Trauma Registrar

Career Guide
A Trauma Registrar manages and maintains a hospital trauma registry. They collect and code patient care information for trauma cases, check data quality, and support reporting that helps improve trauma care, meet accreditation requirements, and guide injury prevention efforts.

Key Responsibilities

  • Identify trauma cases that meet registry rules and include them in the registry
  • Abstract patient information from medical records into the trauma registry system
  • Apply standard injury and procedure codes accurately
  • Validate data for completeness, accuracy, and timeliness
  • Prepare routine reports for clinical teams, hospital leaders, and trauma program reviews
  • Support trauma center verification and regulatory audits by assembling required data and documentation
  • Track trauma outcomes and key performance indicators
  • Collaborate with clinicians to clarify documentation when data is missing or unclear
  • Maintain secure handling of patient information and follow privacy requirements
  • Contribute to quality improvement projects by providing data and basic analysis
  • Assist with data submissions to regional or state trauma systems when required
  • Stay current on trauma registry standards and hospital policies

Top Skills for Success

Attention to Detail
Time Management
Written Communication
Stakeholder Collaboration
Medical Record Review
Clinical Terminology
Patient Privacy Compliance
Trauma Registry Abstraction
Injury Coding
Data Quality Auditing
Trauma Registry Software
Report Preparation

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Trauma Registrar
Trauma Registry Lead
Trauma Program Manager
Trauma Data Analyst
Quality Improvement Specialist
Transition Opportunities
Clinical Data Analyst
Cancer Registrar
Health Information Management Specialist
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Healthcare Quality Analyst

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Injury Coding AccuracyRegistry Inclusion RulesData Validation MethodsBasic Data AnalysisAudit Readiness DocumentationReport Writing
Development SuggestionsBuild a structured coding and abstraction practice routine using deidentified sample cases, seek feedback from a senior registrar, and create simple checklists for data completeness. Strengthen reporting skills by learning to summarize trends clearly and consistently for nontechnical clinical audiences.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 45,000 to 60,000
Mid LevelUSD 60,000 to 80,000
Senior LevelUSD 80,000 to 105,000
Growth Trend
Steady demand. Hiring is strongest at verified trauma centers and health systems expanding quality reporting and clinical data programs.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
HCA HealthcareKaiser PermanenteTenet HealthcareCommonSpirit HealthProvidenceAscensionTrinity HealthUniversal Health ServicesCleveland ClinicMayo Clinic
Industry Sectors
Hospital Trauma CentersAcademic Medical CentersRegional Health SystemsChildren's HospitalsPublic Health Systems

Recommended Next Steps

1
Review job postings from local verified trauma centers and note required coding standards and software tools
2
Complete training in trauma registry abstraction and data quality review
3
Practice translating chart details into accurate codes using a consistent reference process
4
Build a small portfolio of deidentified sample reports that show data quality checks and clear summaries
5
Ask to shadow a trauma program coordinator or quality team to understand how registry data is used in improvement work
6
Prepare interview stories that show accuracy, handling time sensitive deadlines, and collaboration with clinical teams