Main description:

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 Contents

Front Matter
1 Introduction
2 Why Do Health Systems Have a Role?
3 The Toll on Individuals and Communities
4 Identifying Individuals at Higher Risk for Firearm Violence
5 Developing Health System Interventions
6 Key Issues from the Workshop's First Day
7 Programs and Research
8 Developing Networks and Sharing Information
9 Developing a Culture of Health Care Providers as Interveners
10 Closing Remarks
References
Appendix A: Workshop Agenda
Appendix B: Speaker Biographical Sketches