BGH a leader in community-based clinical care research

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In healthcare, clinical research is associated with large teaching hospitals. However, the Brantford General Hospital has quietly become a leader in community-based clinical care research and is now recognized throughout Canada.

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“The BGH Critical Care Unit (CCU) has become one of the top community hospital enrolling centres, often ranking first or near the top in the country,” Dr. Brenda Reeve, an anesthetist and intensivist, said. “To date, we have had more than 1,100 patient enrollments in studies with the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group.”

Reeve works closely with CCU staff and physicians, and research coordinator William Dechert.

“We can trace our growth in research back to 2020 with interventional trials to evaluate new therapies for COVID-19,” Dechert said. “We worked in real time studying numerus novel therapies to improve the condition of our CCU patients.”

Dechert referred to the international Sprint-Sari Trial and the Remap-Cap Trial BGH participated in. “The BGH CCU collaborated with hospitals around the world. Researchers observed patients, implemented therapies, and compiled data. Today, with the advancement of vaccines and other therapies, many COVID-19 patients spend much less time in the CCU.”

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Other fields of study have included sepsis, physical therapy, probiotics, stress ulcer prophylaxis treatment, pneumonia, COVID-19, end-of-life, invasive mechanical ventilation, and life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis.

Hospitals are clinical environments, however, not all trials need to combine science and medical interventions. Reeve highlighted the 3 Wishes Project developed by Dr. Debora Cook at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, which has spread across North America. In 2016, BGH was one of the first community hospitals to join.

“3 Wishes honours patient’s lives by humanizing and dignifying their end of life. We have helped make final wishes come true for hundreds of patients, including decorating their CCU room with Maple Leaf memorabilia, making arrangements for a special visit by a pet, preparing a special meal and drink, even arranging champagne and a toast on New Year’s Eve.”

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“3 Wishes allows physicians and staff to better know their patients and families. It is as fulfilling for us as it is for patients and their families.”

Working closely with other academic and community hospitals, the BCHS (Brantford General Hospital and Willett Hospital, Paris) is creating a network of researchers that collaborates on both current and future clinical trials.

“BCHS has not only contributed valuable data, but also authored and co-authored important publications in our fields of study,” Dechert said. “We are hoping to expand and bring more clinical trials to the BGH.”

Reeve and Dechert said physicians and other community hospitals in Canada now approach the BCHS, asking for assistance conducting research at their hospitals.

Reeve concluded, “The latest evidence and medications from this research are a valuable benefit for our CCU patients. We are very proud of our work.”

Hospital Insider is written by Gary Chalk who assists with communications for the Brant Community Healthcare System.

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