Join the American Trauma Society for a Trauma Registry Webinar! 

August 6, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET

Vitals Under the Influence: Why Sedation and Paralysis Change the Story

Join Kimberly McLaughlin and Megan Wilcox as they explore one of the more nuanced areas of trauma registry abstraction: how sedation, paralytics and medication timing can influence the interpretation and abstraction of initial trauma vital signs.  Through registry guidance, documentation examples and case-based discussion, this session will review how to approach sedated and paralyzed patients, evaluate timing within the medical record, and avoid common abstraction pitfalls.

Participants will also consider opportunities for trauma program improvement, including documentation education, interdisciplinary clarification, and collaboration with EMS, ED, anesthesia, and trauma leadership to support more accurate and meaningful registry data..

Key Takeaways:
- Describe how sedation and paralytic medications may impact the abstraction of initial trauma vital signs.

- Review documentation and timing considerations when determining whether a patient was sedated or paralyzed at the time vitals were obtained.

- Identify common registry abstraction challenges related to medication administration, clinical documentation, and initial patient assessment.

- Discuss opportunities for trauma program performance improvement, provider education, and interdisciplinary collaboration related to initial vital sign documentation.

Presenters:

Kimberly McLaughlin, BS, CSTR, CAISS; Trauma Registrar IV at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Business Operations Specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
 
Megan Wilcox, RHIA, CSTR, CAISS; Pediatric Trauma Registrar at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and and Clinical Abstractor at HCA Parallon – Gulf Coast Division                                           

FREE for Members and $25 for Non-Members