Nova Scotia Trauma Program

Background - Why a Trauma Program?

Injury is the leading cause of death for Canadians between 1 and 44 years of age. The human toll of trauma is incalculable, changing the lives of Nova Scotians each and every day. In addition, the economic consequences of trauma also place an enormous burden on society. Some injury facts:

• It costs over 15 billion dollars per year to care for Canada's injured (400 million dollars in Nova Scotia).
• Across Canada, injury results in the consumption of over 2.2 million acute care hospital days each year (55,000 inpatient hospital days in Nova Scotia)
• 6000 Nova Scotians are admitted to hospital each year as a result of injury, and thousands more are treated in emergency departments.
• Injuries result in more potential life years lost than any other disease.
• Injuries ARE NOT ACCIDENTS! 95% of injuries are predictable and preventable.

Trauma Systems

Research has clearly demonstrated that a well designed trauma system will significantly reduce the occurrence of injury, and decrease morbidity and mortality. A trauma system, broadly defined, enhances community health through an organized system of injury prevention, research, acute care, and rehabilitation. This type of trauma system is known as an inclusive trauma care system. Inclusive trauma systems are comprehensive -- all aspects of trauma care and injury control exist within the system. A true inclusive trauma system recognizes the full spectrum of injury as a disease epidemic and does not focus solely on the most seriously injured patient.

Having said the above, the Trauma Section of this Manual specifically relates to the acutely injured patient, stressing the need for Nova Scotia's health care team to follow an organized approach to the identification, treatment, and rapid transport of major trauma patients. In Nova Scotia where trauma is most likely to occur in a rural setting, the non-tertiary hospitals play a vital role in the trauma system. In recognition of this, the Nova Scotia Trauma Program has developed the Trauma Indications and Procedures located in this Manual.

What is the Nova Scotia Trauma Program?

Officially launched by Emergency Health Services in 1997, the Nova Scotia Trauma Program facilitates optimal trauma care and injury control through leadership in prevention, education, research and system development. Some examples of what we do include:

• The designation and accreditation of trauma centres (Tertiary & District Trauma Centres)
• Coordination of the Advanced Trauma Life Support Program; Telemedicine Education Sessions; trauma simulation courses, in conjunction with the Atlantic Health Training & Simulation Centre; custom designed lectures and self-study modules.
• Injury Prevention Programming and Trauma Research.
• Management of the Nova Scotia Trauma Registry - a system for trauma data collection and analysis. This information is used for quality improvement, research, and injury surveillance.
• Establishment of the Nova Scotia Trauma Advisory Council - a multidisciplinary group whose role is to provide input and advice to the ongoing development and improvement of Nova Scotia's trauma system. Included in the membership of the Advisory Council are representatives from each of the District Health Authorities.

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