The Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) Trauma Care Verification Program assists trauma services in the evaluation and improvement of trauma care, helping to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the hospital's trauma service. Trauma verification covers all phases of acute care from pre-hospital through to discharge.6
The program provides objective, external review of capability and performance by a multidisciplinary team of highly experienced trauma clinicians.
Trauma verification does not designate which hospitals receive major trauma. In NSW that is the role of the NSW Ministry of Health. 1, 6
The ANZ trauma verification program is a multidisciplinary inter-collegiate process, developed through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
NSW trauma verification program
Trauma verification is an integral component of the implementation of the NSW trauma services model of care. In a landmark agreement between RACS, the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) Institute of Trauma and Injury Management and the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority, all trauma centres managing injured patients in NSW are participating in the Australian and New Zealand trauma care verification program.
This will help advance the trauma care patients receive and provide an opportunity for NSW to become a national leader in the management of trauma care.
Full media release - 14 Apr 2021 (PDF )
Verification program process
Pre-review questionnaire
Consultation visit
The objective of a trauma verification consultation visit is to provide a constructive review of the trauma service and identify areas where the service would be unable to meet the criteria stipulated if undergoing formal verification. It can be used to improve the trauma service or as preparation for formal verification.
Formal trauma verification visit
A team of five experienced reviewers conducts the site review for a formal trauma verification visit. The team is multidisciplinary, reflecting the broad range of clinical care required by an injured patient.
The site team reviews the pre-review material provided by the hospital prior to the review and then again with the key trauma service personnel on site. On site, the team tours the facility, tracing the path of the injured patient, engages key clinicians and hospital management in discussion and undertakes medical chart reviews to verify the quality of trauma care being provided. The trauma registry is interrogated and trauma quality improvement initiatives discussed.
Verification report
Each institution undergoing either a formal trauma verification visit or a consultation visit receives a comprehensive written report, approved by the trauma verification sub-committee of the RACS. The report is sent to the authorising body and/or the trauma director and hospital administration.