EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Traumatic Brain Injury Program

Background

Program Goals:

To provide pre-hospital guidelines and education instruction to emergency medical workers in the assessment and management of severe traumatic brain injury

Intent:

Unintentional

Risk Factors Addressed:

Improve pre-hospital assessment and treatment as the first critical link in providing appropriate care to brain trauma patients

Place of occurrence:

Community

Age/Age Range:

All ages

Resources

Year Developed:

1999

Collaborative Organization(s):

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Health Resources and Services Administration
National Association of EMS Physicians
National Association of EMS Educators
And others 

Funding Resource(s):

US Department of Transportation, NHTSA

Implementation

Context/Setting

EMS personnel working in the field

Strategies Used:

Education, Economic, Enactment

Activities Used:

Scientific, evidence-based protocols, training, and educational materials were developed for the program. Guidelines have been nationally disseminated to medical directors, state offices, and educational institutions. Several phases of program implementation: the first assessed whether providers could understand and retain the guideline components; second entailed practice implementation; and the third measured impact of protocols on patient outcomes

Program Evaluation:

International group of TBI Guideline authors and experts recommend document be updated every 3-5 years.     Quasi-experimental study in 2004 by Watts, Hanfling, Waller, Gilmore, Fakhry & Trask assessed provider education, practice implementation, and patient outcomes using pre- and post-test data.

Source of Best Practice:

Volpe, R., & Lewko, J. (2007). A Sourcebook of Evidence-Based Practices in the Prevention of Severe Injuries.

Original Source:

European Transport Safety Council, 1999

Supplementary Material:

www.braintrauma.org

Local Example(s):

N/A

Contact Information: 

Seth Guthartz
Pre-hospital Program Manager
Brain Trauma Foundation
523 East 72^nd Street
New York, NY 10021
Email: sguthartz@braintrauma.org
Tel: 917-657-2022 

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

Providers successfully implemented protocol and patient outcomes improved.

Short-term outcomes:

Knowledge of TBI care improved greatly after education and remained elevated at 3 months. Providers demonstrated higher rates of appropriate care resulting in lower rates of hypoxia and hypotension.

Other Benefits:

Further research will function to upgrade and strength guidelines and help translate them into effective standards of care.

Other

Date of Review:

2005

Classification:

Best Practice