National Trauma Emergency Preparedness System

Everyone deserves access to high-quality, life-saving trauma care whether you live in Anchorage or Atlanta, Boise or Boston, or Dubuque or Dallas. Creating a National Trauma Emergency Preparedness System (NTEPS) is a solution that ensures access for all by implementing standardized, proven systems to get the right patient to the right place at the right time.

By standardizing high-quality trauma care, we can save thousands of patients every year and improve how we use our trauma resources. It means we will be ready to save more lives during disasters, pandemics, and other trauma emergencies.

• The ACS wrote the book on trauma, defining the standards of excellence for optimal care of the injured patient and we know what is needed in an emergency. NTEPS enables us to expand what works so we can be ready for any disaster.
• Improving trauma care requires a commitment to learning, including understanding the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, while also investing in research and quality improvement.

The time has come to connect daily injury care and mass casualty readiness through NTEPS. Building on the strengths of highly functional state/regional trauma systems and Regional Medical Operations Coordination Centers (RMOCCs), NTEPS should be established to:

• Support public health readiness and coordination of care during mass population events
• Promote universal and equitable access to high-quality trauma care across the US

For additional information, download the 2022 NTEPS Blueprint. This document provides background on the impetus for a National Trauma and Emergency Preparedness System, the request to Congress, strategic elements, and proposed structure and governance.

Please note: The Blueprint is still in draft format and subject to edits and updates.