A National Trauma Care System: Integrating Military and Civilian Trauma Systems to Achieve Zero Preventable Deaths After Injury

Foreword: Without question, there were lifesaving advancements made in the trauma care of wounded service men and women during our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.The National Academies report described in this summary was requested by several federal agencies and organizations to identify ways to maintain that expertise and it describes more effective ways to integrate military and civilian trauma care systems for research, training, and actual trauma care.The report emphasizes the importance of prehospital care as a major focus for further improvement.The committee estimates that up to 20% of U.S. trauma deaths could be prevented if improved trauma care systems were in place.Thus, this study has relevance not only for trauma care professionals but to all of us, military and civilian alike.