Towards a more intelligent model of providing pediatric trauma care: identifying temporal variations in trauma team activations

BACKGROUND: Trauma centers are resource-intensive environments, and pediatric-specific personnel are often limited resources. Identifying the temporal patterns of pediatric traumas can help guide resource allocation strategies to optimize patient care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, single-institution analysis of 575 injured patients less than 18 years old that triggered a trauma team activation (TTA). TTA volume according to time of day and day of the week was analyzed using a mixed Poisson regression model and monthly patterns were analyzed using an analysis of variance. Subset analyses were conducted for children and teenagers. RESULTS: Across all days, the 6-hour time frame between 15:00 and 21:00 had significantly more activations than average, encompassing nearly half (47.2%) of all pediatric TTAs (p=0.01). Saturdays had significantly more activations than the daily average (Saturdays: 26.0/year, Other: 14.8/year, p<0.01). A pediatric TTA was 3.6 times more likely to occur between 15:00 and 21:00 on a Saturday than any other time. Volume of activation did not significantly differ by month (p=0.880). CONCLUSION: The volume of pediatric trauma activations varies significantly according to time of day and day of the week. These findings can direct or validate resource allocation strategies such as staffing physicians, nurses, and ancillary personnel according to TTA volume. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective cohort study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.