Providing emergency care for trauma patients can be complex, but it becomes even more challenging in a rural or remote setting like North Queensland.
Dr Clinton Gibbs, Clinical Director of Research and Evaluation at Retrieval Services Queensland, observed that, unlike in metropolitan areas, the system for managing trauma in regional or remote areas can be costly and inefficient.
He wanted to enact change but encountered a foundational roadblock: there was no data to support his observations. The first step, he realised, was to gather more comprehensive information on the types and severity of traumatic injuries, to reveal a clearer understanding of the state of emergency trauma care in North Queensland and uncover any potential gaps in healthcare delivery.
From data to insights“We had to figure out what was already happening and what the injury patterns were, to then be able to go forward with either changing or developing nuanced or even innovative approaches to trauma care,” Dr Gibbs shared.
Through a $99,505 EMF Leading Edge grant, Dr Gibbs and his research team created a first-of-its-kind Trauma Care in the Tropics Data Registry to classify and characterise trauma patients from regional, rural and remote areas of Northern Queensland who were retrieved to Townsville, Cairns, Mount Isa and Mackay hospitals.
“The grant was invaluable in giving us an idea of where we can go forward with improving outcomes,” Dr Gibbs outlined.
Selected key results show that adolescent and young males are at high risk of traumatic injury, and that motor vehicle accidents are a prevalent, yet preventable, cause of severe injury. Alcohol and drug use are a common component of these traumatic injuries. Additionally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately affected by assault-related head trauma.
The dataset also identified areas for resource and cost savings, such as through a specific analysis of patients who were transferred by aeromedical services but discharged from the ED without requiring hospital admission.
From insights to actionData insights will offer a much-needed picture of service needs and serve as a basis for future service planning, provision and funding. The results will also enable clinicians, hospitals and pre-hospital services to identify opportunities for additional training to improve care for trauma patients in remote areas, where the time to reach the hospital might be significantly delayed.
“We have the ability to translate existing evidence and knowledge into practice change in a remote setting and support clinicians who are often overwhelmed, particularly if it’s major trauma,” Dr Gibbs said.
The team is also conducting a health economic analysis to evaluate the cost of care for trauma patients. The data will be made available to emergency care providers across North Queensland to assist in decision-making. Ultimately, it’s about improving access and care for patients.
“We need to work with others who are also part of the patient journey. QAS, rural and remote hospitals and the big trauma centres, but also road traffic police and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission who can all provide relevant data to enhance equity of care for trauma patients in rural and remote Queensland and ensure they’re getting the best outcomes,” Dr Gibbs shared.