Disparities in access to trauma care in the United States: A population-based analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Injury is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in the United States. Accordingly, expanding access to trauma care is a Healthy People priority. The extent to which disparities in access to trauma care exist in the US is unknown. Our objective was to describe geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic disparities in access to trauma care in the United States.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of the US population in 2010 using small units of geographic analysis and validated estimates of population access to a Level I or II trauma center within 60minutes via ambulance or helicopter. We examined the association between geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors and trauma center access, with subgroup analyses of urban-rural disparities.

Results

SUBMITTER: Carr BG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5292279 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature