Advanced Trauma Life Support NEWSLETTER

April 2000 American College of Surgeons

ATLS Division g 633 N. Saint Clair St. g Chicago, IL 60611-3211

HELLO, AND WELCOME FROM CHICAGO

Welcome to the new millennium! The first priority of this newsletter is to thank you for all your hard work and fine efforts on behalf of the ATLS Program and for your continued support of this high-quality educational program. This first newsletter of the new year clarifies the process of sponsoring an ATLS Course. In addition, updates on new programs and requirements are included, as well as a detailed how to explanation of the Course Authorization Form. Please review this newsletter carefully and share it with your staff. We are available to assist you at any time. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 1 ATLS Staff Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 1 ATLS Regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2 Farewell and Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2 Meritorious Service Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3 2001 Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3 ADA Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3 TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pages 3-4 Primary/Secondary Survey Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 Disclosure Statement Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 Catching Up and New ATLS Database . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5 ATLS Acronyms/Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5 Policy Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 6 Completing a Course Request Form . . . . . . . . . . . pages 7-8 Instructor Reverification: Teaching a Lecture and Related Skills . . . . . . pages 8-10 Instructor Reverification: Teaching Credit . . . . . . . . page 11 Postcourse Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12 Questions and Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 13 Disclosure Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 15

ATLS DIVISION STAFF

! Irvene Hughes ! Bill Jenkins !Terrie Murphy Division Manager Division Supervisor Administrative Coordinator 312/202-5160 312/202-5216 312/202-5350 ihughes@facs.org bjenkins@facs.org tmurphy@facs.org

The job of the Regional Program Coordinators is to assist you in providing the highest quality educational program possible, as well as many other course-related responsibilities. If you have any questions or need clarification on any issue, please contact us at any time. If you are unsure of who to contact for your specific area, please refer to the listing of states/provinces/countries within the specific regions (listed below), or call the department phone number at 312/202-5160, and your call will be directed to the proper person. ! Veronica Bedolla ! Kathryn Koenig ! Tina Medlin ! Rose Morrison ! Susan Bock Regions II, V, VIII, X Regions I, III, IX, XI, XII Regions VI, VII, XIII Region XIV Regions IV, XV 312/202-5389 312/202-5356 312/202-5388 312/202-5202 312/202-5387 vbedolla@facs.org kkoenig@facs.org tmedlin@facs.org rmorrison@facs.org sbock@facs.org

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

ATLS REGIONS
Region I Region II Region III Region IV Region V Region VI Region VII Region VIII Region IX Region X Region XI Region XII Region XIII Region XIV Region XV Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont New York State, New York/Brooklyn, New Jersey, Puerto Rico Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Virgin Islands, West Virginia Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee Chicago, Illinois State, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Texas, South Texas Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern California, San Diego Imperial Valley (CA), Southern California Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington Western Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba Eastern Canada: Maritime Provinces, Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec Military: Air Force, Army, Navy, Veterans Administration Latin/South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela Australia, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Portugal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom

FAREWELL AND WELCOME

We wish a fond farewell to our ATLS Division Supervisor, Nancy Foote, who retired on January 26, 2000. Nancy was a dedicated member of the division for 12 years. She plans on dividing her time between Texas and Illinois and enjoying time with her husband and grandchildren. We also say farewell to our Regional XV Coordinator, Nancy Vaala. Nancy leaves us to pursue another career opportunity. We wish her well. We welcome Bill Jenkins as Nancy Footes replacement as Division Supervisor. Bill worked as a Regional Coordinator from 19921995 in the division. He then relocated to the ACS Communications Department from 1995 until his return this year. Please help us welcome Bill during this transition period. We also welcome Terrie Murphy, Administrative Coordinator, who became one of our valued employees in November 1999.

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

ATLS MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the ATLS Meritorious Service Award for 1999 and 2000, J. Octavio Ruiz S., MD, FACS, the ATLS Program Director for Mexico, and Charles F. Rinker, MD, FACS, former Chair of the Regional Committees and member of the ATLS Subcommittee. Both have demonstrated an unselfish commitment to their regional ATLS Programs and have enhanced promulgation of the program in other countries as well. They have helped to establish the course in a manner unique to the needs of their respective regions and work continually toward improving the quality of the courses conducted, as well as improving the quality of patient care delivered. They are dedicated to trauma education and consistently maintain the high ideals of the ACS Committee on Trauma. We sincerely thank Dr. Ruiz and Dr. Rinker for their continued fine efforts in promulgating the program and improving the care of the injured patient.

2001 EDITION OF COURSE MATERIALS

The 7th edition (2001) of the ATLS Course materials is scheduled for release in 2001. We anticipate having a meeting for Coordinators, Educators, and Directors around the time of release and will notify you as information becomes available. As with past revisions, we welcome your input for change, especially for graphics that can be used for slides and illustrations. Please forward these to Irvenes attention no later than June 1, 2000.

ADA STATEMENT
ATLS Courses, conducted within the United States, must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Your registration forms and advertising materials should include this statement. The American College of Surgeons ATLS Program complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Any person who needs accommodation under the ADA should contact ______________. (Insert name of contact person at course site.) You may need to make accommodations for individuals with physical disabilities, latex allergies, learning disabilities, and so on. The law requires that a disabled person disclose his/her disability in order for the accommodation to be made.

TEAM FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

We are very excited to introduce TEAM (Trauma Evaluation And Management), a program designed for medical students. TEAM introduces the concepts of trauma assessment and management to medical students during their clinical years. The program is a slide/lecture presentation with a flexible format that can be adapted easily into a medical schools curriculum. The basis of the program is a 90-minute slide presentation that also includes optional components; for example, a three-segment initial assessment video demonstration and two clinical trauma case scenarios for small-group, focused discussion skills sessions. The course was developed by the Subcommittee on ATLS of the ACS Committee on Trauma to fulfill the need for a standardized introductory course in the evaluation and management of trauma. The TEAM Program is designed to be taught by ATLS Instructors because they are knowledgeable of the philosophy, intent, and content of the ATLS Program. The subcommittee strongly encourages their participation in this regard.

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

TEAM FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS continued

The core content is an expanded version of the ATLS Initial Assessment and Management lecture, with important principles added from other components of the ATLS Course. TEAM is a very abbreviated version of the ATLS Course and is not intended as a replacement. Medical students who take the TEAM Course are encouraged to take the ATLS Course in their final year of medical school or after graduation. The educational curriculum packet (includes the instructor teaching guide, lecture core content, focused discussion and skills guide, slides and slide guide, and the initial assessment and management video) sells for $100 each. Please note that items included in the educational curriculum packet are not sold separately. The student booklet, for use by the medical students, sells for $8.00 each. You may contact the ACS Customer Service/Publications Division for further information on how to obtain materials for this important new program (312/202-5474).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SURVEY VIDEO

A Primary and Secondary Survey Demonstration videotape is now available and may be used in lieu of the live demonstration on the first and second days of the Student Course. The primary survey component is divided into two demonstrations, one for use before the Initial Assessment lecture and one for after the lecture. The subcommittee believes that the live demonstrations for these sessions provides a better teaching tool because of the interactive discussion that ensues. The cost of the video is $20 which includes shipping and handling in the United States only. An additional fee is charged for shipping outside the United States.

NEW: DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FORM

The ACS is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education (CME) courses. In accordance with the essentials and standards set forth by the ACCME, disclosure statements must be signed by all faculty and course assistants involved in conducting ATLS Courses. Such individuals include Directors, Instructors, Coordinators, and assistants (nurses, paramedics, laboratory assistants). Required disclosures include any relationship between the faculty member or assistant and any health care-related business that involves a financial interest above a certain dollar amount. The form includes further information in this regard. (See page 15 of this newsletter). We are asking the coordinators to assist in ensuring that one document per faculty member and assistant be completed and signed each year. This requirement is effective with courses commencing January 1, 2000. Each individual must sign one form annually, unless conditions change during that year that would require signing another form along with the updated information. Coordinators need to ask their faculty each time they teach if any changes have occurred since the form was previously signed. Coordinators should retain a copy of the form for their records and forward a copy of the form to the ATLS Division with the postcourse reports. Your ACS ATLS Regional Coordinator will maintain a master file of these forms, and will ensure that all forms for faculty and assistants are current and signed. If you need an additional form or have any questions, please call your ACS Regional Coordinator.

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

CATCHING UP AND NEW ATLS DATABASE

Five Regional Coordinators are now available to directly address course-related issues and conduct quality assurance reviews on each course conducted. The Regional Coordinators have made significant progress in recent months. Please assist them by ensuring that the information requested on the postcourse report forms is complete, accurate, and legible. Additionally, please ensure all requested report forms, including critiques (Instructor, Director, Coordinator) are enclosed. Coordinators and State/Provincial Chairs are strongly encouraged to use the Quality Assurance Review Form when reviewing postcourse reports and before submitting the reports to the ACS ATLS Division. Using this form provides a mechanism for identifying quality courses, or concerns/problems/infractions with courses before the reports reach the ACS. State/Provincial Chairs can then address the issues locally, correct them, and submit the reports with an explanatory letter to the ACS ATLS Division. (See ATLS Instructor Manual, Section II, Appendix F, pages 761-768.) The ATLS Division has converted to a new database, which has taken a significant amount of time to test and refine. The new database provides us with more in-depth information regarding all aspects of the course. In the future, you will notice some differences in our forms and reports sent to State/Provincial Chairs and Coordinators. We extend our sincere thanks to all of you for your patience and assistance during this transition period.

ATLS ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS
Forms CRA: Course Request/Authorization form ISN: Instructor Status Notification form IR: Instructor Reverification form (formerly Instructor Update form) Courses P: Student P/SR: Student/Student Refresher SR: Student Refresher I: Instructor IU: Instructor Update OCP: Original Student Course OCI: Original Instructor Course TRC: Teaching Requirements Course Other: COT: Committee on Trauma ACS: American College of Surgeons

Faculty CD/CDC: Course Director/Candidate C/CC: Coordinator/Candidate E/EC: Educator/Candidate I/IC: Instructor/Candidate S/P: Chair: State/Provincial COT Chair RF: Regional Faculty (S/P Chair) NF: National Faculty S/PF: State/Provincial Faculty

Please note that use of the phrase, Advanced Trauma Life Support and the acronym, ATLS are marks of the American College of Surgeons and should be accompanied by the superscripted registered trademark symbol ().

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

POLICY REMINDERS
Each postcourse report is carefully reviewed and processed by an ACS Regional Coordinator. Infractions that detract from the educational benefits and original design of the course may be identified. We appreciate your endeavors to ensure that the essential requirements are maintained as outlined in the ATLS Instructor Manual. A qualified Course Director must be a surgeon with a valid status and be eligible to serve in this role for the type of course being directed. Two (2) qualified Course Directors are required for a Student Course being conducted for more than 24 participants. All faculty (including Coordinators and Educators) must be updated on the latest edition of the course before being assigned to teach. At least 50% of the teaching faculty must be surgeons. All instructors need to teach a lecture and a related skills station to receive credit toward reverification. (See Lecture and Related Skills Stations, pages 810 in this newsletter and pages 589590 and 547548 in the ATLS Instructor Manual.) Only qualified faculty who are surgeons may teach the surgical skills stations. Student Refresher Course participants are encouraged to reverify by the time their status expires. A six-month grace period is allowed to facilitate the reverification process. Student course participants, whose performance is identified as having instructor potential, should have this information noted on the postcourse reports and should receive a letter in this regard from the Course Director. The student to faculty ratio is maintained at 4:1 for a Student Course and 3:1 for an Instructor Course. Out-of-state/province participants taking an Instructor Course require a letter from their respective State/Provincial Chairs granting permission to participate in the course. Out-of-country participants taking an Instructor Course require a letter from their respective Program Directors granting permission to participate in the course, providing the program has been introduced and promulgated in the individuals countries. Instructor Course participants must have successfully completed the Student Course within two years of taking the Instructor Course. If more than two years has elapsed since the Student Course, the candidates must participate in a Student Refresher Course to regain eligibility. Instructor Candidates have one year in which to complete their teaching requirements in a Student Course. An Instructor Candidates first teaching performance must be monitored by a faculty member with State/Provincial, Regional, or National Faculty status. A Student Course Director Candidates first directing performance must be monitored by a faculty member with State/Provincial, Regional, or National Faculty status. An Instructor Course Director is the State/Provincial Chair or his/her delegate who must be qualified to serve in this role. The course schedule, as presented in the ATLS Instructor Manual, is not altered to satisfy individual faculty members or institutions scheduling needs.

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

COMPLETING A COURSE REQUEST FORM

Our receipt of a Course Request/Authorization (CRA) form is the first step in conducting an ATLS Course. Each form received is reviewed carefully by your ACS Regional Coordinator. Listed herein are the questions we ask upon receipt of a CRA. The topical page numbers from the ATLS Instructor Manual are included for reference. Ensuring that the requested information is accurate and complete prevents delays in obtaining course coapproval. Is this an approved course site? Include the name of the facility where the course is being held, because there may be more than one course site in your city. New course sites must be approved by the state/Provincial Chair. Please note on the CRA if it is a new site. (Pages 605606) Are there monies or postcourse reports delinquent for this site? If either or both of these items are delinquent at 90 days, courses cannot be coapproved nor can materials be shipped. (Pages 613, 623) Are the course dates consecutive and appropriate for the type of course being requested? Student Courses are conducted over 2 or 2.5 consecutive days. Instructor Courses are conducted over 1.5 consecutive days. Student Refresher Courses are conducted in a onehalf-day or one-day format. (Pages 545, 561, 585) Is this a closed course? If plans include not accepting outside registrants for your course and/or you do not wish to advertise the course via the ACS Web site listing of courses or the ACS master course schedule, check the closed box on the CRA form. (Page 605) Do the number and type of proposed students for the type of course being requested satisfy established policy? The number and type of participants per type of course are limited. (Pages 514515) Does the course being requested require 1 or 2 Course Directors? Maximum registration for a Student-type Course with one qualified Course Director is 24 participants. A Student-type Course scheduled for 2532 participants requires two qualified Course Directors. An Instructor Course is limited to nine participants and requires one qualified Course Director and one qualified Educator. (Pages 517, 546, 563) Is the Student Course Director eligible to serve in this role for the type of course being requested? A qualified Student Course Director is a surgeon with valid status. In addition, the individual has been updated on the latest edition of the course materials and evaluated (critiqued) as successful during his/her first directing experience. (Pages 532, 546, 562; see also Course Director Candidate on page 532.) Is the appropriate level of faculty assigned to evaluate the Student Course Director Candidate who also is serving as the second Course Director for a course with 32 participants? In addition to the qualified Course Director, a faculty member with at least State/Provincial Faculty status must be present throughout the entire course to monitor the Director Candidates first directing performance. The first Course Director may not serve as the critiquer of a Director Candidate in the circumstance as outlined here. (Page 532)

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

COMPLETING A COURSE REQUEST FORM continued

Is the Coordinator eligible to serve in this role? Coordinators must be qualified to serve in Student and Instructor Courses and be trained much like all other faculty within a given course. (Pages 539542) If a Course Director Candidate and/or Instructor Candidates are planned for a Student Course, is a faculty member with the appropriate status listed to monitor the candidates? A qualified State/Provincial, Regional, or National Faculty member is required to monitor Student Course Director Candidates and Instructor Candidates. If a Course Director Candidate, with Regional Faculty status pending successful completion of his/her directing experience, is assigned to be Course Director in an Instructor Course, is a faculty member with National Faculty status listed to monitor the candidate? An Instructor Course Director is the State/Provincial Chair (Regional Faculty). If the S/P Chair is serving as a Director Candidate, a National Faculty member must monitor the candidates performance. (Pages 525527, 529532) If an Instructor Course is being requested, is a qualified Educator listed? One qualified Educator is required for nine qualified students in an Instructor Course. Educators are required to adhere to the same reverification standards and be updated on the latest edition of the course before being assigned to serve in this role. (Pages 537539, 563) Is the CRA signed by the State/Provincial Chair? The CRA must be sent to your respective S/P Chair for review and signature. The chair then forwards the form (all copies intact) to the ATLS Division for review and coapproval. The CRA must include a live signature versus the form being stamped with the chairs name.

INSTRUCTOR REVERIFICATION: TEACHING A LECTURE AND RELATED SKILLS

The Instructor Reverification process is outlined on pages 589593 of your ATLS Instructor Manual. To be eligible for reverification, an Instructor must teach four times in four years. Each teaching episode (one course) must include a lecture and a related skills station. Teaching more than one lecture and related skills station in a given course does not equate with more than one teaching episode for reverification. Listed herein are the accepted lectures and related skills stations for which an Instructor may receive credit toward reverification. Related skills stations are defined as primary (directly related to the lecture that the Instructor teaches) or secondary (less directly related, but still relational). Secondary related skills stations are identified by italicized type. Instructors who are assigned to teach one of the italicized or secondary related skills stations must be present for the related lecture being taught by another Instructor. The only exception to this policy is the Triage Scenarios.

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

INSTRUCTOR REVERIFICATION: TEACHING A LECTURE AND RELATED SKILLS continued

Lecture Course Overview Initial Assessment and Management Related Skills Station None (lecture presented by Course Director All Skills Stations, including Triage Scenarios Lecturer must be a surgeon if teaching a surgical skills station Station II: Airway and Ventilatory Management Surgical skills lab, providing lecturer is a surgeon Station IX: Head Trauma Assessment/Management Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Airway and Ventilatory Management

Shock

Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management Surgical Skills Lab, providing lecturer is a surgeon Station VI: X-ray Identification of Thoracic Trauma Station XII: Musculoskeletal Trauma Assessment and Management (as it relates to pelvic trauma/shock) Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management Station VI: X-ray Identification of Thoracic Trauma Surgical Skills Lab, providing lecturer is a surgeon Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Thoracic Trauma

Abdominal Trauma

Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management Surgical Skills Lab, providing lecturer is a surgeon Station XII: Musculoskeletal Trauma Assessment and Management (as it relates to pelvic trauma) Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management Station IX: Head Trauma Assessment/Management Station II: Airway and Ventilatory Management Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management Station X: X-ray Identification of Spine Injuries Station XI: Spine Trauma Assessment/Management Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Head trauma

Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma

ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

INSTRUCTOR REVERIFICATION: TEACHING A LECTURE AND RELATED SKILLS continued

Lecture Musculoskeletal Trauma Related Skills Station Station XII: Musculoskeletal Trauma assessment and Management Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management Station II: Airway and Ventilatory Management Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management Station I: Initial Assessment and Management Station IX: Head Trauma Assessment and Management Triage Scenarios Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management Triage Scenarios Station I: Initial Assessment and Management Presented by Course Director; Course Director also may present Station I: Initial Assessment and/or Triage Scenarios

Injuries Due to Burns and Cold

Ocular Trauma (optional lecture)

Pediatric Trauma

Trauma in Women

Transfer to Definitive Care

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ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

INSTRUCTOR REVERIFICATION: TEACHING CREDIT

The number of teaching credits per type of course and faculty are summarized herein. One teaching credit equates to one course toward an Instructors required teaching of four courses in four years. COURSE AND FACULTY TYPE < Student or Student/Student Refresher Course Director Instructor Educator Coordinator S/P Faculty in monitoring role < Student Refresher (1- or -day) Director Instructor Coordinator < Instructor Director Instructor Educator Coordinator S/P, Regional, or National Faculty in monitoring role < Instructor Update Director Instructor Educator4 Coordinator
1-A

ONE TEACHING CREDIT % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

COMMENTS

Must be present for entire course Must teach lecture and related skill Audit 1 course every 4 years Coordinate 4 courses in 4 years Must be present for entire course; may teach lecture and related skills station Must be present for entire course Involved in teaching skills for the day or involved in teaching entire course1-A, 1-B

Must be present for entire course Involved in teaching all skills 2 Involved in teaching entire course

Must be present for entire course Must be present for entire course Involved in teaching all skills 3 Involved in teaching entire course

Student Refresher1-day: Teaches 1 of Station II, IV, or VI; teaches 1 of Station IX, XI, or XII; and teaches 1 Initial Assessment Station; preferably present for Course Directors lecture. Student Refresher-day: Assists in teaching Triage Scenarios; teaches 1 Initial Assessment Station; preferably present for Course Directors lecture. Instructor Course: Teaches 1 of Station II, VI, or IX and 1 Initial Assessment Station; preferably attends Educators sessions Instructor Update Course: Teaches 1 of Station II, IV, or VI; teaches 1 of Station IX, XI, or XII; and teaches 1 Initial Assessment station; preferably attends Educators sessions.

1-B

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POSTCOURSE REPORTS
Items Needed After Each course % Participant form % Faculty form Signature(s) Required % S/P Chair % S/P Chair

% Course receipts/disbursement form % Critique forms % Course schedule with skills rotation schedule % Course evaluation summary from students

% Director, Coordinator, S/P Chair and profit/loss statement % No signature required % No signature required

% Critiquer with appropriate faculty status

Please Note: Please include all the requested information on the participant and faculty forms Items that may be retained at the course site include: Participants initial assessment forms, skills station worksheets, final evaluation forms, and test answer sheets. If the Coordinator and/or Director have concerns about a particular participants outcome in the course, these items may be submitted with the required postcourse reports. Ensure that the course schedule accurately reflects what actually occurred during the course. Ensure that the correct faculty member is identified next to the lecture(s) and skills stations that s/he taught. Ensure that the course schedule and faculty form accurately reflect the faculty teaching in the course. Coordinators may create their own computer-generated postcourse report forms. Please include all requested information, especially the national identification (NID) or social security (SS) numbers. It is important that the previous course history for Student Refresher and Instructor Course participants is included on the participant form. Students should submit a copy of their current ATLS card with their course registration. If the card cannot be provided, please contact your ACS Regional Coordinator to obtain this information. This step prevents the risk of not achieving successful completion status after the course.

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ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Listed here are some frequently asked questions. We hope the answers will be helpful to you, and we welcome your questions for future issues. How can I find out when and where ATLS Courses are being held and who to contact? The ACS Web site lists approved courses (http://www.facs.org/meetings_events/atls/atls.regions.html or www.facs.org and click on ATLS). The site is updated daily. Coordinators may wish to check this site to ensure correct posting of their requested course. Each course includes the course type, length, and site, as well as Coordinator contact information. Closed courses are not listed on this Web site. Note: Individuals who may wish to link this Web site to their own, must seek permission to do so from the electronic publishing manager, Ms. Sally Garneski (sgarneski@facs.org). How do I know if candidates for Student Refresher or Instructor Courses are eligible to participate if they cannot provide a copy of their ATLS card? (Or...How do I know if Instructor Candidates are still eligible to complete their teaching requirements?) We encourage coordinators to call their ACS Regional Coordinator to verify an individuals status, including Student Refresher and Instructor Course participants, Instructor candidates, and any member of the teaching faculty. How can one of our Instructors obtain a replacement for his lost manual? The Instructor may contact the respective ACS Regional Coordinator. The Regional Coordinator will submit the request to the Instructors S/P Chair for approval. Once the chairs approval is received, the Regional Coordinator invoices the Instructor, and upon receipt of payment, the manual is sent. This process may require up to two weeks. How can my Student Course participants get their lost ATLS cards replaced? Replacement cards for Student Course participants, as well as replacement cards for Instructors, are issued from the ATLS Division. Such individuals should contact their respective ACS Regional Coordinator, who in turn will verify the individuals status, complete a new card as warranted, and forward it to the S/P Chair for signature and mailing. This process may require up to two weeks. A member of my faculty has not received her ISN form and wishes to reverify her status. How might she get this form? If Instructors, who are eligible to reverify, do not receive their ISN forms within two months of their expiration date, they should contact their respective ACS Regional Coordinator. The primary reason for Instructors not receiving the appropriate forms is because they have relocated, and their forms are returned to the ACS as undeliverable. Our hospital is pursuing Level 1 Trauma Center verification, and I need to verify the ATLS status of several of our doctors. Can you please provide me with this information? Information about a course participants status is confidential and is only provided to S/P Chairs and Coordinators in the context of conducting courses. Individuals who contact the ATLS Division with this question are encouraged to obtain the documentation from the individual doctor. If the doctor cannot provide such documentation, the division staff can verify the information upon receipt of a signed release from the doctor. I sent my prepayment and materials order form to the lockbox 10 days ago and have been notified that the ATLS Division has not received them. Why does this happen and what should I do? Lockbox payments first go to the bank for direct deposit. Once processed, they are sent to the ACS Accounting Department and then to the ATLS Division. Delays may be incurred when submitting prepayment in this manner. In times of urgency, you may wish to consider submitting your prepayment directly to the ATLS Division.

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We thank you for your continued support of the ATLS Program. We appreciate all that you do to make this one of the finest educational programs in the world. Warm wishes to the entire ATLS Family for a safe and joyous new millennium!

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ATLS Newsletter, April 2000

Disclosure Form for ATLS Faculty and Assistants for 2000

The American college of Surgeons (ACS) requires that all faculty (Instructors, Directors, Educators, and Coordinators) and assistants participating in an approved ACS ATLS Course disclose any material, financial, or other relationship that may pose conflicts of interest. (Required disclosures include any relationship between the faculty member or assistant and any health care-related business or other entity whose products or services may be discussed in or directly affected in the marketplace during the course. A relationship is defined as a financial interest occurring within the current 12-month period through ownership of stock, stock options, or bonds or the receipt of $1,000 or more in cash, goods, or services, through research grants, consulting fees, royalties, or a nonremunerative position of influence, such as, participation as an officer, director, or consultant.) In addition, the fact that the presentation describes either the use of a device, product, or drug that is not FDA approved or the off-label use of an approved device, product, or drug also must be disclosed. This policy has been adopted in response to FDA policy and recent case law involving medical societies. The requirement for disclosure is not intended to imply any impropriety of such relationship, but simply to identify such relationships through full disclosure, and to allow the audience to form its own judgements regarding the presentation. All affirmative disclosures must be revealed by a statement or slide at the beginning of the presentation. Disclosure by a faculty member or assistant for an educational program does not necessarily preclude the individual from participating in the program; however, the nature of this relationship must be stated so that the audience may accurately evaluate statements made about the products or services involved.

I, as a faculty member or assistant in the ATLS Course declare as follows (place check in box next to the numbered item that applies to you): 1. I have no material, financial, or other relationship with any health care-related business or other entity whose products or services may be discussed in or directly affected in the marketplace by participation in this course. or I have under consideration a material, financial, or other relationship (as defined above) with a health carerelated business or other entity whose products or services may be discussed in or directly affected in the marketplace by this presentation. (Attach additional sheet[s] as necessary.) Company Product/Service_____________________Relationship Company Product/Service_____________________Relationship and My participation in this course does does not describe the use of a device, product, or drug that is not FDA approved or the off-label use of an approved device, product, or drug. If the presentation does describe such a drug or device, give the name of the device, product, or drug____________________________________________________________FDA approved? Yes No If the device, product, or drug is approved, describe off-label use: Printed Name: Signature of faculty member or assistant______________________________________Date

2.

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