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Trauma

Verification

Trauma verification is a multi-disciplinary inter-collegiate process to assist hospitals to analyse their systems of care. Trauma verification covers all phases of acute care from pre-hospital through to discharge and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the hospital's trauma service. Trauma verification allows hospitals to benchmark their services against international standards. Trauma verification helps save lives, reduce waiting times and lower costs.

How trauma verification works

1. Questionnaire - It all starts with the completion of a questionnaire detailing the strengths and improvement opportunities of a trauma service. This allows the site review team to focus on what’s really relevant to our customer. The Pre-Review Questionnaire (PDF 142Kb) is sent to the hospital six months prior to the date of the review and is returned at least 12 weeks prior to the review.

2. On site review - The review team undertakes an audit of hospital resources, personnel and systems utilising a capability template known as The Model Resource Criteria (PDF 151Kb). The essential criteria for provision of major trauma care in the Australasian hospital environment are considered at this stageA 5 member multidisciplinary team first reviews the questionnaire and then discusses the responses with staff. On the day of the review the Site Review Team undertakes a detailed tour of the facility meets key clinicians and hospital management and undertakes medical chart reviews to verify the quality of trauma care being provided.

3. Reporting– After review verbal feedback is provided on site. A detailed and comprehensive written report is provided to the authorising body within twelve weeks after review by an expert Trauma Verification Sub Committee.

4. Certification– After the review where no critical deficiencies have been identifiedthe hospital receives a certificate valid for three years. After three years a return visit should be sought by the hospital.

• Key benefits
• Critically evaluate the structure, staffing and resources within your hospital
• Benchmark your service against other leading institutions
• Take a multidisciplinary approach - Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Australasian Trauma Society and Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
• Read the following published evidence in support of Trauma Verification: Does it really make a difference? (PDF 611Kb) 2002 American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma Verification Review Impact of Preparation and Achievement of ACS Level 1 Trauma Verification Raises Hospital Performance and Improves Patient Outcome (PDF 27Kb), 2000, Holly et al.

Our satisfied customers

• Map of Hospitals who have undergone Trauma Verification (PDF 213Kb)
  
  

More information

Trauma Verification Manual (PDF 852Kb)
Trauma Verification Executive Summary (PDF 73Kb)
Pre-Review Questionnaire (PDF 142Kb)

The Model Resource Criteria (PDF 151Kb)
Impact of Preparation and Achievement of ACS Level 1 Trauma Verification (PDF 27Kb)
Review of Trauma & Emergency Services Victoria (ROTES Report) (PDF 549Kb)

Contact the college

Verification Project Officer
Email: alistair.finlay@surgeons.org