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

*After registering, you will receive a calendar invite for future webinars. Registration is only required once for future invitations to be emailed to you.

Successful CIHR Grant for BC- wide Research

Congratulations to UBC Critical Care Clinical Faculty members and CCBC staff for their successful CIHR Operational Grant entitled- A Brain-Based method to the prediction of the dying duration in donation and after circulatory criteria (DCC). 

The grant was funded from the 2025 Spring CIHR competition and prioritizes cross-health authority and Provincial-based research that forms collaborations between the UBC Division and CCBC. The team includes investigators from the following hospitals: a) VGH; b) RCH; c) SMH; d) KGH; and e) EKRH - Cranbrook. The grant will run from 2026-2029 and is in coordination with the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group and CCBC.

Investigators:
PI - Myp Sekhon
Co-I's - Hussein Kanji, Sybil Hoiss, Amandeep Sidhu, Andrew Wormsbecker, Anish Mitra, Sonny Thiara, Denise Jaworksy, Julian Feder Mackenzie

Other Canadian sites include: University of Calgary, University of Ottawa, University of Western Ontario, University of Manitoba and Queen's University"

If additional sites are interested, please contact Dr. Myp Sekhon (mypindersekhon@gmail.com).

Pediatric Critical Care Learning Sessions
​​Sepsis Forum - October 23, 2025

Co-hosted by the Pacific Northwest Sepsis Conference, the University of British Columbia's Action on Sepsis Research Cluster, and partners the Forum fosters cross-disciplinary conversations and shared learning across science, clinical care, and lived experience.

This year's event explores timely topics including artificial intelligence in early detection, personalized approaches to sepsis guidelines, improved coding and classification systems, multidisciplinary post-sepsis care, and community-driven advocacy. By creating an inclusive space for discussion and collaboration, Sepsis Forum aims to advance education, policy, and outcomes for all those impacted by sepsis. See topics and register here.

Rural Emergency Care - Evidence Based Strategies for Critical Care Scenarios - November 25, 2025

Regi​onal Emergency Services Program, VCH-PHC is pleased to invite you to the upcoming Rural Emergency Care: Evidence Based Strategies for Critical Care Scenarios– a half-day learning event designed specifically for clinicians working in rural emergency departments across British Columbia. For more informaiton, see the poster​

Registration here: Rural Education Day - LearningHub

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From May 12–13, Critical Care BC and BC Transplant co-hosted the BC Resuscitation Sciences Series: Organ Donation & Transplantation Symposium—a two-day event tailored for the critical care community. The symposium brought together over 300 participants from across Canada, offering a high-quality educational experience that advanced knowledge and collaboration in the field of organ donation and transplantation. Attendees heard from renowned speakers from across Canada—including Quebec and Ontario—and internationally, with participation from the UK.

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
  • Another particularly impactful session was led by Ron Shiu (St. Paul's Hospital), who presented a qualitative study exploring culturally inclusive end-of-life care in critical care settings—a vital topic that resonated deeply with attendees. 

We invite you to view the session recordings, which include timestamps, and continue the conversation on how we can evolve our critical care practices to better serve our communities.


BC Resuscitation Sciences Series: Organ Donation & Transplantation Symposium 2025

​ Donation Day - May 12, 2025

Land Acknowledgement – Elder Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph (4:50)
Welcome Address – Dr. Myp Sekhon & Dr. Maureen O’Donnell (14:11)
The Physiology of Circulatory Arrest in Humans – Dr. Myp Sekhon (39:30)
Patient Partner: A Son and His Parents Ignited a Research Program Through donation – David Boloten & Lora Peeler (1:04:48)
The Perils of Prognostication—Post-Cardiac Arrest Prognostication – Dr. Julie Kromm (1:12:55)
Healthcare Provider’s Insights to End-Of-Life in ICU – Dr. Allana LeBlanc (1:35:48)
What Do “We” Care About at Our End-Of-Life? A Qualitative Study Exploring Culturally Inclusive End-Of-Life Care in Critical Care Settings – Ron Shiu (1:54:00)
The Mortem Triplets: Pre, Peri and Post – Dr. Sam Shemie (2:10:42)
Pro-Con Debate: What’s More Important to Life and Death – The Heart or The Brain – Dr. Peter Gooderham (3:17:23)
Predicting Death – Part 1: The Brain to Heart Axis – Jordan Bird (3:17:30)
Predicting Death – Part 2: The Heart to Brain Axis – Dr. Sonny Dhanani (3:34:03)
Patient Partner: A Mother’s Story of Donation – Jennifer Woolfsmith (3:56:41)
Diagnosis of DNC: Radiographic Assessment for Ancillary Testing -Dr. Raju Heran (4:15:43)
Organ Donation After Medical Assistance in Dying – Dr. Matt Weiss (4:40:50)
Patient Partner: Ric’s story - Mary Basas & Makenzi Harris (5:08:50)
Advances and the Future or Organ Donation Research – Dr. Sonny Dhanani (5:36:30)

Transplant Day - May 13, 2025 

Normothermic Regional Perfusion: The UK Experience – Dr. Dan Harvey (3:08)
The Beneficence Of NRP: Increasing Heart Donation and Optimizing Liver Donation – Dr. Matt Weiss (51:42)
The Non-Maleficence Of NRP: Honouring the Dead Donor Rule in Canada – Dr. Marat Slessarev (1:06:25)
NRP: Perspectives From A HPB Surgeon – Dr. Stephanie Chartier-Plante (1:23:12)
The BC Experience with NRP – Dr. George Isac (1:37:24)
Roundtable: Considerations For Implementing NRP In Canada – Dr. Dan Harvey, Dr. Matt Weiss, Dr. George Isac, Dr. Stephanie Chartier Plante, Dr. Julie Kromm, Dr. Prosanto Chaudhury, Dr. Marat Slessarev (1:55:38)
Precision Matching for Kidney Transplantation – Dr. James Lan (2:40:23)
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em: Harnessing The Immune System To Improve Transplantation Outcomes – Robbie Wright (2:58:25)
Pediatric Considerations into Solid Organ Transplant – Dr. Tom Blydt-Hansen (3:12:29)
Mechanical Cardiovascular Bridging Techniques for Heart Transplantation – Dr. Nima Mogghadam (3:39:20)
Hepatic Ischemia: Reperfusion Injury – Dr. Daljeet Chahal (3:59:30)
Donor-Derived Infections: Threats to Patients – Dr. Sara Belga (4:17:03)
Telling Recipient Stories with Novel Methods – Dr. Suze Berkhout (4:33:42)
Panel Discussion: Donor Family & Recipient Roundtable - Nick Kanaan, Kristi Coldwell, Jennifer Woolfsmith, Mary Basas (5:01:17)
Bridging Donation and Transplantation - Rachael Durie (5:41:37)
Closing – Dr. Myp Sekhon (6:16:58)


 
  • The symposium centred around "Evaluating, Managing & Assessing Post-Cardiac Arrest Brain Injury," brought together interdisciplinary experts and healthcare providers to exchange insights on the latest best practices and clinical evidence.  Learn more here
  
CEREBRI UBC research lectures
Clinical Practice Resources

 

This document aims to describe the levels of care required for critically ill patients according to their clinical needs, regardless of patient location. The ensuing descriptions align with other jurisdictions and literature. While acuity and complexity should be considered when analyzing patient care needs, those terms are combined for simplicity and are referred to as 'Levels of Adult Critical Care'.  

For any questions about this document 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.

 

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), and are modifiable.

ICU Liberation aims to improve patient and family involvement and encourage interdisciplinary team communication. ICU Liberation Bundle Elements are most effective when implemented by an interdisciplinary team and unit champions. 

A - Assess, Prevent and Treat Pain 

B - Both Spontaneous Awakening Trials and Spontaneous Breathing Trial

      Data Tracking forms for use at paper based sites:

C- Choice of Analgesic and Sedation 

D- Delirium – Assess, Prevent and Manage 

E – Early Mobility and Exercise 

F – Family Engagement and Empowerment  (resources coming soon)

 

Access information about the Northern Health Critical Care Recovery Program development and next steps. Please see here for the NH Communications Bulletin announcing this program.

For any questions, please reach out to CCRP@northernhealth.ca

Northern Health Critical Care Recovery Program (May 6th Webinar)

Critical Care Recovery Program in Northern Health

 

Critical Care BC (CCBC) would like to draw attention to key resources available to health care disciplines in BC. Learn more here.‎

 

 

 

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.

or contact us for more information‎

 
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
 

These guidelines were developed with the collaboration of the members of a multidisciplinary team including Burns and Plastic Surgery, Trauma Services BC, Emergency Care BC, Critical Care BC, British Columbia Emergency Health Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, and Transport Medicine.

Escharotomy for Patients with Burns – Provincial Clinical Practice Guideline - V12

V12 has been updated (from April 2025) to reflect the following:

  • Application: Adults older than 16 years of age (though the principles and techniques are the same for children, due to size and depth) we are recommending reaching out to Pediatric SMEs prior to performing the procedure.
  • Abdominal incision: included an update on extending inferiorly into the abdomen for ACS.

SCCM Guidelines on Adult Critical Care Ultrasonograph​y​​

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SCCM Guidelines on Adult Critical Care Ultrasonograph​y​​
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Please see Society of Critical Care Medicine guidelines for Point of Care Ultrasound use.

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