Location:

TBA

Presenter:

Joseph Zalkin

Summary:

This presentation outlines a data-driven approach to reducing preventable trauma deaths in rural Eastern North Carolina, particularly in counties east and south of Wilson County. Using statewide crash fatality data and trauma system access patterns, the project identifies geographic gaps where patients experience prolonged transport times without access to life-saving interventions such as prehospital blood transfusion. The model highlights that many rural counties face a combination of higher roadway fatality rates, extended EMS transport intervals, and limited proximity to trauma centers. These factors contribute to increased mortality from hemorrhagic shock—one of the most preventable causes of trauma death. The presentation proposes a regional hub-and-spoke EMS blood deployment model, supported by scoring and prioritization tools, to strategically place resources where they will have the greatest impact. This approach enables EMS systems to deliver earlier hemorrhage control and blood resuscitation in rural environments, improving outcomes and strengthening the overall trauma system.

Objectives:

1. Identify Rural Trauma Care Gaps in Eastern North Carolina

• Analyze crash fatality patterns and transport times
• Highlight disparities in access to trauma centers and advanced interventions

2. Explain a Data-Driven EMS Resource Allocation Model

• Demonstrate how counties are prioritized using risk-based scoring
• Show how geographic and operational data guide EMS deployment decisions

3. Present a Regional Strategy to Improve Rural Trauma Outcomes

• Describe implementation of a hub-and-spoke prehospital blood program
• Emphasize earlier intervention in high-risk, underserved areas

4. Support State-Level Decision Making and Funding Justification

• Connect data findings to actionable EMS system improvements
• Provide a defensible framework for resource allocation in rural regions