Supporting trauma, retrieval and critical care across NSW.
The Information system for trauma, retrieval and critical care (iTRACC), is a web-based information system supporting trauma, retrieval and critical care across NSW.
iTRACC acts as a central repository for multiple critical care databases integrated with Google Maps. It lists critical care services and assets and their locations in NSW.
iTRACC has superseded its earlier version, Blood search.
What iTRACC does
iTRACC provides a critical care profile of services and assets available across NSW public hospitals. For example, users can search for blood products, antivenom, antidotes and lifesaving drugs, interventional cardiology services, trauma services, radiology services, stroke services and much more.
It also provides road, helicopter and fixed wing times and distances from a location (i.e. where a patient is) to the service (e.g. stroke service) or asset (e.g. brown snake antivenom).
Accessing iTRACC
Only groups responsible for providing high-level critical care advice within the NSW health care system can access iTRACC. This includes:
- the Aeromedical Control Centre (ACC), NSW Ambulance
- Poisons Information Centre
- critical care advisory services
- virtual care clinicians.
If you work in these areas, email ACI-Trauma@health.nsw.gov.au to request access.
Case study: iTRACC in action
A young boy was accidentally shot in a rural property in central western NSW. He was bleeding to death from the injuries he sustained.
A 000 call was made and came to the attention of the ACC, who are responsible for dispatching NSW medical helicopters.
The ACC used iTRACC to geolocate the accident scene and filter for the closest helicopter base with the flight time and distance. A helicopter in Orange was closest, and a medical team was dispatched. Another team from Sydney was also dispatched.
Knowing the patient had critical bleeding, the ACC activated the prehospital massive transfusion procedure. This involved using iTRACC to locate the closest blood supply and sourcing the direct blood bank phone number. Blood products were released and expedited by NSW police highway patrol to the medical helicopter crew.
iTRACC was also used to locate the closest paediatric trauma centre the patient was taken to. The patient received 18 units of blood product before arriving to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He survived and is now back at school.
Without iTRACC providing vital information to key coordinating and operational staff, it is unlikely the outcome would have been so positive.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank those who support the iTRACC project with the provision of data, including:
- NSW Ambulance
- NSW and Victoria Therapeutic Advisory Group
- NSW Health Pathology
- ACI Stroke, Cardiac, Spinal and Burns Networks and Intensive Care NSW.