The burden of traumatic injuries is increasing in Bhutan. Data from the Ministry of Health of Bhutan (MoH) indicates that the number of injuries has increased 37% from the years 2004 to 2008. Current data on demographics, cause, and outcome of injuries is not well documented, leaving the MoH with insufficient data to guide policy decisions. The MoH and the Bhutan Foundation have prioritized development of a national trauma registry in Bhutan, starting with a trauma registry at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH).

To design and implement a sustainable tool for the collection and storage of data describing trauma patients at JDWNRH.

The trauma team defined trauma as any injury that requires an evaluation, intervention, or admission to the hospital. A paper based tool was designed by consensus to collect data on demographics, injury type, injury location, injury severity, treatments and outcomes. A hospital based system to processes the data into Microsoft Access was established and data collection began in September 2010. Monitoring is ongoing to ensure the reliability of data.

During a four month period, with a team of physicians, government officials and public health staff developed a model trauma registry. The registry emphasized simplicity in design and execution and will serve as a stepping stone for a nation-wide trauma registry. Data collected from JDWNRH will provide the MoH with a detailed set of injury data to help with policy and resource utilization decisions. Logistical and technical challenges of developing a trauma registry are similar across health systems and this data collection tool and the lessons learned could be adapted to fit other institutions or health systems worldwide.