Table 1.

Characteristics of rural hospitals and urban trauma centres in Quebec, 2009–2013

Characteristics	Rural EDs n=26	Urban TCs n=33	P value
Distance from level 1 or 2 trauma centre, n (%)
≤150 km	11 (42)	–	–
150–300 km	9 (35)	–	–
>300 km or no road	6 (23)	–	–
Types of services offered 24/7, n (%)
Laboratory	26 (100)	33 (100)	1.00
X-ray	24 (92)	33 (100)	0.19
Intensive care unit	20 (77)	33 (100)	0.005
Portable ultrasound device (bedside ED)	19 (73)	33 (100)	0.002
CT scan	18 (69)	33 (100)	<0.001
Ultrasound (radiology)*	8 (31)	33 (100)	0.001
MRI	0 (0)	33 (100)	0.001
Types of specialists, n (%)
General surgeon	19 (73)	33 (100)	0.002
Anaesthesiologist	17 (65)	33 (100)	0.002
Internal medicine specialist	10 (38)	33 (100)	0.001
Orthopaedic surgeon	3 (12)	33 (100)	0.001
Neurologist	0 (0)	33 (100)	0.001

*Available on weekdays.

ED, emergency department; TC, trauma centre.