Members of the Trauma Program team during a mock trauma held at Guelph General Hospital. Drills like these help the team ensure they are ready in the event of an actual trauma. (Left to right) Lisa Groulx, Trauma Coordinator, Dr. Elizabeth Shih, Trauma Medical Director, Andrea De Jong, Director, Emergency Services, and Molisia Delpellaro, Trauma Data Analyst.
Guelph General Hospital is one of six hospitals in Ontario to become identified as a Level III Trauma Centre. This is part of a strategic action to improve trauma care delivery in the Waterloo-Wellington region and enhance the region's trauma network by creating an inclusive, integrated, and accountable trauma system.
“Since its inception, our Level III Trauma Centre has cared for approximately 13,000 injured patients, 240 of which presented with life threatening injuries. It has taken nearly a year of hard work, inspired thought and collaboration to develop this program into the success that it is today," shared Mark Walton, President and CEO at Guelph General Hospital.
The Trauma program at Guelph General Hospital consists of a medical director, trauma coordinator, and data analyst. The Centre cares for single-system injuries (those that affect one system in the body) and transfers the most severely injured patients with complex injuries to Lead Trauma Hospitals.
When a patient arrives in the emergency department who has sustained an injury that puts their life or function at risk a 'Code Trauma' is called and many people jump into action. A multidisciplinary team provides initial evaluation and resuscitation, treats or stabilizes life-threatening injuries or conditions, and decides if the patient needs to be transferred.
The identification of Level III Trauma Centre means the hospital is also able to provide the Guelph-Wellington community with access to a comprehensive Regional Trauma Network. This ensures those with severe injuries are treated in the right location, by the right health care team, in a timely manner.
Keeping this level of care close to home requires collaboration with many partners within the Regional Trauma Network: public health, injury prevention, emergency medical services, police, fire, patient transport, all trauma-receiving hospitals, Lead Trauma Hospitals, and rehabilitation services.
“Our hospital is fortunate to experience strong community partnerships, which combined with our incredible staff and physician leadership, make programs like our Level III Trauma Centre the success that they are," shared Dr. Alex Ferguson, Chief of Staff at Guelph General Hospital.
The Trauma team has also been active in offering community outreach, partnering with the Guelph Police Service and Guelph Fire Department, next they will be providing community education through the Stop the Bleed program.