Distance and Time to Post-Care from Rural Traffic Crashes vs Urban Traffic Crashes in Georgia
Abstract
Motor vehicle traffic fatalities are disproportionately distributed among rural and urban counties in Georgia. From 2011 to 2021, 22% of Georgia’s population resided in rural counties, but 36% traffic fatalities resulted from rural crashes. Time and distance to care impacts human outcomes of a motor vehicle (MV) crash.
The data for this study was a probabilistically linked 5-year dataset of crash, EMS, and hospital discharge records for MV occupants involved in crashes in Georgia. Injuries were grouped into severe and other. The outcomes measured were time and distance to care, crash and facility rurality, and injury severity.
Fifty four percent of all facilities, 88% of trauma centers, and all level I and II trauma centers were in urban counties, and urban counties received 96% of all post-crash hospitalizations. More patients originating from urban crashes were seen at trauma facilities, and more patients originating from rural crashes were seen in non-trauma facilities.
EMS distances from the crash location to care for all injuries were longer in rural counties than urban counties. Severe injuries in rural counties were more likely to be transported 15 miles or more to care compared to severe injuries in urban counties. Other injuries in rural counties were more likely to travel less than 15 miles to care compared to severe injuries.
Severe injuries in rural counties were more likely to be transported 30 minutes or more to care compared to severe injuries in urban counties. Other injuries in rural counties were more likely to travel less than 30 minutes to care compared to severe injuries in rural couties.
These results suggest that EMS may have traveled further from a rural crash site to a post-crash facility that had resources to treat a more severely injured patient.
Keywords
Motor Vehicle, Traffic Fatalities and Serious Injuries, EMS, Trauma Centers, Crash Data, Rural Hospitals
Conflict of Interest Form
I understand that if my abstract is selected and I agree to present that I must register for the conference and pay the registration fee to attend at least the day of the conference that I present. This includes all Learning Methods except invited Key Note Speakers.
Distance and Time to Post-Care from Rural Traffic Crashes vs Urban Traffic Crashes in Georgia
Motor vehicle traffic fatalities are disproportionately distributed among rural and urban counties in Georgia. From 2011 to 2021, 22% of Georgia’s population resided in rural counties, but 36% traffic fatalities resulted from rural crashes. Time and distance to care impacts human outcomes of a motor vehicle (MV) crash.
The data for this study was a probabilistically linked 5-year dataset of crash, EMS, and hospital discharge records for MV occupants involved in crashes in Georgia. Injuries were grouped into severe and other. The outcomes measured were time and distance to care, crash and facility rurality, and injury severity.
Fifty four percent of all facilities, 88% of trauma centers, and all level I and II trauma centers were in urban counties, and urban counties received 96% of all post-crash hospitalizations. More patients originating from urban crashes were seen at trauma facilities, and more patients originating from rural crashes were seen in non-trauma facilities.
EMS distances from the crash location to care for all injuries were longer in rural counties than urban counties. Severe injuries in rural counties were more likely to be transported 15 miles or more to care compared to severe injuries in urban counties. Other injuries in rural counties were more likely to travel less than 15 miles to care compared to severe injuries.
Severe injuries in rural counties were more likely to be transported 30 minutes or more to care compared to severe injuries in urban counties. Other injuries in rural counties were more likely to travel less than 30 minutes to care compared to severe injuries in rural couties.
These results suggest that EMS may have traveled further from a rural crash site to a post-crash facility that had resources to treat a more severely injured patient.
