Bridging the Gap: Trauma Care Pathway Beyond the Ed

Trauma remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, with low-and middle-income countries bearing the greatest burden.Pakistan's trauma care infrastructure, particularly post-emergency department (ED) management, suffers from systemic inefficiencies due to interdepartmental fragmentation and lack of ownership.This opinion piece, grounded in professional experience and real-world examples, proposes a standardized, resource-sensitive trauma care pathway centered around the creation of Acute Trauma Wards (ATWs).A structured trauma pathway can significantly reduce ED length of stay, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance interdepartmental collaboration.The model is scalable, feasible, and essential for transforming trauma care in Pakistan.The article ends with a call to action for leadership, collaboration, and reform.