[Trauma networks of the future: where is the trend headed?]

Abstract

The idea of establishing certified trauma networks to ensure nationwide, high-quality care for severely injured patients emerged in the early 2000s. Since then, it has been continuously developed. Currently, 278 local, 240 regional, and 122 supraregional trauma centers in 48 trauma networks are certified in Germany. An increasing number of other countries are adopting the TraumaNetwork within their own structures. The far-reaching changes currently taking place in German health policy, the integration of other countries with different healthcare systems into the TraumaNetwork, and the growing need to focus on care structures in terms of disaster, crisis, and war are creating new challenges.