Acute Care
Disabilities related to injury are serious public health problems because of their impact
on quality of life and their economic impact on our health care system. The National
Center for Injury Prevention and Control, through the Division of Injury
and Disability Outcomes and Programs coordinates a national public health
approach to reducing the impact of injuries by improving trauma care and rehabilitation
systems. The program includes the prevention of injury-related disabilities and their
secondary conditions.
Acute
Care in the United States
- There were an
estimated 40 million injury-related emergency department visits in
2000.
- The most common causes of injuries seen in emergency departments are from traffic
crashes, falls, and violence.
- Only one fourth of the U.S. population lives in an area served by a trauma care system.
- Studies of conventional trauma care show that as many as 35% of trauma patient deaths
could have been prevented if optimal acute care had been available.
- Up to 25% of injuries treated in emergency departments are alcohol
related.
Current
Acute Care Activities
Detailed information
about CDC's acute care activities is available from several sections
of our publication, 2001-2002 Injury Fact Book:
Acute
Care Publications
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