Open AccessCost-effectiveness of Trauma Diagnostic Screenings
Author(s) -
Patricia Kunz Howard,
Beth Broering
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
advanced emergency nursing journal
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.203
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1931-4493
pISSN - 1931-4485
DOI - 10.1097/tme.0b013e3181aeddda
Subject(s) - medicine , horseshoe kidney , gold standard (test) , intensive care medicine , critically ill , medical emergency , emergency medicine , radiology , kidney
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility and cost-effectiveness of the standard laboratory and radiographic screening panels used at a level-2 trauma center. Healthcare providers and payers are raising questions as to the need for such a broad-based approach in the evaluation and diagnosis of critically ill and injured patients. One rationale for casting a wide net is to reduce the potential for missed injuries that increase morbidity and mortality. In addition, it is well documented that significant incidental findings (e.g., lung mass, horseshoe kidney) are often identified first in these screening studies during trauma (T. R. Paluska, M. J. Sise, D. L. Sack, B. C. Sise, M. C. Egan, & M. Biondi, 2007).