In the study presented in this scientific poster it was hypothesized that alcohol use is associated with higher utilization of hospital resources in motor vehicle crash (MVC) victims. To test this assumption, 41 MVC patients admitted to a Trauma Service in the USA with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of greater than or equal to 100 mg/dl were matched by Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) for the head region as well as Injury Severity Score (ISS) to the most recently admitted MVC patients with a BAC equal to 0. Information was collected from the Trauma Registry as well as Patient Financial Services and medical records. Data from the two groups were compared. Despite a shorter hospital stay, MVC patients with alcohol intoxication (AI) accumulated higher total hospital charges and charges per day. These patients were also more likely to require physical restraint, to receive sedation in the trauma bay, and to require intubation and mechanical ventilation. The study supports the hypothesis that AI in MVC victims is associated with higher hospital charges per day, when standardized for injury severity. These higher charges likely result from a requirement of higher intensity of care for the acutely intoxicated MVC victim. (A)
Abstract