Reporting acute trauma in a non-trauma centre: improving scan turnover time

Abstract

Background: Non-trauma centres continue to receive trauma patients where the mechanism of injury is not severe enough to warrant transfer to a major trauma centre (MTC). In these cases, timely and appropriate cross-sectional imaging is essential to detect life-threatening injuries for appropriate management, including whether transfer to a MTC if necessary. While stringent guidelines exist for MTCs, there are no set standards for trauma reporting at non-major trauma centres, where facilities and pathways of a MTC may not exist. This could lead to a significant delay in management.