In our 35+ years of combined legal experience, we know how critical it is to get treatment quickly after a car accident or other personal injury. However, a new study has made the connection between prompt treatment and positive health outcomes even clearer.
Association between prehospital time and outcome of trauma patients in 4 Asian countries: A cross-national, multicenter cohort study
Released on October 6th, 2020, this study, entitled Association between prehospital time and outcome of trauma patients in 4 Asian countries: A cross-national, multicenter cohort study looked at trauma cases from January 1st, 2016 to November 30th, 2018. In total, the research considered 24,365 patients from 4 countries (645 patients from Japan, 16,476 patients from Korea, 5,358 patients from Malaysia, and 1,886 patients from Taiwan).
In particular, this study aimed to substantiate the concept of the “golden hour of treatment” in medical care.
The Golden Hour of Treatment
In general, the “Golden Hour of Treatment” refers to the period of time immediately following a serious trauma in which there is the highest likelihood that prompt medical treatment will prevent death or other serious injury. While the term “hour” is used in the title, the exact amount of time can vary based on type of trauma at issue. However, the point is clear, the faster you get treatment after an injury – the better the health outcomes.
The term, Golden Hour of Treatment, is often attributed to R. Adams Cowley – the Founder of the Shock Trauma Institute. In a 1975 article, he explained that:
The first hour after injury will largely determine a critically-injured person’s chances for survival.
What the Study Found
Many scholars have long wondered whether the Golden Hour of Treatment was mere medical folklore. Studies since 1975 have lended credibility to the idea – but the exact impact of delayed treatment has often been a matter of conjecture. In fact, this recent study acknowledged that “studies have shown divergence in the association between prehospital time and mortality in injured patients.”
Thus, the researched conducted a 3 year, multi-center cohort study that included 24,365 patients in 4 countries. Interestingly, the study found some interesting points:
- There was no association between prehospital time and 30-day mortality in trauma patients overall
- longer prehospital time was detrimental to functional outcome
- Every 10-minute delay in total prehospital time was associated with a 6% increase in the odds of a poor functional outcome (Poor functional outcome indicates severe disability in daily life, or death).
What Does This Mean?
As an overarching point, the study makes clear what we have known as personal injury lawyer for some time – trauma patients that delay in seeking treatment are more likely to suffer poorer functional outcomes, such as severe disabilities in daily life.
The causes of these delays in treatment were also found to be multi-factored. In the study, the researchers identified the following causes of medical treatment delay:
- Response Time; and
- Scene Control; and
- Extrication; and
- Interventions; and
- Transportation to Hospital.
Speak to a Lawyer today
Fill out the contact form below and a lawyer will contact you to discuss your case.
Contact Info
- 416 N Erie St Ste 200A, Toledo, OH 43604
- 419-900-0955
- info@sawanandsawan.com
About the Authors: Sawan & Sawan is a Toledo, Ohio based Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Truck Accident, Car Accident and Insurance Law Firm with lawyers licensed to practice in Ohio, Florida, Michigan and Georgia.
Dennis E. Sawan
Licensed in Ohio and Florida
Dennis P. Sawan
Licensed in Ohio and Georgia
Christopher A. Sawan
Licensed in Ohio and Michigan
Contact an Attorney today to discuss your case.
At Sawan & Sawan, we offer free initial consultations. We represent clients in Ohio, Georgia, Michigan and Florida. From our family to yours.
Request A Call
Videos
More Content
discover our latest Articles
Florida Jury Issues a $1 Billion Dollar Verdict in Truck Accident Case A jury in Nassau County, Florida returned a massive $1 Billion dollar verdict
Toledo, Ohio Scooter Safety Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Pc-TGr34c If you’ve been in Downtown Toledo recently, you may have seen hundreds of new electric bikes and scooters throughout the City. The City of
What Happens to Car Insurance After Moving Out of State? How do you handle your car insurance when you move out of state? Changing your
Uninsured and Underinsured Car Insurance
Protect Yourself From Car Accidents with Uninsured Drivers 0 % Percentage of Ohio Drivers Estimated to Be Uninsured So you get into a car accident,
Slip and Fall Injury Lawsuits in Michigan In Michigan, recovering compensation for a slip and fall injury can be incredibly difficult. These types of cases
What Should I Do if I’m in an Accident with a DoorDash Driver? If you were in a car accident with a DoorDash driver, the legal and
Related Pages
Car Accident Lawyers
Ohio Car Accident Lawyers
Toledo Ohio Car Accident Lawyers
Columbus Ohio Car Accident Lawyers
Cleveland Ohio Car Accident Lawyers
Georgia Car Accident Lawyers
Savannah Georgia Car Accident Lawyers
Florida Car Accident Lawyers
Jacksonville Florida Car Accident Lawyers
Michigan Car Accident Lawyers
Personal Injury Lawyers
Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers
Toledo Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers
Columbus Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers
Cleveland Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers
Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers
Savannah Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers
Florida Personal Injury Lawyers
Jacksonville Florida Personal Injury Lawyers
Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers