Critical Care

Critical Care BC works to improve the equitable delivery and experience of critical care services across BC to optimize health outcomes. By working on both clinical and performance improvement, we and our partners across the health system are moving towards achieving this goal.

All initiatives led by CCBC will align with the following goals of health improvement networks:

Reduce unwarranted variation in health service across BC
Support interdisciplinary providers in the delivery of high quality services
Facilitate the use of and contribution to science
Support improved resource allocation
Increase province-wide capacity and value
Improve health outcomes and experience

Education & development

Upcoming events

Critical Care BC Connect

April 18 at 3-4 PM - Webinar registration

^{*After registering, you will receive a calendar invite for future webinars. There is no need to register again if you have previously.}

Sepsis in the ED

Please join us for a collaborative sepsis webinar April 10 at 12-1 pm.
Health Quality BC, Emergency Care BC and Critical Care BC are pleased to present this webinar, recognizing that sepsis affects people across the trajectory of care.
Dr. Angela Babuk will review challenges and successes related to adult sepsis scenarios, the latest in sepsis treatment, and provide information about a Sepsis Care toolkit being created for EDs across BC.
There is no need to register. For more information and a link to the webinar, see poster here

Pediatric Critical Care Learning Sessions

Why - Supports shared learnings from provincial cases
When - 3rd Friday of every month at 1-2 PM
Where - Virtual (via Zoom)
Who - Provincial and Interdisciplinary
What - To de-identified cases presented by providers from a range of communities across BC
Please register for the PCCL series on Zoom. Registration link
The PCCL team invites you to connect with them to share a case scenario you think would be helpful to review in one of the webinars. Please email them here
For more information, see poster here

CEREBRI UBC Research Lectures

Please click here for links to past recordings of UBC's neuro-critical care research topics
If interested in attending future CEREBRI research lectures, please email cerebri.research@ubc.ca

CEREBRI and CCBC are hosting a Hybrid Resuscitation Symposium on
May 28, 2024 held at VGH.

BC Resuscitation Sciences Symposium
Evaluating, Managing & Assessing Post-Cardiac Arrest Brain Injury

Please join us to raise awareness of emerging areas of research pertaining to post-cardiac arrest brain injury and stimulate networking building / new research collaborations across institutions. Attendees will be composed of researchers, healthcare professionals and patient partners. This hybrid event is free.
For more information, see poster here and schedule
The event is hosted by the CEREBRI Research Cluster and Critical Care BC. Contact email here

Monthly literature reviews and CCBC connect updates

Recordings and PDFs

May 2023 review and video
September 2023 review
October 2023 review
November 2023 review
January 2024 review summary 2023
February 2024 review

Clinical practice resources

Critical care COVID-19 resources

BCCDC is working with provincial and federal partners on surveillance, diagnostic testing, infection control and vaccination for COVID-19. Please visit BCCDC COVID-19 Care on information for health care professionals and public health partners.

BCCDC COVID-19 Care

ECLS resources

Provincial Emergency Fleet

Provincial Emergency Fleet is a provincially owned stockpile of medical devices intended to help hospitals manage unexpected increases in demand for critical care resources. Regional Health Authorities can request these medical devices from the provincial stockpile for support during temporary periods when resources are insufficient or not available.

Medical equipment include:

Mechanical ventilators
High-flow oxygen
Physiological monitor
Humidifier
Oxygen concentrators

Regional hospital authorities can submit requests for assistance from the Provincial Emergency Fleet.

Provincial Emergency Fleet request form
or contact us for more information

Provincial Pediatric Support Pathways

Support tools infographic

Sepsis

These Post Sepsis Syndrome pamphlets and leaflets provide support for those recovering from sepsis. They should be reviewed with every sepsis survivor and their families upon discharge from critical care. They help patients, caregivers, and families know how to prevent re-infection and detect deterioration after recovery. Helpful links to valuable resources in BC and globally are included. Blank space has been left so sites can add in local support resources for follow-up care. These pamphlets and leaflets were created with the Patient Advisory Council of Action on Sepsis at UBC, in partnership with the BC Sepsis network.

Greater Vancouver

Post Sepsis Syndrome flyer - Greater Vancouver area.pdf

Post Sepsis Syndrome pamphlet - Greater Vancouver area.pdf

Outside the Lower Mainland

Post Sepsis Syndrome flyer - Outside the Lower Mainland.pdf

Post Sepsis Syndrome pamphlet - Outside the Lower Mainland.pdf

Provincial clinical practice guideline

Critical Care BC and its partners works with critical care professionals across BC to develop a broad range of clinical practice guidelines that support evidence-based leading practices across the province:

ECLS

Provincial Clinical Practice Guideline Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Life Support in Acute Respiratory Failure

Sepsis

Provincial Pediatric Sepsis Guideline & Toolkit for Emergency and Urgent Care Centres (Child Health BC)
Emergency Department Sepsis Guidelines 2022 (Health Quality BC)

Notice

Epidemiological summary

Influenza-related deaths associated with secondary bacterial infection among children aged 5-9 years were reported to the BCCDC. Increasing influenza activity (bccdc.ca)

While death is rare, secondary bacterial infections such as streptococcal infections, can result in rapid clinical deterioration and are important contributors to influenza-associated morbidity and mortality.

Influenza activity in BC has been increasing since November and is currently at the highest levels since the start of this respiratory season, predominated by influenza A (H1N1). Elevated influenza activity is expected to continue and there has been a reported rise in invasive group A streptococcal infections in children observed in BC, which underscores the importance of clinical vigilance, prevention and monitoring efforts for influenza, particularly among children at higher risk of severe outcomes.

What clinicians can do

Recognize Sepsis: BC Provincial Pediatric Sepsis guideline and toolkit

Secondary bacterial infections such as streptococcal infections, can result in rapid deterioration and are important contributors to influenza-associated morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of sepsis is critical. The BC Provincial Pediatric Sepsis toolkit is available on the Child Health BC website: CHBC (childhealthbc.ca)

Tab Heading