New Emergency Response Protocols Strengthen Trauma Care at CCH
2026-08-15
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, coordinated, 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
healthcare 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.
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 coordinated, hospital-wide approach to urgent care, with teams
ready to respond when every second counts.