Critical Care

Critical Care BC provides provincial clinical resources, system-level supports and learning opportunities for health professionals working in critical care settings.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This page connects health professionals to clinical resources, programs, research and education that support consistent, high-quality care for critically ill people across BC.

For general information about our program, visit the Critical Care ​BC homepage.​
Resources
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Resources for health ​​professionals
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Respiratory clinical resource​s

​​​​​​A curated collection of respiratory and critical care clinical resources for health care professionals in BC:  CCBC's overview ​of key resources (PDF).​​​

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Levels of care

​​D​escribes the levels of care required for critically ill patients according to their clinical needs, regardless of patient location, aligning with other jurisdictions and literature. Acuity and complexity are considered together and referred to as Levels of Adult Critical Care.​

If you have any questions about these documents or how the data is being collected and/or used, please reach out to Sybil Hoiss, CCBC Lead, Clinical Initiatives and Innovation at sybil.hoiss@phsa.ca.

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ICU Liberati​on Bundle (elements A-F)​

​​​ICU liberation refers to key clinical elements aimed at reducing pain, oversedation, delirium, mechanical ventilation, immobility, isolation, sleep disturbances and ICU acquired weakness. These experiences contribute to life altering post discharge residual effects or post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).

ICU liberation aims to improve patient and family involvement and encourage interdisciplinary team communication. The CCBC ICU Liberation Bundle - Elements A-F (PDF) are most effective when implemented by an interdisciplinary team and unit champions.

​ICU Libe​ration Bu​n​dle​

Additional links and resources​​

B - Both spont​​aneous awakening trials and spontaneous breathing trial

Roundtable discussion: Sedation: The art, the science, the shenanigans (video)

​Data tracking f​​orms for use at paper-based sites

Societ​​​y for Critical Care Medicine guidelines​

Interior He​​alth resources

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Sepsis Guidelines

​In partnership, Health Quality BC, Emergency Care BC and Critical Care BC provide the 2026 BC Adult Initial Recognition and Management Guidelines and resources, updated to reflect practices recommended in the 2026 Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines.  

This cross organization and Health Improvement Network partnership demonstrates our commitment to high quality, patient centered and practical resources to improve outcomes for patients and families experiencing sepsis – regardless of their location in the system.

2026 BC Adult Initial Recognition and Management Guidelines


Pediatric critical care
​​​BC Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Child Health BC have developed provincial pediatric critical care resources to support the delivery of safe, consistent, and high‑quality care for children across British Columbia.

These materials are intended to guide health care providers involved in pediatric critical care.

Provincial emergency fleet

The 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.  

For more information, contact the Emergency Fleet team at PHSA.​ 

ECLS resources

​​Standardized provincial resources that support consistent evaluation, escalation, and transport of patients requiring ECLS/ECMO across the BC health system.​

Critical care pronation therapy

​Island Health–developed clinical guidance and training resources supporting safe pronation of mechanically ventilated patients in the critical care setting.

These resources include updated guidelines, procedures, and instructional videos for proning, repositioning, and supination using both overhead lift and linen wrap methods.

Pronation therapy video series

Watch the pronation therapy video series on Vimeo​; videos include:​

  • ​​Proning a Mechanically V​​​entilated Patient

  • Proning with a Tracheostomy

  • Repositioning a Proned Patient

  • Supinating a Mechanically Ventilated Patient

  • Cardiac Arrest Management in the Prone Patient

Guidelines and procedures

Major burns trauma
​Provincial clinical guidance supporting the early assessment, resuscitation, and management of adult patients with major burn injuries in BC.

Note: Documents updated December 2025 and aligned with contemporary burn care practices, including guidance from the American Burn Association.

​Key resources​

Escharotomy for patients with burns

Provincial clinical practice guidance supporting the assessment and performance of escharotomy in adult patients with burn injuries in B​C.

Adult critical care ultrasonography
​Society of Critical Care Medicine guidelines providing evidence‑based recommendations for the use of point‑of‑care ultrasonography  in adult critical care settings. Last updated in 2024.​​​ Adult critical care ultrasound g​​​uidelines​

IV N-acetylcysteine (NAC) Protocol for Acetaminophen Overdose
​The BC Drug and Poison Information Centre (DPIC) is transitioning to a standardized, pan-Canadian protocol for intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose. The current three-bag regimen will be replaced by a single concentration given in two steps. DPIC is launching the province-wide transition to the revised protocol by Nov. 1, 2026, with individual health authorities launching at earlier or later dates. 

The goal is for all BC health authorities to complete the transition by the end of 2026.

For more information:

​​​​​ ​Recovery resources​​​​

​Rec​overy after critical illness

​Resources supporting patients, families, and caregivers during recovery following critical illness, including physical, cognitive, and emotional impacts such as Post‑Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS).

​Going back to 'normal' after ICU discharge

A 10‑minute film sharing the story of an ICU survivor living with PICS, with perspectives from clinicians and researchers on recovery and support.​​ Watch the video​.​

​Rec​overy after critical illness

A practical guide designed to support patients, caregivers, and families during recovery following critical illness. Developed collaboratively by critical care clinicians, allied health professionals, researchers, and people with lived experience.

Please encourage review with families supporting critical illness survivors and provide a hard copy where appropriate.

​Available formats:

Educator slide decks are available upon request - contact Sybil Hoiss for an editable copy.​​
​​​​N​orthern Health resources

Learn more about the Northern Health Critical Care Recovery Program, including program development and related resources. 

Questions: CCRP@northernhealth.ca​

​Family C​aregivers of BC resources

Free, BC‑wide virtual support for individuals supporting a family member in recovery. Family Caregivers of BC (FCBC)​ is funded by the Ministry of Health.

Recovery after sepsis

​A helpful starting‑point resource that helps patients and families understand sepsis, its effects, and the recovery journey. Patient guide: What is sepsis?​​

Patient and family resources​​

​The Recovery After Sepsis leaflet provides support for those recovering from sepsis. This should be reviewed with every sepsis survivor and their families upon discharge from critical care. 

The leaflet was created with the Patient Advisory Council of Action on Sepsis at UBC, in partnership with the BC Sepsis network.

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BC Resuscitation Sciences Symposium 

​​Critical Care BC co-hosts this annual event. In 2026, the symposium is co-hosted by Critical Care BC, Emergency Care BC, Health Quality BC and Child Health BC. ​​Partners for past years include BC Transplant and UBC's CEREBRI Research Cluster​​​. 

2026

​​September 2026

This four-part virtual symposium series, co-hosted by Critical Care BC, Emergency Care BC, Health Quality BC and Child Health BC brought together clinicians, researchers, quality improvement leaders, patients, and families to explore the full sepsis journey, from recognition and treatment to recovery and future innovation. The series highlighted leading practices, patient experiences, and opportunities to improve sepsis care across British Columbia.


2025

​May 2025

Critical Care BC and BC Transplant co-hosted the BC Resuscitation Sciences Series: Organ Donation & Transplantation Symposium

View the full recordings on YouTube here: 
​Presentation Highlights:
  • ​Dr. Sam Shemie: The Mortem Triplets: Pre, Peri, and Post
  • Dr. Sonny Dhanani: Advances & the Future of Organ Donation Research
  • Dr. Dan Harvey: Normothermic Regional Perfusion: The UK Experience
  • Rachael Durie: Bridging Donation & Transplantation
  • Ron Shiu (St. Paul's Hospital): Qualitative study exploring culturally inclusive end-of-life care in critical care settings.

2024

​May 2024

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Learning

BC Resuscitation Sciences Series​

For the 2026 edition of this annual event, a four-part virtual symposium brought together clinicians, researchers, quality improvement leaders, patients, and families to explore the full sepsis journey, from recognition and treatment to recovery and future innovation. 

Recordings:

​Critic​al ​Care Connect

Virtual webinar series 


Critical Care Connect is a provincial webinar series that supports knowledge sharing and connection across the critical care community in BC.
  • Format: Virtual webinar 
  • Frequency: quarterly or  3-4 times a year
  • Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • Registration: Webinar registration
After registering, you will receive a calendar invite for future sessions. Registration is required only once to receive ongoing invitations.
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Provincial Critical Care Grand Rounds

Monthly hybrid rounds focused on critical care research and practice​


Building on foundational work at Vancouver General Hospital, Provincial Critical Care Grand Rounds are now co-hosted by Critical Care BC, the CEREBRI Research Cluster, and the UBC Division of Critical Care Medicine. Sessions explore topics relevant to critical care across urban, regional and rural settings in BC.
  • Format: Hybrid (VGH in person and virtual)
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Audience: Open to all interested in critical care research and practice
Topic information along with date and time are shared once speakers are confirmed. 

To be added to the meeting invite distribution list, please contact:

Session recordings are available on Vimeo shortly after each event.
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Pediatric critical care learning sessions

Monthly virtual case-based learning


Join colleagues from across BC to review and learn from de-identified pediatric critical care cases presented by providers from a wide range of communities.
If you have a case to suggest for review, please email the organizers​. 

If you missed a session, notes and resources can be found on the Pediatric​ Critical Care Resource page​.
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CEREBRI UBC research lectures​

Neuro-critical care research presentations


This series features UBC-led neuro-critical care research topics presented through the CEREBRI Research Cluster.
Research

Critical care review summary

Belfast, Northern Ireland | June 2026


Dr Adam Thomas provided a summary of Critical Care Review Trials. Read the summary.
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Successful CIHR grant for BC‑wide critical care research

CIHR operational grant | 2026–2029


A CIHR Operational Grant awarded to UBC Critical Care Clinical Faculty and Critical Care BC supports province‑wide research collaboration focused on donation after circulatory determination of death (DCC).

Why this matters

  • Supports cross–health authority, provincial research collaboration
  • Strengthens partnerships between the UBC Division of Critical Care Medicine and CCBC
  • Coordinated with the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group
Participating sites: VGH, RCH, SMH, KGH, EKRH (Cranbrook), with additional Canadian sites including the University of Calgary, University of Ottawa, University of Western Ontario, University of Manitoba and Queen’s University.

Interested in participating? Contact Dr. Myp Sekhon​.​

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