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Medical trauma in rural areas
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – For the millions of Americans who live in rural areas, there are benefits to being away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s quiet, it’s clean and you may have some space between you and your neighbors.
However, about 25% of all Americans live more than an hour away from a trauma center by helicopter.
A car crash, bike accident, sports collision – they all can cause serious injuries that may need specialized medical attention. For emergency medical crews in rural areas, it’s a tough call.
“One is to drive them to their local community hospital that’s not a trauma center,” said Dr. Joshua Brown. “The other is to call for a medical helicopter to transport to trauma center.”
Brown and his colleagues studies the outcomes of 37,000 severely injured patients transported to emergency rooms by helicopter or ambulance. The research shows