Advances in neurotrauma in Australia 1970-2000

The management of neurotrauma in Australia has been one of the significant public health triumphs during the last 30 years of the 20th century. State and national government agencies act in a coordinated fashion to collect da ta and to promote research on how to manage neurotrauma patients. Between 1 970 and 1995, fatalities from road accidents decreased by 47%. Hospital adm issions have decreased by 40% despite a 40% increase in the population and a 120% increase in registered vehicles. Fatalities per 10,000 registered ve hicles were 8.05% in 1970 and they fell to 1.84% per vehicles in 1995, whil e fatalities per 10;000 population were 3 in 1970 falling to 1.11 in 1995. Hospitalization from road crashes decreased 23% between March 1988 and Marc h 1997. Public education has steadily improved, backed by the state public health sources. A uniform code of road safety laws has been adopted, backed by legislation and legal penalties and increasing police enforcement. Clin ical care of patients has improved as a result of faster communications, te le-medicine, trauma systems, the CT scanner; intensive care units, and impr oved monitoring. Patient rehabilitation and counseling are now carried out at units accredited by the Australian Council on Health Care Standards.