One in every four citizens sustains an injury each year. Many of these injuries can be prevented through focused, effective community-based injury prevention programs. These programs can be well-targeted using injury surveillance data from a recently implemented voluntary community injury prevention information network that uses a statewide sample of 23 hospital emergency departments (EDs). Prior to 1999, Michigan had to rely on death certificates and hospital discharge data for injury information. These sources comprise less than 7% of hospital-injuries, and may not be representative of injuries that occur more frequently. This presentation emphasizes the value of ED data in injury surveillance efforts and presents preliminary findings from MEDCIIN including patterns in cause, frequency, and demographics, and discusses implications of findings. Preliminary data indicated the top three injury-related primary diagnoses to be open wounds, strains and sprains, and abrasions/contusions. Injury visits were highest among the adolescent age group, among males until around age, and were predominantly from an unintentional cause. Additional analysis revealed age and sex differences in the patterns of types and causes of injuries.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Recognize the value of collecting Emergency Department (ED) data as part of a comprehensive injury surveillance system; 2. Identify the patterns in cause, frequency, and demographics of various injuries presented in EDs; 3. Discuss implications of findings from MEDCIIN.
Keywords: Injuries, Emergency Department/Room
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Michigan Public Health Institute and Michigan Department of Community Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment