1.
Banner University Medicine
Trauma Outreach
Gun violence
Pete Plahmer RN BSN
Peter.Plahmer@bannerhealth.com
Trauma Outreach and Injury Prevention Coordinator
Banner University Medical Center-Tucson

2.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
2016: 223 Males: 1350+ Females: 210+ Total: 1599
2017: 223 Counties: Pima: 1300+ Maricopa
2018: 233 Cochise: 85 Greenlee
2019: 277 International: 31 Gila Combined: 15
2020: 257 Santa Cruz: 21 La Paz
2021: 285 Graham: 16 Navajo
2022: 73 Pinal: 16
Banner University Medical Center-Tucson is the only American College of Surgeons ACS
Level I Designated Trauma Center in Southern Arizona.

3.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
Survived: 1366 Died: 233
Assaults: 909 Hunting Rifle Assault: 10
Unintentional: 346 Hunting Rifle Accident: 9
Self Inflicted: 166 Assault by shotgun: 16
Undetermined: 60 Accidental shotgun: 16
Other: 45 Self Harm shotgun: 11
Handguns: 475
Unspecified: 400
Intentional/Self Harm handgun: 140

4.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
Dispositions of Gun Violence Patients:
Admitted: 874
DOA/Died in ED/Trauma Bay: 120
Discharged directly from ED/Trauma: 526
Operating Room: 360
Med/Surg: 226
ICU: 178
Observation: 105

5.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
Costs of Gun Violence in America:
2017 Research: Stanford University Study: $735 million per year for initial hospitalization.
University of Iowa Study: $622 million per year for admissions to hospital.
Johns Hopkins University Study: Total Costs per year=$3 billion.
In the 10-year period examined by the researchers, uninsured patients and those with
Medicaid or Medicare accounted for about 65 percent of the total cost of firearm-related
hospital stays.
These are just hospital and medical costs. This does not account for financial losses related
to victims and families lost wages, court costs, and many other economic factors that add to
the costs of gun violence in America.

6.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
Trauma Informed Care/Social Workers/Trauma Informed Care
Social Workers have a very limited role in the hospital setting at BUMC-T
Referrals to Mental Health Professionals/Resources outside the hospital are restricted
Goals of Trauma Informed Care:
Realize widespread impact of trauma and understand paths for recovery.
Recognize signs and symptoms of trauma in patients, families and staff.
Integrate knowledge about trauma into policy, procedures, and practices.
Actively avoid re-traumatization.

7.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
Gun Violence and Firearms Workgroup:
Multi-professional, Interdisciplinary group that includes members from Pima County Mental
Health, Pima County Attorneys Office, Tucson Police Department, Owner/Operator of
Diamondback Shooting Sports, Trauma Outreach Coordinator from Banner University
Medical Centers Tucson and South Campus, Social Workers, amongst others.
Group meets every 5 weeks.
Multiple goals and strategies related to reducing gun violence.

8.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
2/3rds of gun violence survivors indicate a need for mental health support, legal assistance
as crime victims, and financial assistance with medical costs, including outpatient rehab and
therapies, physical and mental.
Strategies identified by the work group:
Training to firearms dealers to help identify at risk individuals for suicidal/homicidal
ideation. Resources made available for mental health crisis. The new 988 hotline.
Provide free training to gun owners and residents living in areas that are identified as socio-
economically depressed that are also prone to high crime areas.
Improve and strengthen postvention strategies through outreach to those affected by gun
violence including victims, witnesses, family members, and others.

9.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
Strategies continued:
Engaging with individuals post criminal justice encounters related to guns and gun violence
to prevent recidivism.
Provide resources and training to victims of intimate partner violence, particularly where
there are guns and other weapons in the households.
Work and write for grants and funding to increase social work involvement in gun violence
victims in order to meet the mental health needs of individuals adversely affected.

10.
Banner University Medicine Trauma: Gun Violence
In light of the gun violence problem in America, Banner University Medical Center-Tucson
has become part of the Stop the Bleed Campaign. This effort arose out of the Sandy Hook
School Shooting. We provide training, free of charge, to civic groups on how to identify life
threatening bleeding and how to take steps to stop that bleeding in order to increase a
person's chance of surviving penetrating injuries.
For more information, please feel free to contact me;
Pete Plahmer RN BSN Trauma Outreach Coordinator at Banner University Medical Center-
Tucson. Office: 520-694-5178 peter.plahmer@bannerhealth.com