Building the Conversation for Hospital-Based Injury Prevention Program Capacity

Abstract

Emergency departments are significant providers of health care services in the United States, with more than 131 million total ED visits occurring in 2011; of those visits, injury was one of the top 5 reasons for an ED visit. 1 Weiss AJ Wier LM Stocks C Blanchard J Overview of emergency department visits in the United States, 2011. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb174-Emergency-Department-Visits-Overview.jsp Google Scholar Injury and violence prevention continue to garner recognition and support in the health care arena as a method for reducing morbidity and mortality. Both the American College of Emergency Physicians and ENA recognize the role of emergency departments in integrating injury prevention with clinical practice. 2 American College of Emergency Physicians Role of the emergency physician in injury prevention and control for adult and pediatric patients. https://www.acep.org/Clinical---Practice-Management/Role-of-the-Emergency-Physician-in-Injury-Prevention-and-Control-for-Adult-and-Pediatric-Patients/ Google Scholar , 3 Emergency Nurses Association Injury prevention: position statement. https://www.ena.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/Position%20Statements/IPPositionStatement.pdf Google Scholar In a statewide survey of emergency departments within Pennsylvania, 90% reported conducting at least one injury prevention activity. 4 Garrettson M Weiss HB McDonald EM Degutis L A survey of ED injury prevention activities. J Emerg Nurs. 2008; 34: 61-68 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar Emergency nurses overwhelming support injury prevention as a major role in their professional practice. 4 Garrettson M Weiss HB McDonald EM Degutis L A survey of ED injury prevention activities. J Emerg Nurs. 2008; 34: 61-68 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar Although emergency nurses and their colleagues are committed to injury prevention, 76% of ED personnel indicated that they were not satisfied with the injury prevention efforts in their emergency departments. 4 Garrettson M Weiss HB McDonald EM Degutis L A survey of ED injury prevention activities. J Emerg Nurs. 2008; 34: 61-68 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar Courtney Edwards is Trauma Outreach Education, Injury Prevention, and Clinical Research Manager, Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, TX. Shelli Stephens-Stidham is Director of Injury Prevention, Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas, Dallas, TX. MaryAnn Contreras is Injury Prevention/Trauma Outreach Coordinator, JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX. Stewart Williams is Injury Prevention Manager, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, TX.