Progressive Reduction in Preventable Mortality in a State Trauma System Using Continuous Preventable Mortality Review to Drive Provider Education: Results of Analyzing 1,979 Trauma Deaths 2015-2022

Abstract

Background: The state legislature codified and funded the Arkansas Trauma System (ATS) in 2009. Quarterly Preventable Mortality Reviews (PMR) by the ATS began in 2015 and were used to guide state-wide targeted education to reduce Preventable or Potentially Preventable deaths (P/PP). We present the results of this PMR-education initiative from 2015 to 2022. Study Design: The ATS uses a statistical sampling model of the Arkansas Trauma Registry (ATR) to select ~40% of the deaths for quarterly review, reflecting the overall ATR mortality population. A multi-specialty PMR Committee reviews the medical records from pre-hospital care to death, plus hospital/regional advisory council reviews for each death. The PMR Committee assigns opportunities for improvement (OFIs), cause(s) of death, and the likelihood of preventability for each case. Education to improve trauma care includes annual state-wide trauma meetings, novel classes targeted at Level III/IV TC hospital providers, trauma evidence-based guidelines, and PMR “Pearls.” Results: We reviewed 1,979 deaths with 211 (10.6%) deaths judged to be P/PP. There was a progressive decrease in P/PP deaths and OFIs for P/PP deaths. Five OFI types targeted by education accounted for 72% of the 24 possible OFI types in the P/PP cases, and 94% of the “contributory OFIs. Reductions in “delay in treatment” resulted in the most rapid decrease in P/PP deaths. Conclusion: Using ongoing PMR studies to target provider education led to a reduction in P/PP and OFIs.. P/PP Focusing on education designed to improve preventable mortality can result in a substantial decrease in P/PP for trauma systems by 43% (14% to 8%).