Department of Emergency Medicine

Chief of Emergency Medicine: Dr. Shaun Gauthier

The Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) has 313 beds including a nine bed ICU and 11 bed NICU. There are six Operation Suites plus another theatre dedicated to Obstetrics. There is also rehab, waiting placement and palliative care units. The Health Centre has both an Acute Psychiatric Centre and a Geriatric Psychiatric Unit along with an off campus Child Adolescent Treatment Centre.

The Emergency Department sees in excess of 25,000 visits per year with greater than 60% being CTAS 1 - 3. The medical staff in the emergency department provide 24 hour coverage, 7 days per week.


*The east entrance to BRHC Emergency Department.* The Emergency Department provides acute care to the Brandon Region and surrounding area. They are also a regional referral centre to patients that require specialized care by physicians in the areas of General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics/Gynaecology, Internal Medicine including Intensive Care Unit and Psychiatric Services. The Emergency Department cares for individuals of all ages and cultures with health care problems. These problems can be perceived, actual or potential, sudden or urgent, physical or psychosocial. Care is episodic, primary and usually acute. The priority is given to the identification and stabilization of patients with threatened loss of life or limb. For some patient the Emergency Department stabilizes and refers them on to tertiary care in Winnipeg by either land ambulance or air flight. These referrals include transfers for Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, Plastics Surgery and at times Orthopaedics. The Emergency Department also provides after hours services for other agencies and departments that do not provide 24 hour/7 day a week coverage. Attached to the Emergency Department is a five-bed Observation Unit. This area is for patients that require further tests or observation for up to 48 hours. Visting hours are from 2 - 4pm and 7 - 8pm but can be extended by the supervisor, depending on the circumstances.	*The main ER area* The Health Centre has undergone a recent large redevelopment, which was completed in early spring 2005.This included a completely revamped Emergency Department. The new unit includes: Eight single bay beds with full telemetry and monitoring ability Five bed observation unit run, jointly with the emergency medical officers and the rest of the admitting staff. Trauma Suit consistings of two complete major trauma rooms and an isolation room. Orthopaedic Room Gynaecological Room Private Family Room for the family of seriously ill patients. Secure Psychiatric Room Multipurpose Interview Room. Staff room and a medical staff bedroom.

*An emergency room bed bay in the main room*	*The main room in emergency from west side*

*The ambulance bay looking south west*	*One of the two major trauma rooms*

*The Orthopaedic and Casting Room*	*The Obstetrical, Gynaecology and Ophthalmology room*

*The Isolation Room with anti-room to right*	The five bed Observation Unit from the desk

The Brandon RHA is committed to the use of computers throughout the region. In the emergency room we have Vital Works, a computer program for emergency that comes in two parts. VitalWorks Track System - keeps the locatoin of the patients up to date and also VitalWorks EM Station - a very powerful program that includes Triage, Assessment, Treatment Plus a Prescription Writer. The program also has the ability to complete either a short medical report or a full history and physical report. Our diagnostic imaging department is fully digitalized and x-rays are viewed on the picture archiving computer system(PACS). The Pharmacy is able to dispense medications throughout the hospital utilizing a computerized medication dispensers.


The Computerized Medication Dispenser in emergency	The two computer screens of the X-Ray PACS system

Computer screen showing a page from Vital Works EM Station	*A computer screen showing Vital Works Tracking*