Trauma Newsletter April 2026-Trauma Newsletter April 2026

Trauma Newsletter April 2026

Pdf Summary

This April 2026 Trauma Newsletter emphasizes that trauma patients—especially victims of violence—need care that addresses both physical injuries and psychosocial needs. Providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary support can reduce injury recidivism, improve follow-up clinic attendance, decrease hospital readmissions, and increase access to resources for PTSD, substance use, and other community services. These priorities align with American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) expectations around injury/violence prevention and alcohol and PTSD screening.<br /><br />The newsletter outlines key screening tools used to identify patient needs: Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) screening for financial, housing, transportation, food, and stress concerns; AUDIT-C for alcohol use (with a score of 7 indicating risk); interpersonal safety screening for abuse or neglect; and the Injured Trauma Survivor Screen (ITSS), a 9-item survey where a score of 2 or higher suggests increased risk for PTSD or depression. Positive screening results prompt individualized support and resource connection, typically coordinated by social work. Nurses also assess health literacy to ensure patients understand wound care and discharge instructions.<br /><br />A featured initiative is the START Team (Supporting Transition and Recovery in Trauma), a transitional care program enrolling victims of violence across all ages. The team includes RN navigators who complete assessments and discharge teaching, plus a social worker and community health worker who connect patients to community resources tailored to their needs and neighborhood. START follows patients for two months after discharge to support ongoing recovery and resource use.<br /><br />Additional in-hospital resources include the BRIDGE Clinic, Breadbasket food support, the Trauma Survivor’s Network (TSN), and Behavioral Health Urgent Care. The newsletter also promotes a free, peer-led TSN support group meeting via Zoom twice monthly, with inpatient peer rounds and an annual in-person gathering in May for Trauma Survivors Month. Contact information for START team members is provided, along with a brief educational quiz for internal credit.

Keywords

Trauma-informed care

Violence intervention

Psychosocial support

Injury recidivism prevention

ACS-COT compliance

Social Determinants of Health screening

AUDIT-C alcohol screening

Injured Trauma Survivor Screen (ITSS)

START Team transitional care

Trauma Survivor’s Network (TSN) support group