Trauma system development in North America.

The concepts of organized trauma care, many of which originated in military medicine, have been proven effective in the civilian sector. A formal trauma system includes all phases of care from prehospital through rehabilitation. Although trauma centers assume the leadership role, in a truly inclusive system, all healthcare providers (prehospital providers, community hospitals, and trauma centers) have a defined role in providing care to patients with trauma. As a result, patients receive treatment at the appropriate institution, resources are allocated appropriately, and the clinical outcome is optimized. Such a system ideally is suited to the unique needs of the mass casualty scenario.