behind the scenes: new emergency response protocols strengthen trauma care at cornwall community hospital
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handout/cornwall standard-freeholder/postmedia network
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cornwall community hospital (cch) was recently designated as a level iii trauma centre by critical care services ontario and the regional trauma networks.
as part of this designation, earlier this summer, the hospital went live with a new code trauma emergency response code policy to ensure rapid, co-ordinated, and evidence-based care for patients arriving at the emergency department suffering from serious injuries.
when a patient arrives with serious traumatic injuries, every second counts. should emergency department staff determine that a patient’s injuries meet trauma criteria, a code trauma is called overhead. this triggers a multidisciplinary team to respond immediately, prepare equipment before the patient arrives if possible, and work together under the direction of an emergency physician on shift who serves as the designated trauma team leader.
the multidisciplinary team includes registered nurses, respiratory therapists, laboratory staff, diagnostic imaging staff, emergency department clerks, emergency room aides, and critical care staff if required. each team member has a clearly defined role as outlined in the policy, ensuring everyone knows their responsibilities and can work quickly and efficiently together.
a code trauma also brings social workers into the response who can provide support to family members and loved ones during what can be an incredibly stressful and uncertain time.
research from canadian trauma centres has shown that having a clear process in place for quickly bringing health care staff together to treat trauma patients can reduce delays in care and lead to better outcomes.
as a level iii trauma centre and full-service hospital, cch is equipped to provide a broad range of specialized care under one roof. approximately 50% of the patients who triggered a code trauma at cch this summer have been able to receive the care they need at cch. the other half have required transfer to a lead trauma centre for more advanced care, such as neurosurgery or vascular surgery. this means that, for many patients experiencing serious injuries, the care they need can be provided at our community hospital.
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cch has also recently launched a new code transfusion policy for patients experiencing severe or life-threatening blood loss. this policy outlines a process for rapidly obtaining and
administering blood in the event of a massive hemorrhage. when activated, a dedicated transfusion team ensures blood products are delivered within the hospital immediately. both a code trauma and code transfusion can be activated in conjunction with each other.
together these new protocols are providing a co-ordinated, hospital-wide approach to urgent care, with teams ready to respond when every second counts.
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