Injured patients present a wide range of complex problems. The Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) Student Course presents a concise approach to assessing and managing multiply injured patients. The course presents doctors and other qualified healthcare providers with knowledge and techniques that are comprehensive and easily adapted to fit their needs. The skills described in the manual represent one safe way to perform each technique, and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) recognizes that there are other acceptable approaches. However, the knowledge and skills taught in the course are easily adapted to all venues for the care of patients.
The ACS and its Committee on Trauma (COT) have developed the ATLS program for doctors and other qualified health care professionals. This program provides systemic and concise training for the early care of trauma patients. The ATLS program provides participants with a safe, reliable method for immediate management of the injured patient and the basic knowledge necessary to:
1. Assess the patient’s condition rapidly and accurately
2. Resuscitate and stabilize the patient according to priority
3. Determine if the patient’s needs exceed a facility’s capacity
4. Arrange appropriately for the patient’s inter-hospital transfer (who, what, when, and how)
5. Assure that optimum care is provided and that the level of care does not deteriorate at any point during the evaluation, resuscitation, or transfer process
For doctors and other qualified health care professionals who infrequently treat trauma, the ATLS course provides an easy-to-remember method for evaluating and treating the victim of a traumatic event. For doctors and other qualified healthcare providers who treat traumatic disease on a frequent basis, the ATLS course provides a scaffold for evaluation, treatment, education, and quality assurance. In short, ATLS is a measurable, reproducible, and comprehensive system of trauma care.
Accreditation
The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) to physicians. As an accredited provider of CME, it is imperative that the American College of Surgeons be in compliance with all policies outlined by the ACCME. Failure to follow the policies and procedures outlined in subsequent chapters may result in a suspension of all ATLS course activity. There are no exceptions to these policies, as any deviation from them can jeopardize the American College of Surgeons’ ability to provide CME for educational programs.
Certificates of Participation
In order to receive credit for the course, you must attend the entire course, demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in all the Cognitive and Skills performance evaluations, and successful completion of the written exam. Additionally, your performance at the Initial Assessment Testing Station serves as a final practical testing and is a culmination of all the knowledge and skills taught during the course.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, please advise course coordinator at trauma@texaschildrens.org if you have any disability that requires special materials and/or services so that appropriate personnel can be advised.
