Background: In 1998, there were 3,738 fatalities and over 70,000 hospitalizations due to injuries in Los Angeles County. Weapon-related injuries (firearms and stabbings) accounted for 35% of injury deaths and for 9% of injury hospitalizations. These severe injuries represent only a small portion of the total number of injuries to LA County residents. To fully describe the impact of injuries on the Los Angeles population, less severe injuries that require only an ED visit for treatment must also be examined. Methods: Starting in February of 2000, five hospitals operated by Los Angeles County began submitting records of firearm and stabbing injuries treated in their emergency departments. Records were collected retrospectively for all of 1998 and 1999, and current data was collected regularly from each hospital. The same variables were not available from each hospital, but similar demographic, injury, and charge information was collected. Data collection and analysis are still ongoing. Results: Data have been analyzed for the first thirty months of available data (January 1998 – June 2000). During this time, 3,367 firearm-related and 3,975 stabbing-related injury visits were reported. These 7,342 visits resulted in total charges of $63,973,130. One hospital reported that 54% of firearm and 43% of stabbing patients had self-pay as insurance. If similar numbers are found at other county hospitals $29 million in charges were applied to patients with no insurance. Further analyses and an additional year of data (through summer 2001) will be presented at the APHA conference.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: 1) describe the demographic characteristics of patients who are treated in Los Angeles County emergency departments (ED) for firearm and stabbing injuries; 2) compare firearm and stabbing ED visits to injuries that result in deaths or hospitalizations; and 3) describe the importance of an effective surveillance system to injury and violence prevention programs.
Keywords: Surveillance, Emergency Department/Room
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.