Faculty Collaboration Database

Trauma-Informed Care for Violently Injured Patients in the Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med 2019 Feb;73(2):193-202

Date

12/07/2018

Pubmed ID

30503381

DOI

10.1016/j.annemergmed.2018.10.018

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85057273190 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   58 Citations

Abstract

Violent traumatic injury remains a common condition treated by emergency physicians. The medical management of these patients is well described and remains an area of focus for providers. However, violently injured patients disproportionately carry a history of physical and psychological trauma that frequently affects clinical care in the emergency department. The alteration of our clinical approach, taking into consideration how a patient's previous experiences influence how he or she may perceive and react to medical care, is a concept referred to as trauma-informed care. This approach is based on 4 pillars: knowledge of the effect of trauma, recognition of the signs and symptoms of trauma, avoidance of retraumatization, and the development of appropriate policies and procedures. Using this framework, we provide practical considerations for emergency physicians in the delivery of trauma-informed care for violently injured patients.

Author List

Fischer KR, Bakes KM, Corbin TJ, Fein JA, Harris EJ, James TL, Melzer-Lange MD

Author

Marlene D. Melzer-Lange MD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Critical Care
Critical Illness
Emergency Service, Hospital
Health Facility Environment
Humans
Personal Space
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Professional-Family Relations
Violence