CCH Designated as Level III Trauma Centre
2025-04-19
Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH)
is proud to be formally recognized as a Level III Trauma Centre by Critical
Care Services Ontario and the Regional Trauma Networks.
This designation acknowledges
that our hospital provides exceptional care for patients with serious
single-system injuries, but also that we are fully equipped to stabilize those
with more complex multi-system trauma injuries and transfer them to a Lead
Trauma Hospital for more advanced care.
As a designated Level III Trauma
Centre, we are now part of a province-wide trauma system that improves
coordination between hospitals, ensuring local patients are receiving the right
care, at the right time, in the right place.
Our hospital is home to a
multi-disciplinary team of emergency physicians, nurses, general surgeons, and
anesthesiologists, and more. CCH now also has a dedicated trauma leadership
team in place to guide our hospital’s role as a Level III Trauma Centre, drive
best practice and continuous improvement. This team includes:
· Dr. Olivier Saleh, Medical Director, Trauma
Program
· Natalie Bourgeois, Director of Trauma Services
· Katie Renton, Trauma Clinical Coordinator
· Claire Ping Xia, Trauma Data Analyst
“Being a Level III Trauma Centre
means we are well-equipped to provide high-quality care to patients presenting
with a wide range of traumatic injuries. We follow best practices and work
collaboratively with our regional Lead Trauma Hospitals, The Ottawa Hospital
and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario,” explains Dr. Saleh. “If a
patient requires specialized care, such as neurosurgery or vascular surgery, we
can quickly stabilize them before arranging a safe and timely transfer.”
Data is also now playing a key role
in driving trauma care at CCH through our participation in the Ontario Trauma
Registry, allowing us to track our performance, compare with other hospitals,
and identify opportunities to enhance care. This is improving patient care
while also contributing to planning across the provincial health system.
With this new designation, we now
have access to additional staff training, specialized trauma courses and
ongoing education sessions in the hospital. This is ensuring our teams are
prepared and up to date on trauma care best practices, leading to better
outcomes.
“We’ve developed evidence-based
pathways and protocols to improve patient outcomes, and we regularly offer
educational rounds within the hospital to maintain the highest standards of
trauma care,” says Dr. Saleh.
CCH is also leading and
participating in education and outreach programs aimed at reducing preventable
injuries in our community, extending the trauma program’s impact beyond our
hospital walls. For instance, our Trauma Leadership Team will be launching a
“Stop the Bleed” initiative this year, a hands-on course that teaches bleeding
control techniques to community members. In collaboration with local partners,
we will also contribute to broader safety initiatives on fall prevention, motor
vehicle injuries, sports safety, and more.
As a Level III Trauma Centre, we
are better equipped than ever to respond to urgent needs, support our care
teams with advanced training and tools, and build strong community partnerships
focused on injury prevention and education. We are ensuring patients and families in Eastern Ontario have access to
high-quality, coordinated trauma care when they need it most.
As summer approaches, Dr. Saleh
wants to remind everyone to prioritize safety. "Please wear your life
vest, buckle up, wear your helmet and follow safe practices to minimize your
risk of injury."