Regional Trauma Program is nation’s first to receive ‘Distinction’ award by Accreditation Canada

​“We are consistently providing trauma care at a very high level, and it is excellent to see this recognized formally by Accreditation Canada,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “My hope is that other facilities throughout Canada take notice of the work done by the Regional Trauma Program, and follow our lead in providing expert level care to all patients.” 

The Regional Trauma Program participated in Accreditation Canada’s new Trauma Distinction program in February 2016. It is the first trauma system in Canada to undergo this evaluation process that encompasses system and site-level standards for trauma services and centres.

“This distinction award from Accreditation Canada recognizes the leadership, commitment, dedication, excellence and passion of our regional health care physicians and nurses and many other staff who work tirelessly to provide trauma services,” says Vivian Eliopoulos, Chief Operating Officer, Vancouver Acute. “Our patients can be confident to know they live in an area served by such exceptional staff.”

Through the Trauma Distinction program, Accreditation Canada evaluates trauma centres based on four components: their degree of compliance to standards, their achievement of performance indicator thresholds, their implementation of trauma protocols and clinical practice guidelines, and their commitment to excellence and innovation. Expert evaluators also conduct onsite visits.

To participate in the Trauma Distinction program, an organization must hold an “accredited” status in Accreditation Canada’s Qmentum program, which focuses on standards for governance; leadership; infection prevention and control; and medication management.

“This is an amazing milestone and a very proud moment for our regional Trauma Program that showcases the years of dedication that our pediatric and adult trauma staff have invested,” says Linda Lemke, Chief Operating Officer, BC Children’s Hospital. “Accreditation Canada’s recognition of Distinction in Trauma Services is validation that our trauma services have been, and continue to be, the best care for children, adults and their families. It illuminates best practice, hard work and dedication of all our care providers.”

“This accomplishment validates the significant work that has been done by many to develop an integrated trauma system for the province,” notes Catherine Jones, Executive Director of Trauma Services BC, a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority that provides oversight and coordination of provincial trauma services. “The recommendations from Accreditation Canada surveyors will be used to help inform Trauma Services BC’s strategic work and priorities going forward, and to support other provincial trauma programs as they embark on the accreditation process.”

“We are proud of the team that has enabled this national first award of distinction for trauma services and the exceptional care that our team provides to patients and families,” says Leanne Heppell, Vice President, Patient Experience, Acute Care & Chief of Professional Practice & Nursing, Providence Health Care. “British Columbians can continue to be confident that their resources are being invested in the provision of world-class care.”

Trauma care encompasses the entire spectrum of trauma from injury control and prevention to pre-hospital response, acute care and rehabilitation.

The Regional Trauma Program has earned ‘Distinction in Trauma Services’ by Accreditation Canada for the following sites and programs:

• Trauma System Standards – VCH-PHC-PHSA Regional Trauma Program
• Trauma Centre Standards (Level I) – Vancouver General Hospital
• Trauma Centre Standards (Level Pediatric-I) – BC Children’s Hospital
• Trauma Centre Standards (Level III) – Lions Gate Hospital & St. Paul’s Hospital
• Trauma Centre Standards (Level IV) – Richmond Hospital
• Trauma Centre Standards (Level V) – Bella Coola General Hospital, Pemberton Health Care Centre, Powell River General Hospital, R.W. Large Memorial Hospital, Sechelt Hospital, Squamish General Hospital, Whistler Health Care Centre.

“Strong partnerships are key to our Regional Trauma Program, and this distinction award recognizes those we have with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC), BC Ambulance Service and BC Patient Transfer Network, Trauma Services BC, BC Trauma Registry, BC Women’s Hospital, and our Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention,” says Eliopoulos.

Read the 2016 Regional Trauma Program Annual Report.