• Heather Rhodes

  • Associate Research Scientist


    • MCRI - MCRI-Clin Epidem and Pop Hlth
    • 1000 North Oak Ave. ML7 Marshfield, WI 54449

Education

2017 to 2022:
PhD, Health Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2014 to 2017:
Dual DHS/MHS, Health Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2012 to 2014:
BHSc, Health Science, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky
1998 to 2000:
AASc, Radiologic Technology, Northern Kentucky Univeristy, Highland Heights, Kentucky

Work Experience

2019 to 2023:
Trauma Research Specialist, Grand Strand Medical Center, Myrtle Beach, SC

Statement

I am a research scholar and administrator with 23 years of professional experience in research, teaching, and clinical development. I possess a proven understanding of operational management, scientific exploration, and policy development. With my strong ability to collaborate with colleagues and other professionals to define best practices and procedures, I lead teams that streamline efficient clinical pathways. I have a strong focus on subjects relating to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and optimizing rural trauma care. Much of my research aims to improve guidelines in trauma and acute care surgery and describe rural trauma disparities to improve the quality of health care and highlight the unique differences in the rural patient populations. The databases that I primarily work with include the Trauma Registry, the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (ACS-TQIP), and Electronic Medical Records (EMR). My passions lie in the design of efficient data surveillance using the Trauma Registry to benchmark in real time against TQIP to optimize rural trauma outcomes and identify process pain points. This surveillance database is than used to run analytics to produce research publications in support of research efforts for ACS Level I trauma accreditation.

Research Interests

Ongoing and recently completed projects that I would like to highlight include: the use of the ACS-TQIP dataset for national analysis of outcomes associated with laparotomy versus non-operative management among cirrhotic trauma patients with blunt injuries. Further the ACS-TQIP national analysis of racial disparity as an independent factor for severe injury versus severe isolated TBI among those administered early versus late VTE prophylaxis as well as outcomes (primarily mortality) among those patient groups. Lastly the ACS-TQIP national outcomes of adult isolated severe TBI with ICP monitoring versus a severe injury non-TBI group with a primary outcome of in-hospital mortality. A further analysis of the ICP monitoring groups will analyze worsening head bleeds (defined as craniotomy) among the early verses late ICP monitoring subgroups.

Presentations

2019:
Incidence of Aspirin Effect in an Anticipated Aspirin Negative Elderly Population, SOAR Conference
2020:
Trauma Trends During the Initial Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Midst of Lockdown: Experiences from a Rural Trauma Center, SOAR Conference
2020:
COVID-19 Resilience for Survival: Occurrence of Domestic Violence During Lockdown as a Rural ACS Verified Level One Trauma Center, International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies Cambridge
2020:
Patterns of Violence Affecting Children and Young Adults During Spring Break in a Vacation Town, Critical Care Congress (SCCM)
2020:
Retrospective Review of EMS Resuscitation of the Severely Injured Trauma Patient in the Pre-Hospital Setting with Respect to Pre-Hospital IV Fluid Use in Shock and the Impact on Patient Outcomes, Critical Care Congress (SCCM)
2020:
Get'em to the Chopper, Critical Care Congress (SCCM)
2021:
Driven By Instinct. Differences in Mode of Transportation Among Adult and Pediatric Trauma Patients, Pediatric Trauma Society
2021:
To CT or Not to CT: A Level II Pediatric Trauma Center's Aim to Reduce Ionizing Radiation in Pediatrics and Adolescents, Pediatric Trauma Society
2021:
Reduce the Rads: A Trauma System Intiative to Decrease CT Utilization in the Pediatric Trauma Population, Western Pediatric Trauma Conference
2021:
A Description of Adolescents Mild Traumatic Brain Injury at a Pediatric Level II Trauma Center, World Congress on Brain Injury
2021:
Characterizes of Adolescent Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Review at an ACS Verified Level I Trauma Center, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2021:
Are We There Yet?: A Review of Transport Methods in Pedicatric Trauma, Southeastern Sugical Congress
2021:
Characteristics of Isolated Hip Fractures in the Elderly Trauma: A Retrospective Review at an ACS Verified Level I Trauma Center, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2021:
Trend Characteristics in Moped Related Trauma: A Retrospective Review at an ACS Verified Level I Trauma Center, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2021:
Scoop and Run, Not Stay and Play: Does Limiting Prehospital Care in Pediatric Trauma Offer Survival Advantage?, Grand Strand Medical Center Poster Day
2021:
Descriptive Trends in Moped Trauma: An Aging Population with Increased Ethanol Consumption, Grand Strand Medical Center Poster Day
2021:
Emergent Exploratory Laparotomy and Thoracotomy in the Critically Injured: Possible Occult Findings on Post-Operative CT, Grand Strand Medical Center Poster Day
2021:
A Lesson to Lessen Adolescent mTBI Complications: A Retrospective Review at an ACS Verified Level I Trauma Center, Grand Strand Medical Center Poster Day
2021:
Characteristics of Isolated Hip Fractures in the Elderly (Greater than 65 years) Trauma: A Retrospective Review at an ACS Verified Level I Trauma Center, Grand Strand Medical Center Poster Day
2021:
Getting Help and Getting it Fast: Proposing an EMS Auto Launch Program for Time Critical Diagnoses, Grand Strand Medical Center Poster Day
2021:
The Fallacy of Safety During Quarantine: Increased Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Critical Care Congress (SCCM)
2021:
Pandemic Paradox: Patterns of Traumatic Injuries During COVID-19, Despite the Safe Haven of Home, Critical Care Congress (SCCM)
2022:
Proposed Expansion of a Helicopter Auto Launch Program to Shorten Scene to Arrival Time, Southeastern Trauma Symposium
2022:
Predictive Hemorrhagic Death in a Destination Community, Southeastern Trauma Symposium
2022:
Pre-Hospital Care in a Rural Trauma System Lecture, Southeastern Trauma Symposium
2022:
A Clinical Decision Rule: Predicting Complicated Mild TBI in Adolescent Trauma to Aide in the Clinical-Decision Making of CT Imaging (Accepted but travel not approved), West Pediatric Trauma
2022:
A Description of Adolescent Mild Traumatic Brain Injury at a Pediatric Level II Trauma Center. (Accepted but travel not approved), The Joint Conference on Brain Injury
2022:
How to Organize and Relay Scholarly Activity During COVID-19 on the ACS Virtual Platform: The Golden Standard in Level I Verification, Trauma Center Association of America
2022:
Do Level of Trauma Activations, Demographics, Comorbidities, and Injury Patterns Determine Outcome?, Critical Care Congress
2022:
Is Age and Injury Severity the Wining Predictor of Complicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescent Trauma? A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study at a Pediatric Trauma Center, John M Templeton Jr Pediatric Trauma Symposium
2022:
Is Loss of Consciousness a Losing Battle in Predicting Hemorrhage in Pediatric TBI? A Pediatric Trauma Center's Objective to Further Improve CT Utilization in the Pediatric Population, John M Templeton Jr Pediatric Trauma Symposium
2022:
Is Elderly Fall Trauma an Unappreciated Event Driving Under Triage in a Trauma System? A Retrospective Review at an ACS Verified Level I Trauma Center, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2022:
Alcohol Related Traumatic Falls: Retrospective Look at Injury Patterns, Severity, and Outcome., Southeastern Surgical Congress
2022:
Is Late Administration of Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Elderly Trauma a Solid Decision? A Retrospective Review at an ACS Verified Level I Trauma Center, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2022:
What is the Best Method in Identifying Under or Over Triage? An ACS Verified Level I Trauma Center Operation Experience, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2022:
Circling the Drain: A Retrospective Review of Trauma Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Should ISS Include Modifiers?, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2022:
Associated Co-Morbidities Among Elderly Trauma Patients with Isolated Hip Fractures: Best Practice Initiative for Perioperative Medical Optimization in Fragility Fractures of the Hip, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2022:
Routine Repeat Brain CT Scanning is Unnecessary in Older Patients with GCS 14-15 and Normal Initial Brain CT Scan Regardless of Preinjury Antithrombotic Use: A Multicenter Study of 3157 Patients, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma
2023:
Predictors of Facial Fractures in Trauma Patients: Retrospective Review at a Level I Trauma Center, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
Age Effects in Facial Fracture Trauma: Disparities in Multi-System Injuries in Non-Fall Related Trauma, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
Traumatic Brain Injury Under Triage Risk: A Rural Trauma System Experience, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
Adult Traumatic Brain Injury and Likelihood of Routine Discharge: Do Comorbidities Matter?, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
Ambulance Response in Eight Minutes or Less: Are Comorbidities a Factor, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
Can Pre-Hospital Medical Management Predict In-Hospital Mortality in Trauma?, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
Predicting Early Versus Late In-Hospital Mortality in the Trauma Population, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
In-Hospital Mortality After Massive Transfusion and Motorcycle Trauma May Predict Highest Injury Severity in a Rural Level I Trauma System , Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
Missed Opportunity in Primary and Secondary Survey in the Severly Injured Requiring Emergency Laparotomy, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2023:
Can Excess Alcohol Consumption During a Pandemic Year Present with Higher Incidence in Trauma Severity, such as Penetrating Injuries Needing Massive Transfusion, Southeastern Surgical Congress
2024:
Influence of aging, comorbidities, and chemotherapy on dementia in patients with metastatic cancer, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 Annual Meeting
2024:
Trauma, metastatic cancer, and physical abuse: Unveiling the interplay of risk factors in a nationwide analysis, Health Care Systems Research Network 2024 Conference

Select Publications

  • Rhodes HX, Petersen K, Lunsford L, Biswas S. COVID-19 Resilience for Survival: Occurrence of Domestic Violence During Lockdown at a Rural American College of Surgeons Verified Level One Trauma Center. Cureus. 2020 August 26; 12(8):e10059. PMCID: PMC7520406.
    PubMed ID: 32999782
  • Rhodes HX, Petersen K, Biswas S. Trauma Trends During the Initial Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Midst of Lockdown: Experiences From a Rural Trauma Center. Cureus. 2020 August 17; 12(8):e9811. PMCID: PMC7494409.
    PubMed ID: 32953322
  • Saptarshi Biswas, Heather Rhodes, Kirklen Petersen, Kyle Schwarz, Gaukhar Amandossova. Hanging in There. Living beyond Hanging: A Retrospective Review of the Prognostic Factors from a Regional Trauma Center. Panamerican Journal of Trauma, Critical Care & Emergency Surgery. 2020 January; 9(3):218-222. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10030-1295.
  • Christa M. Zino, Heather Xenia Rhodes, Antonio P. Pepe. Patterns of Violence Affecting Children and Young Adults during Spring Break in a Vacation Town. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. 2020 October; 231 doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.08.654.
  • Christa M. Zino, Aaron Worthley, Heather Rhodes, Antonio P. Pepe, Adam Czerwinski. Get ‘Em to the Chopper. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. 2020 October; 231 doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.08.635.
  • Christa M. Zino, Heather Rhodes, Antonio P. Pepe. Retrospective Review of EMS Resuscitation of the Severely Injured Trauma Patient in the Pre-Hospital Setting with Respect to Pre-Hospital IV Fluid Use in Shock and the Impact on Patient Outcomes. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. 2020 October; 231 doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.08.671.
  • Berg GM, Wyse RJ, Morse JL, Chipko J, Garland JM, Slivinski A,...Fakhry SM. Decreased adult trauma admission volumes and changing injury patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic at 85 trauma centers in a multistate healthcare system. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2021 February 11; 6(1):e000642. PMCID: PMC7880086.
    PubMed ID: 33634213
  • Saptarshi Biswas, Heather Rhodes, Kirklen Petersen. 328: Pandemic Paradox: Patterns of Traumatic Injuries During COVID-19 Despite the Safe Haven of Home. CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE. 2021 January; 49 doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000727200.78097.7d.
  • Saptarshi Biswas, Kirklen Petersen, Heather Rhodes, Laura Lunsford. 326: The Fallacy of Safety During Quarantine: Increased Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic. CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE. 2021 January; 49(1):151. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000727192.70345.9f.
  • Rhodes H, Poulin SR, Pepe A. Clinical Impact of Prolonged Helicopter Emergency Travel Times in a Rural Trauma System. [published online ahead of print 2022 December 18]. Am Surg. :31348221146955. doi: 10.1177/00031348221146955.
    PubMed ID: 36529455
  • Flaherty S, Biswas S, Watts DD, Wilson NY, Shen Y, Garland JM,...Rhodes HX. Findings on Repeat Posttraumatic Brain Computed Tomography Scans in Older Patients With Minimal Head Trauma and the Impact of Existing Antithrombotic Use. [published online ahead of print 2022 October 31]. Ann Emerg Med.
    PubMed ID: 36328853
  • Rhodes HX, Zino CM, Pepe AP. Outcome of Trauma in Elderly Patients With Pre-existing Chronic Kidney Disease. Am Surg. 2022 August; 88(8):1912-1915.
    PubMed ID: 35438573
  • Rhodes HX, Locklear TD, Pepe AP. Under-triage of Elderly Trauma Patients With Comorbid Conditions. Am Surg. 2022 August; 88(8):1925-1927.
    PubMed ID: 35435732
  • Rhodes HX, Byrd CE, Pepe AP. Timing and Associated Outcomes of Chemical Prophylaxis Against Venous Thromboembolism in the Elderly Trauma Population. Am Surg. 2022 July; 88(7):1576-1579.
    PubMed ID: 35437019
  • Fakhry SM, Berg GM, Wilson NY, Slivinski A, Morse JL, Shen Y,...Watts DD. What Makes a Trauma Patient "Pediatric"? Survey of Providers' Admission Decision Making for Pediatric Trauma Patients. J Trauma Nurs. 2022 July; 29(4):170-180.
    PubMed ID: 35802051
  • Rhodes H, Coile E, Eversley-Kelso T, Shaw E, Harton R, Dunne J, Pepe A. Isolated Hip Fractures in the Elderly: Best Practice Analysis of Perioperative Medical Optimization Including Effect of Comorbidities, Functional Status, and Demographics. Am Surg. 2022 August; 88(8):1943-1945.
    PubMed ID: 35487500
  • Rhodes HX, Moncada I, Biswas S. Changes in Injury Patterns Associated With Elevated Blood Alcohol Level. Am Surg. 2022 August; 88(8):1916-1918.
    PubMed ID: 35392678
  • Rhodes, Heather X. A Description of Adolescent Mild Traumatic Brain Injury at a Pediatric Level II Trauma Center. [published online ahead of print 2022 January]. Brain Inj. 36 :55-56.
  • Heather Rhodes, Saptarshi Biswas, Heather De La Cruz, Rachel Cobos, Tara DiNitto, Antonio Pepe. 1570: DO LEVEL OF TRAUMA ACTIVATIONS, DEMOGRAPHICS, COMORBIDITIES, AND INJURY PATTERNS DETERMINE OUTCOME? Critical Care Medicine. 2022 January; 50(1):789. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000812604.11313.03.
  • Heather Rhodes, Stephanie Anderson, Taylor Locklear, Antonio Pepe, Donald Courtney. Traumatic Brain Injury Under Triage Risk: A Rural Trauma System Experience. [published online ahead of print 2023 February 15]. The American Surgeon. doi: 10.1177/00031348231157823. PMCID: 36793222.
  • Rhodes H, Anderson S, Locklear T, Pepe A, Courtney D. Traumatic Brain Injury Under Triage Risk: A Rural Trauma System Experience. [published online ahead of print 2023 February 15]. Am Surg. :31348231157823. doi: 10.1177/00031348231157823.
    PubMed ID: 36793222
  • Olson R, Rhodes HX, Pepe AP. In-Hospital Mortality after Massive Transfusion and Motorcycle Trauma may Predict Highest Injury Severity in a Rural Level I Trauma System. [published online ahead of print 2023 March 13]. Am Surg. :31348231161756. doi: 10.1177/00031348231161756.
    PubMed ID: 36912455
  • Dunitz J, Rhodes HX, Pepe AP. Predicting Early Versus Late In-Hospital Mortality in the Trauma Population. [published online ahead of print 2023 March 7]. Am Surg. :31348231161771. doi: 10.1177/00031348231161771.
    PubMed ID: 36880603
  • Rhodes HX, Locklear T, Pepe A. Can Pre-Hospital Medical Management Predict In-Hospital Mortality in Trauma? [published online ahead of print 2023 March 10]. Am Surg. :31348231161788. doi: 10.1177/00031348231161788.
    PubMed ID: 36898978
  • Rhodes H, Anderson S, Pecheny Y, Pepe A, Courtney D. Adult Traumatic Brain Injury and Likelihood of Routine Discharge: Do Comorbidities Matter? [published online ahead of print 2023 March 5]. Am Surg. :31348231161710. doi: 10.1177/00031348231161710.
    PubMed ID: 36872045
  • Rhodes HX, Berg G, Shadiack AL, Thomas KD, Horawski JL, Boyer G,...Pepe AP. Predicting Complicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescent Trauma to Enhance Clinical Decisions in Imaging. [published online ahead of print 2023 May]. J Trauma Nurs. 30(3):150-157.
    PubMed ID: 37144804
  • Elkbuli A, Rhodes H, Breeding T, Ngatuvai M, Beeton G, Rosander A,...Havron W. Analysis of Racial and Gender Distribution of US MD Graduates Entering Into General Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties Residencies: The Need for Effective & Sustainable Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategies. J Surg Res. 2023 September; 289 :141-151. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.03.044.
    PubMed ID: 37119615
  • Saptarshi Biswas, Heather Rhodes, Thomas Sanders. 1299: PREDICTORS OF FACIAL FRACTURE PATTERNS IN NON-FALL TRAUMA PATIENTS: A RURAL TRAUMA CENTER REVIEW. Critical Care Medicine. 2023 January; 51(1):649. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000910932.49309.e2.
  • Saptarshi Biswas, Heather Rhodes. 1296: HIGHER INCIDENCE IN TRAUMA SEVERITY DUE TO HIGHER ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DURING THE PANDEMIC. Critical Care Medicine. 2023 January; 51(1):647. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000910920.71616.48.
  • Elkbuli A, Patel H, Breeding T, Nasef H, Chin B, Wright DD,...Rhodes-Lyons HX. Racial Distribution and Associated Outcomes for Patients With and Without Severe-Isolated Traumatic Brain Injuries Following Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis. [published online ahead of print 2023 December 5]. Am Surg. 31348231220584. doi: 10.1177/00031348231220584.
    PubMed ID: 38053263
  • Elkbuli A, Breeding T, Martinez B, Patel H, Chin B, Wright DD,...Rhodes H. Evaluating Mortality Outcomes, Transfusion Characteristics, and Risk Factors Associated With Cirrhotic Trauma Patients Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy Versus Non-Operative Management: A National Analysis. [published online ahead of print 2024 January 25]. Am Surg. 31348241230087. doi: 10.1177/00031348241230087.
    PubMed ID: 38272456
  • Bakhshi K, Rhodes-Lyons H, Ahmed A. Rural Vascular Trauma: Time to Care. Am Surg. 2024 July;90(7):1957-1959. doi: 10.1177/00031348241241684.
    PubMed ID: 38527493
  • Elkbuli A, Bundschu N, Nasef H, Chin B, McClure DL, Rhodes-Lyons HX. National Analysis of Clinical Outcomes Associated With Cirrhotic Blunt Trauma Patients Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy Versus Non-operative Management: A Propensity Case-Matched Analysis. [published online ahead of print 2024 May 21]. Am Surg. 31348241256078. doi: 10.1177/00031348241256078.
    PubMed ID: 38770924
  • Elkbuli A, Watts E, Patel H, Chin B, Wright DD, Inouye M,...Rhodes HX. National Analysis of Outcomes for Adult Trauma Patients With Isolated Severe Blunt Traumatic Brain Injury Following Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis. J Surg Res. 2024 August;300:165-172. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2024.04.075.
    PubMed ID: 38815515
  • Salzwedel M, Rhodes-Lyons HX, Kracht E. Differences in Injury Patterns and Delays in Care-Seeking Behaviors in the Anabaptist Population. J Trauma Nurs. 2024 October 1;31(5):233-241. doi: 10.1097/JTN.0000000000000807.
    PubMed ID: 39250549
  • Klarr E, Rhodes-Lyons HX, Symons R. Optimizing Trauma Activation Criteria for a Rural Trauma Center. J Trauma Nurs. 2024 October 1;31(5):249-257. doi: 10.1097/JTN.0000000000000809.
    PubMed ID: 39250552