The opening of the University of Chicago Medicine's Level 1 trauma center in May 2018 was associated with a nearly four percent drop in firearm-related deaths, according to a study published in JAMA Surgery and announced on Mar. 26.
Researchers say this reduction is important for neighborhoods on Chicago's South Side, where high rates of gun violence have made quick access to emergency care critical. The study examined more than 45,000 firearm incidents across the city between 2010 and 2024, focusing on changes before and after the trauma center began operations.
Within the area served by the new trauma center—the region where it became the closest option for gunshot victims—average travel time to receive care fell by about ten minutes, and average distance dropped by roughly three and a half miles. These improvements were not seen elsewhere in Chicago during the same period. After the center opened, researchers found that about four percent fewer shooting victims died from their injuries compared to previous years.
"To put that in perspective, for every 1,000 shooting injuries in the service area, our estimates suggest about 39 lives were saved who might not have survived without this improved access," Michael Poulson said. "It's not just about the percentage change: Surviving a gunshot wound means a loved one can reunite with their family, recover, and move beyond trauma." Selwyn O. Rogers Jr., Section Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at UChicago Medicine and founding director of its trauma center added: "This is a clear example of how improving access to trauma care has a tangible, lifesaving effect. When someone suffers a critical injury, every minute between injury and treatment matters."
The authors recommend using similar data analysis methods when planning locations for future trauma centers—especially in cities facing high levels of gun violence—to ensure resources are placed where they will save more lives.
"Data like this can help ensure that resources for emergency care are invested where they will make the biggest difference," Poulson said.
The researchers conclude that careful planning based on local needs could help other cities reduce firearm mortality rates.
