title: Trauma in Canada: a spirit of equity & collaboration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The delivery of equitable trauma care in Canada is not without challenges within our universal health care system. Notably, the tyranny of geography is intermittently at odds with adequate access for our rural, indigenous, and impoverished populations. Other differences exist when compared with neighbouring trauma systems, for example in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  As a critical review, we chose to compare and critique the overall system of trauma organization and perceived societal expectations of a high-income, North American country (Canada) to assist with discussions on trauma systems for the future.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tele-technology is providing some early solutions. Trauma systems and delivery of care in Canada differ from the United States due to our single-payer system, regionalization and universal provision. Care for injured Canadians has a long history of being multidisciplinary, with collaborative research programs. Canada also has a history of global surgical endeavours, beginning with Dr. Norman Bethune and his recognition of the political causes of trauma and continuing as a global public health concern for all.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While challenges continue to exist for the provision of equitable trauma care in Canada, unique multidisciplinary, collaborative and technology-based solutions continue to be developed, both locally and globally, to address this critical public health issue.
authors: DeWitt Daughtry Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1800 NW 10th Avenue, T247, Miami, FL 33136, USA. tzakrison@med.miami.edu
authors: Tanya
authors: T
authors: Zakrison
authors: Chad G
authors: CG
authors: Ball
authors: Andrew W
authors: AW
authors: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D011156:Population Density; D012151:Resuscitation; D012955:Societies, Medical; D012960:Socioenvironmental Therapy; D017216:Telemedicine; D014194:Traumatology / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*
references: Can J Surg. 2002 Aug;45(4):288-95
references: 12174987
references: J Epidemiol Community Health. 2005 Dec;59(12):1072-7
references: 16286497
references: Soc Sci Med. 1998 Jul;47(1):7-17
references: 9683374
references: Can J Surg. 2010 Apr;53(2):79-83
references: 20334738
references: CMAJ. 2010 Feb 23;182(3):228-9
references: 20100847
references: J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Aug;213(2):284-93
references: 21601487
references: CJEM. 2007 Jan;9(1):16-20
references: 17391595
references: J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012 Nov;73(5):1288-93
references: 22922969
references: J Trauma. 2010 Jan;68(1):2-8
references: 20065749
references: J Trauma. 2008 Dec;65(6):1209-16
references: 19077603
references: J Trauma. 2010 Dec;69(6):1597-9
references: 21150536
references: Inj Prev. 2006 Dec;12(6):378-81
references: 17170185
references: CJEM. 2007 Mar;9(2):105-10
references: 17391581
references: Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 Nov;70(5):1746-52
references: 11093539
references: J Trauma. 2011 Dec;71(6):1491-3
references: 22182858
references: J Am Coll Surg. 2009 Apr;208(4):503-9
references: 19476782
references: CMAJ. 2005 Apr 12;172(8):1007-11
references: 15824405
references: Ann Surg. 2013 Jan;257(1):160-5
references: 23235398
references: Can J Public Health. 2009 Jan-Feb;100(1):73-7
references: 19263989
references: J Trauma. 2010 Dec;69(6):1313-22
references: 21150514
references: J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Sep;213(3):402-9
references: 21683625
references: Can J Surg. 2011 Dec;54(6):422-9
references: 22099320
references: J Trauma. 2010 Dec;69(6):1350-61; discussion 1361
references: 20838258