Health Systems Interventions to Prevent Firearm Injuries and Death : Proceedings of a Workshop

Firearm injuries and death are a serious public health concern in the United States. Firearm-related injuries account for tens of thousands of premature deaths of adults and children each year and significantly increase the burden of injury and disability. Firearm injuries are also costly to the health system, accounting for nearly $3 billion in emergency department and inpatient care each year.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to examine the roles that health systems can play in addressing the epidemic of firearm violence in the United States. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.

Firearm injuries and death are a serious public health concern in the United States. Firearm-related injuries account for tens of thousands of premature deaths of adults and children each year and significantly increase the burden of injury and disability. Firearm injuries are also costly to the health system, accounting for nearly $3 billion in emergency department and inpatient care each year. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to examine the roles that health systems can play in addressing the epidemic of firearm violence in the United States. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop. Table of ContentsFront Matter1 Introduction2 Why Do Health Systems Have a Role?3 The Toll on Individuals and Communities4 Identifying Individuals at Higher Risk for Firearm Violence5 Developing Health System Interventions6 Key Issues from the Workshop's First Day7 Programs and Research8 Developing Networks and Sharing Information9 Developing a Culture of Health Care Providers as Interveners10 Closing RemarksReferencesAppendix A: Workshop AgendaAppendix B: Speaker Biographical Sketches