Evaluation of the quality of hospital care for major trauma.

A retrospective analysis of trauma care in five hospitals was undertaken. Eight hundred twenty-three charts met criteria for major trauma. A panel of surgeons reviewing 237 selected charts found the quality of care unacceptable in 16%. Unacceptability rates between hospitals ranged from 7 to 58%. Injury severity score rather than length of stay appears to be a better method for selecting patients at greater risk for poor care.