For trauma patents sent to UHNBC in Prince George for treatment, medical staff will now be available at all times, day or night, to provide general surgery, orthopedic care, radiology, anesthesia, internal medicine, critical care and emergency services.
As a result, the hospital is recognized nationally by the Trauma Association of Canada (TAC) as a Level 3 trauma centre.
"In one sense, it's an acknowledgment of what was already happening at UHNBC," said John Ryan, trauma director for Northern Health. "This program dates back for us to 2000 when there were several centres designated throughout the province as trauma centres. It was an opportunity to really focus Northern Health's attention on trauma, seeing as trauma is so burdensome in the North."
The Code Orange alert that went out to emergency staff the night of the Babine Forest Products sawmill explosion and fire Jan. 20 in Burns Lake was the first real test of UHNBC's emergency activation team. Initiated by the B.C. Ambulance Service (BCAS), trauma team activation serves as a warning to emergency staff at the hospitals who are on call to respond to disasters before patients arrive.
Bringing the standard up to the level of trauma care beyond Level 3 at UHNBC would involve substantial recruitment of medical specialties. The hospital does not have a burn unit and lacks the medical expertise to treat spinal cord injuries, major pediatric trauma, neurological injuries that require surgery, and cardiothoracic (heart, lungs and chest) injuries.
UHNBC has an agreement in place with BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, and University Hospital in Edmonton, to ensure acceptance of any trauma patient who can't be treated in Prince George.
Trauma is the leading cause of death in the first four decades of life for Canadians and is responsible for more deaths of children than all other causes combined. Traumatic injuries cost the national economy an estimated $19.8 billion per year.
"On average, we care for about 450 major trauma patients in Northern Health every year, which is two times higher per population than the Canadian average," said Oliver.
Oliver said patients in northern B.C. are more likely to suffer major traumatic injuries due to the vast geography of the area and such factors as less seat belt use, adverse weather, poor road conditions, and more animals and heavy industry on roads.
"A lot of patients in the northwest die at the scene because it's an issue of actually getting to them because it's so rural," said Oliver. "With trauma care and resuscitation it's all about time, and the golden hour. Of course, the golden hour is stretched here in the north, it doesn't really exist for us, so it's maximizing the time we have in getting those patients to a higher level of care quicker."
