Portland, Ore.

A multi-center national study slated to begin Wednesday, Nov. 1, in the Portland-metro, Vancouver, Wash., area has been delayed. The study, known as the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium, or ROC, had already begun in several of the 11 participating regional medical centers across the United States and Canada.

ROC aims to determine whether a different type of resuscitation fluid than normal saline can improve survival rates in severely injured people. The nationwide delay relates to data monitoring procedures once patients have been admitted to the hospital. The delay is not related to emergency response protocols at the scene of trauma.

Oregon Health & Science University, along with all other participating medical centers and hospitals in the Portland-metro, southwest Washington community, including Legacy Emanuel Hospital, Southwest Washington Medical Center, Portland-metro and Vancouver Wash., emergency medical services and fire district providers, are waiting additional guidance from the Food and Drug Administration and will communicate with the public as soon as more information is available.

For more detail about the study, please visit http://www.ohsu.edu/emergency/roc/