Access to trauma systems in Canada

Syed Morad Hameed, Nadine Schuurman, Tarek Razek, Darrell Boone, Rardi Van Heest, Tracey Taulu, Nasira Lakha, David C. Evans, D. Ross Brown, Andrew W. Kirkpatrick, Henry T. Stelfox, Dianne Dyer, Mary Van Wijngaarden-Stephens, Sarvesh Logsetty, Avery B. Nathens, Tanya Charyk-Stewart, Sandro Rizoli, Lorraine N. Tremblay, Frederick Brenneman, Najma AhmedElsie Galbraith, Neil Parry, Murray J. Girotti, Guiseppe Pagliarello, Nancy Tze, Kosar Khwaja, Natalie Yanchar, John M. Tallon, J. Andrew I. Trenholm, Candance Tegart, Ofer Amram, Myriam Berube, Usmaan Hameed, Richard K. Simons

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

123 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity, potential years of life lost and health care expenditure in Canada and around the world. Trauma systems have been established across North America to provide comprehensive injury care and to lead injury control efforts. We sought to describe the current status of trauma systems in Canada and Canadians' access to acute, multidisciplinary trauma care. Methods: A national survey was used to identify the locations and capabilities of adult trauma centers across Canada and to identify the catchment populations they serve. Geographic information science methods were used to map the locations of Level I and Level II trauma centers and to define 1-hour road travel times around each trauma center. Data from the 2006 Canadian Census were used to estimate populations within and outside 1-hour access to definitive trauma care. Results: In Canada, 32 Level I and Level II trauma centers provide definitive trauma care and coordinate the efforts of their surrounding trauma systems. Most Canadians (77.5%) reside within 1-hour road travel catchments of Level I or Level II centers. However, marked geographic disparities in access persist. Of the 22.5% of Canadians who live more than an hour away from a Level I or Level II trauma centers, all are in rural and remote regions. DISCUSSION: Access to high quality acute trauma care is well established across parts of Canada but a clear urban/rural divide persists. Regional efforts to improve short- and long-term outcomes after severe trauma should focus on the optimization of access to pre-hospital care and acute trauma care in rural communities using locally relevant strategies or novel care delivery options.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1350-1361
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Volume69
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Surgery
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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