Alcohol Screening

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I applaud the ACS initiative, and would say only that it is about time
that we moved on this.  In fact, I am not sure why Level II Trauma
Centers have not been held to the same standards!

In fact, the great State of Connecticut has a law that requires
"mandatory screening" of all admitted trauma patients.  The problem with
this is that (1) the screening method is left to the
institution/physician,  and (2) the entire population seen in the ED and
sent home is missed.  We here at Hartford Hospital screen all ED trauma
patients with, at a minimum, CAGE questioning.  There are those of us -
yours truly included - who test both blood and urine on every single
trauma patient, whether admitted or not, and personally discuss the
results with the patient when they are positive for substance abuse. 
All patients found to have indications of abuse, whether by the very
minimalist CAGE questioning, or the confirmatory laboratory testing, are
then seen by our social service substance abuse counselors.

We need to do more!

Best wishes,
Ron

>>> "Bjorn, Pret" <pbjorn at emh.org> 8/16/2006 8:19 AM >>>
According to Surgery News (Aug 06), the ACS is preparing to require
Level I trauma centers to perform alcohol abuse screening and
intervention for trauma patients.  Do you screen and intervene?  If
so,
how?  If not, why not - and what are your thoughts on the new ACS
standard?

Thanks.

Pret Bjorn, RN
Bangor, ME USA
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