For over a decade, Qsource has proudly served the people of Arkansas as the state’s Trauma System Quality Improvement Organization (TSQIO). Since July 2013, we’ve worked alongside hospitals, physicians, surgeons, nurses, EMS agencies, and the Arkansas Trauma Communications Center (ATCC) to strengthen emergency care systems across the state.
Trauma doesn’t discriminate. It affects individuals of all ages, in every region, and in every circumstance. Qsource’s role in supporting trauma system improvements has always centered around one goal: saving lives by making sure the right care reaches the right patient at the right time.
A Steady Decline in Preventable Deaths
When Qsource began this work, the data revealed significant opportunities for system-wide improvement. In 2017, the percentage of preventable trauma-related deaths stood at 16.59%. By 2021, it had fallen to 6.61%. Most recently, in 2024, preventable deaths dropped again to just 4.12%.
This progress reflects the tireless collaboration of Arkansas’s trauma committees, care teams, and emergency responders. One of the most impactful system-level changes has been the shift in EMS protocols to transport trauma patients based on the severity of their injuries, not simply to the closest facility. Ensuring patients arrive at the appropriate trauma center has reduced delays in lifesaving interventions, especially for those who need higher-level surgical and critical care.
A Personal Reminder of Why It Matters
Among the many lives touched by the Arkansas trauma system is one of our own. A pediatric surgeon who helped shape the state’s trauma care guidelines through years of service on trauma advisory and review committees was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash. Thanks to the very system he helped improve, he was transported to the correct trauma facility and underwent lifesaving surgeries. He recovered and returned to his practice where not long after, he performed surgery on the nephew of one of our team members.
That young man had suffered complications after a previous surgery at another hospital. He was flown to Little Rock and received emergency repair to his aorta using part of a bovine heart. Today, he’s thriving and preparing to enter the fire academy.
Driving Trauma System Improvement Every Day
Qsource remains committed to driving continued improvement across Arkansas’s trauma system. Our work involves performance measurement, mortality review coordination, and ongoing collaboration with frontline providers and system leaders to identify trends and opportunities for change.
We are honored to support the Arkansas Department of Health and all trauma stakeholders in building a more responsive, effective system of care. Every success, every life saved, is a result of partnerships grounded in data, clinical excellence, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
“Trauma affects everyone, and at Qsource we are proud to be part of the process to continually improve the trauma system and provide positive outcomes for people across the state,” said Stacy McBrayer, Qsource’s Trauma Manager.
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