Information About the ATLS^® Program and Courses

Need:

• Injury is precipitous and indiscriminate

• The doctor who first attends to the injured patient has the greatest opportunity to impact outcome

• The price of injury is excessive in dollars as well as human suffering

Program:

• CME program developed by the ACS Committee on Trauma

• One safe, reliable method for assessing and initially managing the trauma patient

• Revised every 4 years to keep abreast of changes

Audience:

• Designed for doctors who care for injured patients

• Standards for successful completion established for doctors

• ACS verifies doctors' successful course completion

Benefits:

• An organized approach for evaluation and management of seriously injured Patients

• A foundation of common knowledge for all members of the trauma team

• Applicable in both large urban centers and small rural emergency departments

Objectives:

• Assess the patient's condition rapidly and accurately

• Resuscitate and stabilize the patient according to priority

• Determine if the patient's needs exceed a facility's capabilities

• Arrange appropriately for the patient's definitive care

• Ensure that optimum care is provided

Student Course:

• Teaches medical core content in an interactive format

• Hands-on skills sessions in simulated trauma settings

• Successful completion status valid for 4 years from course date

Student Refresher Course:

• Provides doctors the opportunity to maintain a current status

• ½-day or 1-day course format

• Content overview, triage scenarios, written and practical tests included

Instructor Course:

• Student Course participants, identified as having instructor potential may advance to the Instructor Course within a specified timeframe

• Teaches the doctor how to teach the ATLS^® Student Course

• Eligibility to participate is limited to doctors in countries where the program has been Introduced and promulgated by the ACS.

Accreditation:

The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Credit:

The American College of Surgeons designates this educational activity for a maximum of * AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

*The maximum number of credits varies depending on the type of ATLS course.

Student and Instructor Reverification:

If you have taken the Student Provider Course or have reverified at the Student or Instructor level in the past four years, and are currently pursuing reverification; please follow the steps as outlined in the 8th edition of the ATLS^® Faculty Manual.

If you need further assistance, please contact the ATLS Office at 312/202-5160 or E-Mail at atls@facs.org.

 

 ATLS

 

Online November 21, 2008