albarrak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Discover STM Publishing Ltd 2022-06-01
Series:Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ejmanager.com/fulltextpdf.php?mno=107623
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author Nawfal Aljerian
Mohammed Arafat
Abdulrahman Aldhubaib
Ibrahim Almohaimeed
Ali Alsultan
Abdulaziz Alhosaini
Lyla Ashry
Sawsan Alharthi
Ghadeer Al Elawi
Yasir Albarrak
author_facet Nawfal Aljerian
Mohammed Arafat
Abdulrahman Aldhubaib
Ibrahim Almohaimeed
Ali Alsultan
Abdulaziz Alhosaini
Lyla Ashry
Sawsan Alharthi
Ghadeer Al Elawi
Yasir Albarrak
author_sort Nawfal Aljerian
collection DOAJ
description Background: The absence of experienced physicians in certain specialties and the lack of medical services necessitates the need for interfacility transfer of patients with traumatic injuries. This study aimed to identify the incidence of interfacility transfers in trauma patients within a 28-day period and to evaluate the types and reasons of traumatic injuries requiring lifesaving transfer. Methods: This was a retrospective noninterventional chart review study. Data were acquired from the Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Center in Saudi Arabia. Only lifesaving-labeled trauma patients were included in this study. Results: A total of 370 trauma patients were included in this study. Most of the patients were male (325; 87.8%) with a mean age of 31 years. Blunt injuries were the most reported type of injury (213; 57.6%) and motor vehicle accidents were most common mechanism of injury (164; 44.3%). Head and neck injuries accounted for majority of the cases (144; 38.9%). Lack of specialty was the most frequently reported main reason for transfer (244; 66%) with neurosurgery being the most lacking specialty (94; 25.4%). Riyadh and Mecca were the two provinces that reported most referral requests (29.5% and 15.7%, respectively). Conclusion: The recruitment and retention of qualified trauma care personnel, improving healthcare facilities, and purchasing medical equipment would minimize the need for interfacility transfer among trauma patients. Larger analytical studies are required to quantify and localize the deficit and the weakness of the system to ensure timely access to an initial healthcare facility and definitive treatment of trauma patients. [SJEMed 2022; 3(1.000): 046-053]
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spelling doaj.art-e4559404ac9846359e65071d187652e12023-07-03T16:12:14ZengDiscover STM Publishing LtdSaudi Journal of Emergency Medicine1658-84872022-06-013104605310.24911/SJEMed/72-1628359894107623Incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in Saudi Arabia, 2020Nawfal Aljerian0Mohammed Arafat1Abdulrahman Aldhubaib2Ibrahim Almohaimeed3Ali Alsultan4Abdulaziz Alhosaini5Lyla Ashry6Sawsan Alharthi7Ghadeer Al Elawi8Yasir AlbarrakMinistry of Health, Medical Referrals Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ar Rimayah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Medical Referrals Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Medical Referrals Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Medical Referrals Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Medical Referrals Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, Medical Referrals Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ar Rimayah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Background: The absence of experienced physicians in certain specialties and the lack of medical services necessitates the need for interfacility transfer of patients with traumatic injuries. This study aimed to identify the incidence of interfacility transfers in trauma patients within a 28-day period and to evaluate the types and reasons of traumatic injuries requiring lifesaving transfer. Methods: This was a retrospective noninterventional chart review study. Data were acquired from the Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Center in Saudi Arabia. Only lifesaving-labeled trauma patients were included in this study. Results: A total of 370 trauma patients were included in this study. Most of the patients were male (325; 87.8%) with a mean age of 31 years. Blunt injuries were the most reported type of injury (213; 57.6%) and motor vehicle accidents were most common mechanism of injury (164; 44.3%). Head and neck injuries accounted for majority of the cases (144; 38.9%). Lack of specialty was the most frequently reported main reason for transfer (244; 66%) with neurosurgery being the most lacking specialty (94; 25.4%). Riyadh and Mecca were the two provinces that reported most referral requests (29.5% and 15.7%, respectively). Conclusion: The recruitment and retention of qualified trauma care personnel, improving healthcare facilities, and purchasing medical equipment would minimize the need for interfacility transfer among trauma patients. Larger analytical studies are required to quantify and localize the deficit and the weakness of the system to ensure timely access to an initial healthcare facility and definitive treatment of trauma patients. [SJEMed 2022; 3(1.000): 046-053]http://www.ejmanager.com/fulltextpdf.php?mno=107623keywords: life saving; saudi medical appointments and referrals centre; trauma; morbidity; mortality
spellingShingle Nawfal Aljerian
Mohammed Arafat
Abdulrahman Aldhubaib
Ibrahim Almohaimeed
Ali Alsultan
Abdulaziz Alhosaini
Lyla Ashry
Sawsan Alharthi
Ghadeer Al Elawi
Yasir Albarrak
Incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in Saudi Arabia, 2020
Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine
keywords: life saving; saudi medical appointments and referrals centre; trauma; morbidity; mortality
title Incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in Saudi Arabia, 2020
title_full Incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in Saudi Arabia, 2020
title_fullStr Incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in Saudi Arabia, 2020
title_full_unstemmed Incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in Saudi Arabia, 2020
title_short Incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in Saudi Arabia, 2020
title_sort incidence and reasons of interfacility transfer among trauma patients in saudi arabia 2020
topic keywords: life saving; saudi medical appointments and referrals centre; trauma; morbidity; mortality
url http://www.ejmanager.com/fulltextpdf.php?mno=107623
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