Regional Trauma Program

Hamilton Health Sciences supports two regional trauma centres. The Hamilton General Hospital provides care for adult trauma patients and McMaster Children’s Hospital provides pediatric trauma care.

As tertiary trauma centres, the trauma program assumes a leadership role in the development, evaluation and continuous quality improvement of care for the Central South Region. The trauma program is committed to evidence-based, patient-centered care, trauma-related education and research, and injury prevention.

The program collects and analyzes internal, regional and provincial data to report, monitor and optimize patient care and system development.

Care we provide

  • Trauma resuscitation
  • Trauma surgery
  • Trauma follow-up clinic
  • Trauma registry

ATLS® (Advanced Trauma Life Support)

The American College of Surgeons (ACS), Committee on Trauma has developed the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) course for doctors and other qualified heath care professionals. The course offers a systemic approach to the early and immediate management of patients with traumatic injuries.

ACS – Trauma Education: About Advanced Trauma Life Support

The 1.5-day hybrid provider course is open to Physicians, Physicians Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners. At this time, HHS is not offering the auditing option of the ATLS® course for other providers.

To qualify to take the refresher ATLS course, you must have taken an ATLS course within the last four years, and your certification must be no more than 180 days expired.

This course will take place at the Hamilton General Hospital, 237 Barton St. E., Hamilton, Ontario.

Learning objectives – ATLS® provider course:

Participants will learn to identify injuries associated with major trauma, management of skills required for early resuscitation, and treatment of injured patients.

The ATLS© course provides its participants with a safe and reliable method for the immediate treatment of injured patients and the basic knowledge necessary to:

  • Assess a patient’s condition rapidly and accurately.
  • Resuscitate and stabilize patients according to priority.
  • Determine whether a patient’s needs exceed a facility’s resources and/or a doctor’s capabilities.
  • Arrange appropriately for a patient’s inter-hospital or intra-hospital transfer (what, who, when, and how).
  • Ensure that optimal care provided and level of care does not deteriorate at any point during the evaluation, resuscitation, or transfer processes.

2024 course dates and description:

November 15 and 16, 2024 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

2025 course dates and description:

February 27 and 28, 2025 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

April 10 and 11, 2025 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

May 10, 2025 – ATLS Recertification Course

June 19 and 20, 2025 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

August 22 and 23, 2025 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

September 25 and 26, 2025 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

October 17, 2025 – ATLS Recertification Course

November 27 and 28, 2025 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

Visit this link to register for the above dates: https://hhsf.akaraisin.com/ui/ATLS

For general inquires, please contact ATLS@HHSC.ca. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response.

ATCN® (Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses)

Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) is an advanced course designed for the registered nurse interested in increasing his/her knowledge in management of the multiple trauma patient.

Society of Trauma Nurses ATCN Webpage

This course will take place at the Hamilton General Hospital, 237 Barton St. E., Hamilton, Ontario.

Hamilton General Hospital 2025 course dates:

  • June 12 and 13, 2025
  • October 30 and 31, 2025

Visit this link to register for the above dates: https://www.hamiltonhealth.ca/ATCN

For general inquiries, please contact ATCN@HHSC.ca. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response.

Conferences

Focus on Trauma Conferences

The 22nd Annual Focus on Trauma Conference will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

Additional details to come.

Locations

Food-Shops-Hamilton-General

237 Barton St E
Hamilton, ON L8L 2X2

McMaster University Medical Centre exterior

1200 Main St W
Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5