Trauma is damage to the human body that is defined by the following two factors:

·         Damage occurs rapidly and is usually immediately apparent

·         The damage is caused by the sudden transfer of energy force (kinetic, thermal or chemical)

Trauma can result in severe, potentially life or limb threatening conditions that require intensive and specialized treatment and care.  Unintentional trauma can occur by a number of mechanisms, including motor vehicle and other road traffic crashes, falls, drowning, fires, poison etc.  Intentional injuries can occur by some of the above mechanisms but involve violence and include assault, homicide and suicide.

In Ontario, a system of trauma care (Provincial Trauma Network) has been established to ensure that a trauma victim, requiring a high-level of care, has access to the closest appropriate hospital as quickly as possible in order to minimize life-threatening and secondary injuries. 

The following hospitals have been designated by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care as Lead Trauma Hospitals (LTHs) and collectively provide specialized trauma services to all people in Ontario: 

·         Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto

·         St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto

·         SickKids Hospital, Toronto

·         London Health Sciences Centre and Children’s Hospital, London

·         Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation and McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton

·         Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital, Windsor

·         Kingston General Hospital, Kingston

·         The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa

·         Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa

·         Sudbury Regional Hospital, Sudbury

·         Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay

Trauma patients need immediate treatment in order to increase the chances of survival and reduce secondary injuries and morbidities that can occur from inappropriate or untimely care. 

Designated Lead Trauma Hospitals, also known as regional trauma centres, provide that essential care including coordination with pre-hospital care and transport systems (both land and air ambulance services), the provision of in-hospital treatment, and stabilization and discharge from hospital to community rehabilitation.  In addition to providing acute hospital care to the most severely injured patients, LTHs play an important lead role in trauma prevention, access and referral, education and outreach and research.