RT Book, Section A1 Ciesla, David J. A1 Kerwin, Andrew J. A1 Tepas III, Joseph J. A2 Feliciano, David V. A2 Mattox, Kenneth L. A2 Moore, Ernest E. SR Print(0) ID 1175130228 T1 Trauma Systems, Triage, and Transport T2 Trauma, 9e YR 2020 FD 2020 PB McGraw Hill PP New York, NY SN 9781260143348 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1175130228 RD 2024/03/28 AB KEY POINTSOvertriage of minimally injured patients will impair trauma center efficiency, whereas undertriage of severely injured patients will increase the risk of preventable death and disability.The major goal of an inclusive trauma system is complete control of all aspects of injury, from effective prevention to successful societal reintegration of injury victims.Only 60% of the United States has statewide trauma systems, and approximately 20% has no system at all.The numbers and levels of trauma centers should reflect population distribution and the burden of injury within the region.Level I trauma centers are distinguished from Level II centers by admission volume requirements, presence of a surgically directed critical care service, educational leadership, and trauma-related research.Most current data estimate that 63.1% of the population of the United States can reach a major trauma center within an hour by ambulance, a figure that increases to 90.4% with the inclusion of helicopter services.A multiple-casualty incident may exceed the resources of one hospital trauma center, but care can be provided by adjacent hospitals within the city or region without outside help.The Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) triage system developed in California includes assessments of the patient’s ability to ambulate and the patients’ respiratory function, systemic perfusion, and level of consciousness.