Patient Partner, Preventing Brain Injury following Cardiac Arrest Research Team

Researchers continue to seek ways to reduce the risk of brain injury after cardiac arrest and have identified ketamine as a possible option. The Royal Columbian Hospital Neurology Research Team is seeking two patient partners who have experience with cardiac arrest to help shape their research with what matters to patients and families.

Open to: Patient partners in Fraser Health communities

Lead Organization or Department

Royal Columbian Hospital, Neurology

Aim

To study the effects of ketamine on preventing brain damage after cardiac arrest. Patients and caregivers will share their lived experience to ensure that the project is relevant to patient needs.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

Open to patient partners in Fraser Health communities with:

• Experience in cardiac arrest as a patient or a caregiver
• Comfort telling their story
• Some familiarity with health research

Logistics

• Vacancies: 2
• Date/time: To be determined with patient partners
• Location: Via telephone, web conferences and in-person
• Commitment: Once a month, 2-3 hours, for up to six months

Reimbursement

Out-of-pocket expenses (mileage, transit fares, parking) will be reimbursed. In addition, compensation may be discussed with the patient partner on an individual basis.

Background

Ketamine is an approved drug that is already routinely used in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit as a common sedative and pain-reliever. Although it is not typically used to treat cardiac arrest patients, our team is interested in comparing the EEG and neurological exam results in patients who were treated with ketamine compared to those who received current standard of care (no ketamine). Current research has shown that there may be a positive effect of the use of ketamine for cardiac arrest patients to reduce brain injury. Team members include:

• George Medvedev- Neurologist at Royal Columbian Hospital, Principal Investigator of the project.
• Tim Leung- Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine at Royal Columbian Hospital, Co-Investigator
• Andrew Wormsbecker- Intensive Care Unit Physician at Royal Columbian Hospital, Co-Investigator
• Idan Khan- Emergency Physician Royal Columbian Hospital, Co-Investigator
• Marlena Ornowska- Research Assistant Royal Columbian Hospital, Co-Investigator

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Rableen Nagra, MA
Patient Engagement Specialist, Fraser Centre – BC Support Unit
Phone: 604-587-4600 ext. 765870
Email: rableen.nagra@fraserhealth.ca