As part of National Injury Prevention Day, Parachute invites hospitals across Canada to raise awareness about the importance of injury prevention to the health-care system.
Why injury prevention is important for hospitals
The Cost of Injury in Canada report shows that, in one year, preventable injuries from collisions, falls, poisonings, drownings and violence cost the Canadian healthcare system $29.4 billion. That’s $56 million per day. Direct costs – costs incurred by hospitals for medical supplies, diagnostic imaging, drugs, ambulance transportation, emergency care costs, hospital care costs, physician services fees and rehabilitation costs – make up the vast majority at $20.4 billion.
While hospitals treat injuries after they happen, medical centres have a key role to play, as well as a vested interest, in preventing injuries from happening in the first place. Think of how many patients who have suffered a preventable injury fill your trauma and emergency departments, along with other units. We are stronger together.
NIPD brings an opportunity for us to shine a light on the preventability of injuries. It’s a chance to come together across disciplines to raise awareness that we have effective solutions to keep people from getting seriously injured or killed and to stop them from needing hospital/trauma services.