Current Trauma Status Report - Southern Nevada Health District

Introduction to the Study
The Abaris Group was retained by the Clark County Health District to perform an assessment of the
need for a trauma system in Southern Nevada. This assessment has included conducting an inventory
of the trauma components currently in place in Southern Nevada and will also include a set of
recommendations to develop and implement a comprehensive trauma system for the future. The
study has involved extensive trauma stakeholder and public input via one-on-one interviews, focus
groups and town hall meetings, as well as an in-depth analysis of data provided by the hospitals, EMS
providers and the UMC trauma registry. Supportive to and in addition to the work of The Abaris
Group, the ACS is conducting a consultative review of the trauma system in Southern Nevada.
In order to assure an objective and unbiased approach to the study, the Clark County Health District
Board of Health created a Citizens Trauma Task Force. The task force is comprised of business and
community leaders in the Las Vegas region.
The ACS and The Abaris Group studies will dovetail into a set of recommendations, which will be
presented to the Clark County Health District Board of Health through the Citizen’s Trauma Task
Force. The Clark County Health District Board of Health will then present its recommendations to the
Nevada State Health Division Administrator.
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide a “snapshot” of trauma care as it exists today in Southern
Nevada. This report discusses each of the NHTSA components, as well as the history of trauma
systems and specific concerns such as diversion and physician specialty coverage. In addition,
summaries are provided of the many comments and input provided by system stakeholders. The
Southern Nevada Current Trauma Status Report will be used as a springboard for The Abaris Group’s
recommendations for the system as a whole.
Methods
As part of the Southern Nevada Trauma Assessment study, The Abaris Group conducted site visits at
the UMC Trauma Center, all 12 adult emergency departments (EDs), and the 2 pediatric EDs. The
purpose of the site visit was to meet with each hospital’s ED management team to obtain baseline
inventory and resource data on each facility and to obtain input on the needs of the trauma system.
In addition to the site visits, The Abaris Group also interviewed greater than 100 key stakeholders in a
variety of venues to obtain their input. These stakeholders included:
• air ambulance providers
• ambulance providers
• fire departments
• hospital CEOs
• insurance payers
• Nevada State Health Division staff
• Trauma Institute staff
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