There were 14,133 patients examined in the National Trauma Data Bank who were treated between 2009 and 2011. The researchers found:
1. There were 4,142 — or 29.3 percent — of the patient who transferred to a higher level of care institution.
2. There were 9,728 — about 79.7 percent — of the patients admitted to Level III or IV trauma centers.
3. There was an association between uninsured patients and the increased possibility of transfer, according to a multivariable logistic regression analysis.
4. African-American race wasn’t associated with the decision to transfer, according to the research.
5. African-Americans with GCS>8 or ISS<15 were associated with a higher transfer likelihood.
“In summary, lack of insurance was associated with increased possibility of transfer to higher level of care institutions, after evaluation in a level III or IV trauma center ED for spine trauma,” concluded the study authors. “The same was true for African-Americans with milder injuries.”
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