Vancouver Coastal Health’s outstanding trauma services are part of a Regional Trauma Program that includes trauma centres in Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Providence Health Care (PHC), and the Provincial Health Services Agency (PHSA).

In February 2016, this Regional Trauma Program participated in Accreditation Canada’s new Trauma Distinction Program and has now received the Trauma Distinction Award—the first program in Canada to do so.

“This milestone achievement recognizes the leadership, commitment and excellence in trauma care demonstrated by our physicians and staff every day,” said Vivian Eliopoulos, chief operating officer for Vancouver Acute and VCH executive sponsor for the Regional Trauma Program.

What’s Trauma Distinction?

Trauma Distinction recognizes trauma systems that demonstrate clinical excellence and an outstanding commitment to leadership in trauma. We are the first trauma system in Canada to have undergone this evaluation process. During this accreditation process, four trauma centres had on-site evaluations by the Accreditation Canada Surveyors including  Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH), Lions Gate Hospital (LGH), and St. Paul’s Hospital (SPH). In addition each of our rural trauma centres and Richmond participated in an interactive videoconference with the surveyors. Multiple discussions occurred with our clinical teams in Emergency, ICU, Operating room, Inpatient Units, Medical Imaging, and Lab. Our thanks and appreciation is extended to our external partners, we could not have done this without our partnerships with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), BC Ambulance Service and BC Patient Transfer Network, Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC), Trauma Services BC, BC Trauma Registry, BC Women’s Hospital, and our Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention experts. Accreditation Canada – Trauma Distinction.

About the trauma program

Our Regional Trauma Program is a leader in trauma care regionally and provincially. It is a mature system with strong leadership at each trauma centre. Our commitment to excellent patient care, ongoing quality improvement initiatives, and leadership in trauma systems was showcased during the site visits.

Regional trauma centres

Congratulations to the dedicated and expert trauma teams at Vancouver Coastal Health as well as at our partner organizations:

VCH:

• Vancouver General Hospital
• Lions Gate Hospital
• Richmond Hospital
• Squamish General Hospital
• Whistler Health Care Centre
• Pemberton Health Centre
• Sechelt Hospital
• Powell River General Hospital
• RW Large Memorial Hospital
• Bella Coola General Hospital

PHSA:

• BC Children’s Hospital

PHC:

• St. Paul’s Hospital

Submitted by Dr. Hazel Park – Medical Director Regional Trauma Program; Ms. Leanne Appleton – Director, Regional Trauma Program; and Ms. Heather Wong – Regional Planning Lead Trauma Accreditation

Related

Regional Trauma Program Annual Report 2016

Vancouver Coastal Health is also preparing for accreditation through Accreditation Canada’s Qmentum program in September. To learn more visit VCH Connect.