Morristown Memorial Hospital Injury Prevention Community Education Program | NEW JERSEY |
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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1994, about 700 victims were brought to the trauma center at Morristown Memorial
Hospital. Half of those suffered injuries from motor vehicle crashes. Hospital records
indicate that, of the elderly patients admitted, a very large proportion were victims of
traffic crashes. Children are also at higher risk because of a lack of proper use of occupant
restraints. Although the hospital treats fewer head injuries and injuries to the face and
upper body as a result of increased seat belt use and engineering improvements made to
vehicles, records indicate an increase in injuries to the lower extremities, where little
protection is offered to vehicle occupants.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Morristown Memorial Hospital Injury Prevention Community Education
Program is to increase awareness of injury prevention strategies. The project's main
objectives are:
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Morristown Memorial Hospital uses hospital admissions data to select at-risk populations
and targeted injury categories. Personnel prepare training materials relevant to the targeted
problem and population, train hospital staff in delivering presentations to the various target
groups, and then deliver appropriate training to the targeted populations.
Plans are also underway to implement outreach programs to heighten community awareness
of both the risk of injuries and the availability of educational programs at the hospital.
Many of the programs developed are geared toward children and the elderly, but there are
also programs for the general population. The programs cover all types of injuries,
including those relating to traffic safety. Morristown Memorial Hospital has developed
some of the programs internally and others have been adopted from groups such as the
American Trauma Society, Emergency Nurses Association and the Head Injury Council.
Available injury prevention programs include:
RESULTS
Because the Injury Prevention Community Education Program at Morristown Hospital is still in its preliminary planning stages, program results are not currently available.