Improving Trauma Care via Evidence-Based Medicine: Guidance, Guidelines, and Global Impact

Abstract

Worldwide, over 5 million people die each year from injury. Improvements in global trauma care can be achieved through clinical decisions driven by data, development of learning healthcare systems, and trauma system infrastructure equipped to provide the highest quality evidence based-care. Practice management guidelines remain one critical element to delivering evidence-based care at the trauma system level and globally. Trauma guidelines reduce inappropriate practice variation, lower healthcare costs, speed translation of research into practice, improve safety and quality, and reduce disparities. While challenges remain, particularly with respect to global access to guidelines and education, sustained efforts continue to improve trauma care services worldwide. Medical and surgical practice based on a sound scientific foundation facilitates high quality care and allows the best opportunity for meaningful patient-centered clinical outcomes. Evidence-based trauma care saves lives, and trauma guidelines remain one of the most effective ways to impact the care of injured patients worldwide.