By Selma Al-Samarrai


The CHIRPP team at St. Michael's is, from L to R: Stanley Zhang, research co-ordinator, Injury Prevention Research; Dr. Michael Cusimano, neurosurgeon and co-director of CHIRPP; Nancy Agbaje, research assistant, Injury Prevention Research; Dr. Alun Ackery, ED physician and co-director of CHIRPP
The CHIRPP team at St. Michael’s is, from L to R: Stanley Zhang, research co-ordinator, Injury Prevention Research; Dr. Michael Cusimano, neurosurgeon and co-director of CHIRPP; Nancy Agbaje, research assistant, Injury Prevention Research; Dr. Alun Ackery, ED physician and co-director of CHIRPP.

St. Michael’s Hospital recently became the first adult hospital in a downtown urban setting to participate in the national Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP).

St. Michael’s joins 11 pediatric hospitals and seven general hospitals across Canada that survey patients who come in to the Emergency Department (ED) with injury or poisoning to understand the how, why, what and when behind the incident, for the purpose of building knowledge on how to prevent these events in the future.

“St. Michael’s serves such a diverse population that it really represents a microcosm of Canada. Our participation in this program will provide unique perspectives that have been lacking until now at the federal level,” explained Dr. Michael Cusimano, neurosurgeon and co-director of CHIRPP at St. Michael’s.

The definitions for injury and poisoning in CHIRPP range widely to include everything from a drug overdose to a car accident to a workplace injury, to injuries that represent an overlap of the two areas such as alcohol-related traumas.

Fellow CHIRPP co-director and St. Michael’s ED Physician Dr. Alun Ackery explained that witnessing the range of injuries that bring patients to the ED was a huge propelling factor for his and Dr. Cusimano’s decision to join CHIRPP.

     
Thank you to the CHIRPP volunteers whose critical role involves being available 24-7 at the Emergency Department, through shift rotations, to provide CHIRPP forms to patients and explain why they are requesting this information: Abeer Wasim, Ali Noorani, Anil Kumar Dosaj, Bahar Talaei, Ben Scott, Edwin Kim, Farah Shaikh, Gabriel Fezza, Ghassan Alkefeiri, Grecia Higuerey, Haman Mamdouhi, Ilias Ettayebi, Janice Gomes, Karamveer Kaur Dhillon, Khatija (Pinky) Ali, Marie Gonthalie Cloutier, Michael Gryciuk, Moradali Ahangar, Muhannad Alwash, Nadina Holca, Noah Poulin, Roizar Rosales, Roshen Monichan, Sareeha Virani, Shreya Sivaloganathan, Xiaolin (Lynn) Li and Zi Fan (Tony) Fang

“Dr. Cusimano works in head injury research, and I’m a trauma physician, so we both see the devastating consequences of having injuries that are usually preventable, and are sometimes followed by a long and difficult road to recovery,” explained Dr. Ackery.

There are a total of 30 volunteers who are available 24-7 through eight-hour shift rotations at the ED to provide CHIRPP forms to patients and explain why they are requesting this information.

Dr. Cusimano says the program’s success also depends on the ED’s nurses, clerical staff, doctors and Rapid Assessment Zones coordinators.

“There’s a lot of good that comes from this initiative, specifically better understanding how and why people get injured so that we can formulate primary injury prevention measures,” explained Dr. Ackery.

About St. Michael’s Hospital

St. Michael’s Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in more than 29 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the Hospital’s recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael’s Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

About Unity Health Toronto

Unity Health Toronto, comprised of Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital, works to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Our health network serves patients, residents and clients across the full spectrum of care, spanning primary care, secondary community care, tertiary and quaternary care services to post-acute through rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term care, while investing in world-class research and education. For more information, visit www.unityhealth.to.