CHARACTERISTICS OF TRAUMA CENTERS AND TRAUMA SURGEONS

We surveyed directors of trauma at 408 trauma centers (as indicated by the state chairmen of the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma [ACSCOT]). Of the 408 trauma directors 290 (71%) responded with information relative to their hospitals and the 1537 general surgeons taking trauma call. Altogether, 75% of the surgeons worked on an iden tified trauma service, 80% belonged to a cadre of surgeons identified as expert, 52% were viewed as full time, 25% provided in-house staff c overage, and 76% had completed an ATLS course. Six percent of the enti re group were 60 to 73 years old and demonstrated a commitment to trau ma equal to that of their younger cohorts. As a group, the older surge ons took less call, but when community or the institutional call needs were identified, the older surgeons met the challenge.