Acute Care
Disabilities related to injury are serious public health problems because of their
impact on quality of life and their economic impact on our health care system.
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, through the Division of
Injury and Disability Outcomes and Programs coordinates a national public health
approach to reducing the impact of injuries by improving trauma care and rehabilitation
systems. The program includes the prevention of injury-related disabilities and
their secondary conditions.
Acute Care in the United States
There were an estimated 40 million injury-related emergency department visits
in 2000.
The most common causes of injuries seen in emergency departments are from traffic
crashes, falls, and violence.
Only one fourth of the U.S. population lives in an area served by a trauma care
system.
Studies of conventional trauma care show that as many as 35% of trauma patient
deaths could have been prevented if optimal acute care had been available.
Up to 25% of injuries treated in emergency departments are alcohol related.
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