Trauma team


A trauma team is a multidisciplinary group of healthcare workers under the direction of a team leader, who work together to assess and treat the severely injured.This team typically meets before the patient reaches the trauma center. Upon arrival, the team does an initial assessment and necessary resuscitation, adhering to a defined protocol.

Team members

Trauma teams can consist of the following:
Other specialties can be added depending on the nature of the injury. For example a neurosurgeon will attend if there is a serious head injury; However, added members should not draw away from the functioning and responsibilities of the core team. Many hospitals will have neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, and physicians from other specialties on standby. All staff should be trained in Advanced Trauma Life Support techniques. Each hospital will have a list of criteria that require the activation of the trauma team, such as a fall of over 6 meters or a fracture of 2 or more bones.

Trauma team activation

There is no single universal list that dictates trauma team activation across different facilities. Each individual trauma center should generate its own criteria that is specifically designed for the location, available resources, and the patients. This criteria should also be easy to understand and readily available to the necessary individuals.Trauma team activation should be closely monitored and evaluated constantly to adapt to the changing healthcare field and regulations.
Hospitals should clearly define when the team must be assembled, who is to respond, and how they will be notified. Most trauma centers have multiple tiers, meaning not every member of a trauma team needs to respond to every emergency.

Trauma team assessment

Trauma teams are important to reduce mortality of patients. Its multi-faceted approach incorporates a variety of medical fields both in the hospital and out of the hospital in the form of Emergency Medical Services. Trauma teams reduce the time between the emergency department arrival and other necessary steps to treat patents such as CT scans and operating rooms. Patients who have traumatic injuries but are not treated by the trauma team have increased mortality.
Trauma teams are assessed in multiple ways: by video, simulators, and third party observers. All three are used to identify errors and improve care. Video is one of the most efficient methods of review because trauma team members can see the errors being done in real time. Some common errors noted from video review are failure of team coordination, poor communication, and failure to do certain tasks. One downfall of video review is its inability to review vital signs without a specific vital sign monitor recording. Confidentiality can also be an issue with video review because patient consent is difficult to obtain.
Simulators can be an effective learning tool as well. A benefit of using simulators is the ability to stop mid procedure. Doing so offers the team an opportunity to pause while no lives are at stake, providing a learning environment that feels safer and more open. The simulator itself can be a downfall as it may be difficult to use.
Observation by third party is effective when assessing one team member, but can be less effective if one observer is expected to monitor all members. It may also yield biased data.