Redefining Trauma Care: Best Practices for Conducting Trauma Video Review

Trauma care is defined by urgency, precision, and teamwork. In the midst of high-stakes resuscitations, every decision and action can shape patient outcomes. Yet, traditional methods of performance evaluation—such as retrospective chart reviews and verbal debriefs—often fail to capture the full complexity of what happens in the trauma bay.

This is where trauma video review¹ changes the game. By enabling teams to analyze real-world trauma care, trauma video review provides a powerful lens for continuous learning and improvement. However, standardizing and launching a video review program to improve trauma care can be complex – particularly without the right technology² or organizational infrastructure in place.

Most importantly, the success of a trauma video review program hinges on defining the organizational purpose and establishing measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that enable trauma teams to quantify impact and make lasting improvements in trauma care.

Defining Purpose

Trauma video review can quickly become an unfocused initiative rather than a strategic tool for improving trauma care without clear objectives. At its core, a well-structured trauma video review program typically serves one or more of the following purposes:

• Quality Improvement: Identifying strengths and areas for refinement in trauma resuscitations.³

• Training and Education: Enhancing learning for residents, attendings, and multidisciplinary teams through objective case analysis.³

• Team Performance Optimization: Improving communication, coordination, and efficiency during high-acuity cases.⁴

• Process Refinement: Identifying bottlenecks, workflow inefficiencies, or systemic barriers to timely trauma care.⁴

For a deeper look at the foundational elements of a successful trauma video review program, review the e-book, “5 Critical Best Practices for Starting a Trauma Video Review Program.”⁵

Setting the Right KPIs to Impact Trauma Care

Once the purpose is established, defining KPIs ensures that a trauma video program remains focused and produces actionable insights. The right KPIs provide measurable benchmarks for evaluating success, tracking progress, and justifying continued investment in trauma video review.

There are a series of categories to measure trauma video review impact including:

• Clinical performance metrics, e.g. speed and coordination of critical interventions⁶ or adherence to best practices in resuscitation protocols.

• Team performance and communication, e.g. time to first critical intervention or efficiency of leadership handoffs.

• Patient outcomes and safety indicators, e.g. reduction in resuscitation delays⁷ or identification of preventable complications or adverse events.

• Operational and process efficiency, e.g. trauma bay length of stay⁸ before transfer or time from EMS arrival to definitive intervention.

More in depth guidance regarding trauma video review KPIs can be found in this E-Book, in addition to suggestions for evaluating the right supporting technology for your organization.⁵

Next Steps: Launching Your Trauma Video Program

A well-designed trauma video program doesn’t just identify areas for improvement—it transforms trauma care. By defining clear objectives, selecting meaningful KPIs, and securing institutional support, hospitals can ensure their video review initiatives drive measurable impact.

Recommended Reading

1. Dumas, R.P. (2024, July 18). Trauma Care Breakthrough: Enhancing Performance Improvement Through Trauma Video Review. https://www.surgicalsafety.com/blog/trauma-care-breakthrough-enhancing-performance-improvement-through-trauma-video-review

2. Surgical Safety Technologies. (2025). Evaluating Technology for Trauma Video Review [Fact Sheet]. https://www.surgicalsafety.com/resources/evaluating-technology-trauma-video-review

3. Quirion, A., Nikouline, A., Jung, J. et al. (2021). Contemporary uses of trauma video review: a scoping review. Can J Emerg Med 23, 787–796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43678-021-00178-9

4. Dumas, R.P. (2025). Black Box Platform™ Insights [Video]. Surgical Safety Technologies. https://www.surgicalsafety.com/resources/black-box-platform-insights-dr-ryan-dumas

5. Surgical Safety Technologies. (2025). 5 Critical Best Practices for Starting a Trauma Video Review Program [E-book]. https://www.surgicalsafety.com/resources/5-best-practices-trauma-video-review-program

6. Dumas, R.P., Vella, M.A., Maiga, A.W., et., al. (2023). Moving the needle on time to resuscitation: An EAST prospective multicenter study of vascular access in hypotensive injured patients using trauma video review. J Trauma Acute Care Surg;95(1); 87-93. https://www.surgicalsafety.com/clinical-research/moving-needle-time-to-resuscitation-trauma-video-review

7. Maiga, A.W., Vella, M.A., Appelbaum, R.D., et., al. (2024). Getting out of the bay faster: Assessing trauma team performance using trauma video review. J Trauma Acute Care Surg;96(1); 76-84. https://www.surgicalsafety.com/clinical-research/assessing-trauma-team-performance-using-trauma-video-review

8. Succar, B., Lunardi, N., Gopal, K., et., al. (2025). Trauma video review analysis: Increased provider movement impedes trauma team performance. The American Journal of Surgery;240; 116121. https://www.surgicalsafety.com/clinical-research/trauma-video-review-analysis