Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Delayed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response and transport (time from injury occurrence to hospital arrival) are associated with increased injury mortality. Inequities in accessing EMS care for injured patients are not well characterized. We sought to evaluate the association between the area deprivation index (ADI), a measure of geographic socioeconomic disadvantage, and timely access to EMS care within the United States. METHODS:The Homeland Infrastructure Foundation Level Data open-source database from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency was used to evaluate the location of EMS stations across the United States using longitude and latitude coordinates. The ADI was obtained from Neighborhood Atlas at the census block group level. An ambulance desert (AD) was defined as populated census block groups with a geographic center outside of a 25-minute ambulance service area. The total population (urban and rural) located within an AD and outside an AD (non-ambulance desert [NAD]) and the ADI index distribution within those areas were calculated with their statistical significance derived from χ2 testing. Spearman correlations between the number of EMS stations available within 25-minutes service areas and ADI were calculated, and statistical significance was derived after accounting for spatial autocorrelation. RESULTS:A total of 42,472 ground EMS stations were identified. Of the 333,036,755 people (current US population), 2.6% are located within an AD. When stratified by type of population, 0.3% of people within urban populations and 8.9% of people within rural populations were located within an AD (p < 0.01). When compared with NADs, ADs were more likely to have a higher ADI (ADIAD, 53.13; ADINAD, 50.41; p < 0.01). The number of EMS stations available per capita was negatively correlated with ADI (rs = -0.25, p < 0.01), indicating that people living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods are likely to have fewer EMS stations available. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Ambulance deserts are more likely to affect rural versus urban populations and are associated with higher ADIs. The impact of inequities in access to EMS care on outcomes deserves further study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

IMPORTANCE/UNASSIGNED:Inequities in rapid access to emergency medical services (EMS) represent a critical gap in prehospital care and the first system-level milestone for critically injured patients. As delays in EMS response are associated with increased mortality and known disparities within historically redlined areas are prevalent, this study sought to examine disparities in rapid access to EMS across the United States. OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:To assess the association between historically redlined areas and rapid EMS access (defined as ≤5-minute response time) across the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS/UNASSIGNED:This retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed the geographic distribution of EMS centers in relation to 2020 US Census block groups and Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) residential security maps, classified by grades (A-D). Populations of 236 US cities with publicly available redlining data were included. Travel distance radius (5-minute drive times) was centered on population-weighted block group centroids. Redlining grades include A ("most desirable," green), B ("still desirable," blue), C ("declining," yellow), and D ("hazardous," red). EXPOSURE/UNASSIGNED:HOLC grade classification (A-D). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES/UNASSIGNED:The primary outcome was the proportion of the population with rapid EMS access. Secondary outcomes included the socioeconomic and demographic profiles of populations without rapid access. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Of the total US population (N = 333 036 755), 41 367 025 (12.42%) lived in cities with redlining data. Among these, 2 208 269 (5.34%) lacked rapid access to 42 472 EMS stations. Grade D areas had a higher proportion of residents without rapid EMS access compared with grade A areas (7.06% vs 4.36%; P < .001). The odds of having no rapid access to EMS in grade D areas were 1.67 (95% CI, 1.66-1.68) times higher than in grade A areas. Compared with grade A, grade D areas had a lower percentage of non-Hispanic White residents (65.21% [95% CI, 59.43%-70.99%] vs 39.36% [95% CI, 36.99%-41.73%]; P < .001), a higher percentage of non-Hispanic Black residents (10.38% [95% CI, 7.14%-13.62%] vs 27.85% [95% CI, 25.4%-30.3%]; P < .001), and greater population density (7500.72 [95% CI, 4341.26-10 660.18] persons/km2 vs 15 277.87 [95% CI, 13 281.7-17 274.04] persons/km2; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE/UNASSIGNED:In this cross-sectional study, structural disparities in rapid EMS access were associated with historically redlined areas. Strategic resource allocation and system redesign are warranted to address these inequities in prehospital emergency care.

OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:To investigate the number of safety net hospitals (SNHs) that have American College of Surgeons (ACS) accreditation for surgical programs. BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:SNHs provide healthcare to a substantial proportion of uninsured and underserved patient populations and rely heavily on public funding to sustain their operations. ACS accreditation emphasizes evidence-based care and standardization to improve patient outcomes. However, SNHs face financial and administrative barriers to ACS accreditation. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:We investigated the number of SNHs with ACS accreditation for specific programs by utilizing the publicly available listing of ACS-accredited programs and the listing of SNHs from the America's Essential Hospitals membership. We then performed a descriptive analysis of the number and geographic distribution of SNHs within the United States and the number of SNHs with ACS-accredited programs. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:SNHs vary by regional disparities and demographic characteristics of respective states. Almost 20% of states are without access to SNHs. Most SNHs do not pursue ACS accreditation. Of 322 SNHs, 36% were accredited for cancer care (Commission on Cancer), 31% for trauma (Trauma Quality Improvement Program), 21% for bariatrics (Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program), 13% for breast care (National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers), and 5% for rectal cancer (National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer). CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:ACS accreditation can benefit SNHs in improving guideline-concordant care for medically underserved patients and SNHs should be encouraged to attain ACS accreditation to improve access to and quality of care for vulnerable patient populations.

BACKGROUND:Existing research exploring predictors of success on American Board of Surgery (ABS) exams focused on either resident or residency program characteristics, but limited studies focus on both. This study examines relationships between both resident and program characteristics and ABS Qualifying (QE) and Certifying Exam (CE) outcomes. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Multilevel logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between resident and program characteristics and ABS QE and CE 1st attempt pass and eventual certification. Resident characteristics were gender, IMG status, and prior performance, measured by 1st attempt USMLE Step 2 CK and Step 3 scaled scores. Program characteristics were size, %female, %International Medical Graduate (IMG), and program type. The sample included surgeons with QE and CE data from 2007-2019 and matched USMLE scores. RESULTS:Controlling for other variables, prior medical performance positively related to all ABS exam outcomes. The relationships between USMLE scores and success on ABS exams varied but were generally strong. Other resident characteristics that predicted ABS exam outcomes were gender and IMG (QE 1st attempt pass). The only program characteristic that significantly predicted ABS outcomes was %IMG (QE and CE 1st attempt pass). Despite statistical significance, gender, IMG, and %IMG translated to small differences in predicted probabilities of ABS exam success. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study highlights resident and program characteristics that predict success on ABS exams. USMLE scores consistently and strongly related to ABS exam success, providing evidence that USMLE scores relate to future high-stakes consequences like board certification. After controlling for prior performance, gender, IMG, and program %IMG significantly related to ABS exam success, but effects were small.

OBJECTIVE:As part of the Blue Ribbon Committee II, review current goals, structure and financing of surgical training in Graduate Medical Education (GME) and recommend needed changes. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA/BACKGROUND:Surgical training has continually undergone major transitions with the 80-hour work week, earlier specialization (vascular, plastics and cardiovascular) and now entrustable professional activities (EPAs) as part of competency based medical education (CBME). Changes are needed to ensure the efficiencies of CBME are utilized, that stable graduate medical education funding is secured, and that support for surgeons who teach is made available. METHODS:Convened subcommittee discussions to determine needed focus for recommendations. RESULTS:Five recommendations are offered for changes to GME financing, incorporation of CBME, and support for educators, students and residents in training. CONCLUSIONS:Changes in surgical training related to CBME offer opportunity for change and innovation. Our subcommittee has laid out a potential path forward for improvements in GME funding, training structure, compensation of surgical educators, and support of students and residents in training.

Despite remarkable advances in clinical care, injury remains a leading cause of death in the USA. Recent studies in the care of the injured patient have begun to unearth the crucial influence of health disparities and health inequity on outcomes after injury. Importantly, it is known that there are strikingly disparate outcomes following injury based on demographic backgrounds, with racial and ethnic minoritized groups having a higher risk of death from traumatic injury. This paper highlights the problem of health inequity after injury by addressing health and health care disparities in trauma with a focus on the proceedings from the Summit on the Advancement of Focused Equity Research in Trauma organized by Coalition for National Trauma Research's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Included in this work is an assessment of the structural determinants of health inequities and the evidence for widespread inequities across the continuum of trauma care; with an emphasis on five vital, actionable steps towards health equity that can be taken now by the trauma community, including firearm injury prevention, Medicaid expansion, trauma-informed care, equity measurement and benchmarking, and improving trauma survivorship. Ultimately, to move towards improved quality of care for all injured patients, we must eliminate health care disparities in trauma care across the continuum and work towards more equitable care for all.

BACKGROUND:The need for evidence to inform interventions to prevent mass shootings (MS) in the USA has never been greater. METHODS:Data were abstracted from the Gun Violence Archive, an independent online database of US gun violence incidents. Descriptive analyses consisted of individual-level epidemiology of victims, suspected shooters and weapons involved, trends and county-level choropleths of population-level incident and fatality rates. Counties with and without state-level assault weapons bans (AWB) were compared, and we conducted a multivariable negative binomial model controlling for county-level social fragmentation, median age and number of gun-related homicides for the association of state-level AWB with aggregate county MS fatalities. RESULTS:73.3% (95% CI 72.1 to 74.5) of victims and 97.2% (95% CI 96.3 to 98.3) of shooters were males. When compared with incidents involving weapons labelled 'handguns', those involving a weapon labelled AR-15 or AK-47 were six times more likely to be associated with case-fatality rates greater than the median (OR=6.1, 95% CI 2.3 to 15.8, p<0.00001). MS incidents were significantly more likely to occur on weekends and during summer months. US counties in states without AWB had consistently higher MS rates throughout the study period (p<0.0001), and the slope for increase over time was significantly lower in counties with AWB (beta=-0.11, p=0.01). In a multivariable negative binomial model, counties in states with AWB were associated with a 41% lower incidence of MS fatalities (OR=0.58, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.97, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS:Counties located in states with AWB were associated with fewer MS fatalities between 2014 and 2022.

Addressing disparities is crucial for enhancing population health, ensuring health security, and fostering resilient health systems. Disparities in acute care surgery (trauma, emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care) have been well documented and the magnitude of inequities demand an intentional, organized, and effective response. As part of its commitment to achieve high-quality, equitable care in all aspects of acute care surgery, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma convened an expert panel at its eigty-second annual meeting in September 2023 to discuss how to take action to work towards health equity in acute care surgery practice. The panel discussion framed contemporary disparities in the context of historic and political injustices, then identified targets for interventions and potential action items in health system structure, health policy, the surgical workforce, institutional operations and quality efforts. We offer a four-pronged approach to address health inequities: identify, reduce, eliminate, and heal disparities, with the goal of building a healthcare system that achieves equity and justice for all.