Ambulances More Likely to Transport Young People to Top Trauma Centers

Story Published: Aug 18, 2008 at 5:58 PM EST

Story Updated: Aug 18, 2008 at 5:58 PM EST

A troubling new study finds ambulances are more likely to transport young patients to top trauma centers than they are to take senior citizens.
Studies show that seniors in good health have essentially the same odds of
recovery as younger trauma patients, as long as they get the same treatment, but new research from Johns Hopkins University finds that many elderly trauma patients never make it to the best medical centers.
Doctors analyzed 10 years worth of ambulance data from Maryland and found
evidence of unconscious age bias by emergency medical staff.
Half of patients over age 65 were not treated at designated trauma centers, compared to 18 percent of younger patients.

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