A pr il– M ay 2010 • vo lume 2 • issue 8

The ATLS advance

Highlights of the 2010
Annual COT Meeting
Despite the stereotype “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” the
Committee on Trauma’s annual meeting last month in Las Vegas,
NV, was very productive. The week consisted of subcommittee
meetings, a resident trauma paper competition, regional committee
meetings, and a business session. Although it was a busy week, the
committee members managed to enjoy some classic Las Vegas
festivities—Elvis even made an appearance at the COT dinner.
The recipient of the
2010 ATLS Meritorious
Achievement Award
was Sharon Henry,
MD, FACS. Not only
has Dr. Henry directed
more than 100 ATLS
courses, she also serves
as a DMEP instructor
Elvis performs at the COT dinner.
and as course director
for the ATOM, ASSET,
and TEAM courses.
As State Chair of The ATLS Subcommittee
Maryland and an ATLS approved two rule revisions:
Subcommittee member, 1. APNs (including CRNAs) and special
Dr. Henry has played force medics can now participate in
an influential role in ATLS as Physician Extenders. When
the ATLS Program. actively participating in all aspects
Thank you, Dr. Henry! of the course, the following health
The ATLS care providers can be considered
Subcommittee Physician Extenders: nurse practitioners,
Sharon Henry, MD, FACS
discussed new physician assistants, advanced practical
features in the Course nurses, certified registered nurse
Management System, international promulgation, and the future anesthetists, and special force medics.
of the ATLS program, including 9th Edition revisions and the 2. Former State/Provincial Chairs
potential of introducing an e-learning section to the ATLS course. retain their Region Faculty
status if they maintain a current
ATLS instructor status.
Contact your regional coordinator
with questions about the rule
We’re on the Web! Visit us at: revisions. We appreciate the dedication
www.facs.org/trauma/atls/index.html of the COT members, particularly
the ATLS Subcommittee.

“ATLS has trained more than one “To improve the care of the
million doctors around the world.” surgical patient.”
A me ric a n C o l l ege o f Surgeo n s • 633 N. Sa in t C l a ir S t. • C hic ag o, IL 6 0 611-3211
at l s p h o n e 312-202- 516 0 • at l s fa x 312-202- 5 0 0 5
 The AT L S Advance
Coordinator Spotlight
For this edition of the College of Surgeons actually mean something, and
Advance, Rhonda Thrailkill there are consequences for noncompliance. If one site
interviewed Chad McIntyre, is not adhering to the guidelines, students expect the
NREMT-P, FP-C, from same from other sites. The coordinator should not
Jacksonville, FL. Chad only have a good working relationship with the course
has been an ATLS faculty but should also seek to earn their respect.
coordinator since 2008. Rhonda: What is the most bizarre situation you’ve
Rhonda: Why did you become encountered while coordinating ATLS?
an ATLS coordinator? Chad: The most bizarre situation I have encountered
Chad: I have been involved was when a student arrived three hours late and sat
with Prehospital Trauma Life down as if it was acceptable. He said it wasn’t his
Support (PHTLS) for many fault because his alarm didn’t go off, and he was
years. When I came to the shocked that I wouldn’t allow him to stay. I nearly
University of Florida and flipped out. I guess the ATLS coordinator should
Shands Jacksonville Medical also take responsibility for giving wake-up calls to
Center as the education participants and driving them to the class? I think not.
coordinator for trauma, it Rhonda: What advice would you give someone
seemed a natural fit for all who is coordinating ATLS for the first time?
of the trauma education
programs to come out of Chad: Find a good coordinator to serve as a mentor.
one office. My experience His or her experience can be invaluable. Scan and save all
in coordinating programs, your postcourse documents electronically, which makes
attention to detail, and close it much easier to store and retrieve them later. Last, and
working relationship with the most importantly, maintain a sense of confidence at all
University of Florida Acute Care Surgery group made times. You are ultimately responsible for the course, and
for a smooth transition for me as the new coordinator. medical directors will often look to you for guidance.
Rhonda: What do you find most satisfying Rhonda: How have you seen ATLS
about coordinating ATLS? affect trauma care in Florida?
Chad: I enjoy the interaction with the residents, Chad: Florida, like many other states, has a
faculty, and outside physicians. The most important limited number of trauma centers in relation to
part of being a coordinator is to handle all the population served. At the University of Florida
complications without notifying the participants. The and Shands Jacksonville, we are committed to the
coordinator is responsible for ensuring all paperwork ATLS philosophy through our PHTLS, Advanced
is completed, the instructors are in place, and the Trauma Course for Nurses (ATCN), and Disaster
environment is welcoming to participants. Management and Emergency Preparedness
(DMEP) courses. These programs compliment each
Rhonda: I’m sure you’ve seen the ATLS program other and contribute to improved trauma care.
change a lot over the past two years. What has
been one of the greatest improvements? Rhonda: How did your trauma care
assist in the Haiti relief effort?
CHAD: The best improvement has been the
ATLS Faculty Manual and DVD because we Chad: One of our student course directors,
no longer need to send around disks. Joan Huffman, MD, has been to Haiti twice to
provide care in the mobile surgical units. We are
Rhonda: What are some of the common all proud of her dedication to the relief efforts
pitfalls for ATLS coordinators? and are glad that she returned to us safely.
CHAD: The greatest pitfall I see for many coordinators Rhonda: Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!
is an inability to make critical and timely decisions. The
policies and procedures established by the American

“ATLS is now in 50 countries “More than 8,000 ATLS faculty members

around the world.” have completed the online 8th Edition update.”
A me ric a n C o l l ege o f Surgeo n s • 633 N. Sa in t C l a ir S t. • C hic ag o, IL 6 0 611-3211
at l s p h o n e 312-202- 516 0 • at l s fa x 312-202- 5 0 0 5
 The AT L S Advance
COT Courses
The mission of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma is to develop and implement meaningful programs
for trauma care in local, regional, national, and international arenas. The following COT courses help fulfill that mission.
disaster management &
emergency preparedness
Disaster Management
and Emergency
Preparedness (DMEP)
DMEP has been developed to equip all
levels of health care providers (prehospital
professionals, nurses, surgeons, and hospital
administrators) to effectively manage major
disasters. This one-day course addresses
planning, triage, incident command,
injury patterns and pathophysiology, and
consideration for special populations while
emphasizing key principles that apply to
all types of disasters. A list of upcoming
courses can be found online at: http://www.
facs.org/trauma/disaster/dmep_course.html
Advanced Surgical Skills for
Exposure in Trauma (ASSET)
This one-day, cadaver-based course gives
students hands-on exposure with extensive
faculty guidance and interaction. Following
a modular, body-region approach, the
student assesses his or her ability to
perform each exposure independently
and is evaluated on knowledge and
technical skills. The intended audience
includes mid-level and senior surgical
residents, trauma and acute care surgical
fellows, and any surgeon who wishes
to review anatomical exposures. The
first edition ASSET Lab Manual,
released in March 2010, is available for
purchase online: http://web4.facs.org/
ebusiness/ProductCatalog/ProductCategory.
aspx?id=26. For more information on the
ASSET course, please visit: http://www.
facs.org/trauma/education/asset.html
A me ric a n C o l l ege o f Surgeo n s • 633 N. Sa in t C l a ir S t. • C hic ag o, IL 6 0 611-3211
at l s p h o n e 312-202- 516 0 • at l s fa x 312-202- 5 0 0 5
ATOM
ADVANCED TRAUMA
OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT
Advanced Trauma Rural Trauma
Operative Team Development
Management (ATOM) Course (RTTDC)
ATOM is a one-day course with This one-day, modular course was
six lectures and a 1:1 student- developed to increase the efficiency
to-instructor ratio lab session of resource use and improve the
during which students identify level of care provided to the injured
and repair 12 simulated injuries. patient in the rural environment.
Intended for senior surgical The team-oriented approach
residents, trauma fellows, addresses common problems
military surgeons, and fully in the initial assessment and
trained general surgeons who stabilization of the injured patient
are not frequently called on to and teaches timely, organized, and
treat penetrating injuries, ATOM rational responses. The intended
effectively increases surgical audience includes physicians,
competence and confidence in physician extenders, nurses, aides,
the operative management of technicians, prehospital providers,
penetrating injuries to the chest and clerks. Other hospital personnel
and abdomen. A comprehensive involved in supportive roles are
list of ATOM course sites is also encouraged to participate.
available online at: http://www. For information, please visit the
facs.org/trauma/atom/index.html RTTDC website at: http://www.
facs.org/trauma/rttdc/rttdcinfo.html
Trauma Evaluation
and Management
Trauma Evaluation and Management (TEAM)
An expanded version of the ATLS “Initial Assessment and Management”
lecture, TEAM introduces the concepts of trauma assessment and
management to medical students during their clinical years. The course
format is flexible, with a 90-minute slide presentation and optional
components that include a three-segment initial assessment video
demonstration and a series of clinical trauma case scenarios for small-
group, focused discussion and skills sessions. The third edition of TEAM
is now available in full color, with the option of print or electronic format.
It can be ordered online at: http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/team.html
 The AT L S Advance
Sharon Borum Attends
Las Vegas Conference
Regional Program Coordinator Sharon Borum attended
the 43rd Annual Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute
Care Surgery Conference held at the end of March in
Las Vegas, NV. Sharon met with several ATLS faculty
members, including COT Vice-Chair Raul Coimbra, MD,
PhD, FACS. She enjoyed listening to several lectures such
as “Metabolic and Serotonin Syndromes,” presented by
Dr. Coimbra, and “Blood Volume Repletion Is Optimally
Performed in the ICU,” presented by Richard S. Miller,
MD, FACS. Sharon also had the opportunity to share
the new ASSET and TEAM manuals with conference
attendees. “It was a pleasure to meet the doctors I interact
with on a regular basis and to spend some time with
COT Medical Director John Fildes, MD, FACS, and his
wife, Elizabeth Fildes, EdD, RN,” commented Sharon.
Natalie Torres Presents
at Region 7 Meeting
Natalie Torres, Regional Program Coordinator, was
invited to present at the Region 7 ATLS coordinator
meeting in Omaha, NE, on March 11. Organized
by Megan Sorensen, RN, coordinator at Creighton
University Medical Center, and sponsored by the
Nebraska Committee on Trauma, the meeting
was held for coordinators who cannot attend
the ATLS coordinator meeting in October.
Topics included new features on the Course
Management System, recent rule revisions, international
promulgation, communications, and upcoming
events. Natalie was pleased to see that everyone,
especially the new coordinators, benefited from the
meeting’s interactive, discussion-based setting.
About our Organization…
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) was founded
in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice
and to improve the care of the surgical patient.
The College has worked to establish guidelines
for the care of the trauma patient. The Advanced
Trauma Life Support Course teaches a systematic,
concise approach to the early care of the trauma
patient. This course is vital to guiding care for the
injured patient in emergency department trauma
rooms. The course training provides a common
language that can save lives in critical situations.
A me ric a n C o l l ege o f Surgeo n s • 633 N. Sa in t C l a ir S t. • C hic ag o, IL 6 0 611-3211
at l s p h o n e 312-202- 516 0 • at l s fa x 312-202- 5 0 0 5
American College of Surgeons 96th Annual
Clinical Congress
Save the Date!
O c t o b e r 3 –7, 2 010
Coordinator Meeting
in Washington, DC
Mark your calendars for the ATLS Coordinator Meeting
on October 2, 2010, in Washington, DC. This meeting
will be a great opportunity to share best practices
and collaborate with ATLS coordinators from around
the world. More information (including invitation
letters) will be provided in upcoming months.
If you are planning to attend, you can take advantage
of the ACS Clinical Congress group discounts for
hotels and flights (United Airlines only). Meeting
attendees can now use the following ACS file number
when booking a flight through United: 501CR.
You may also sign up with the Housing Alert System
to be notified as soon as housing opens. Booking hotel
reservations as soon as possible is highly recommended.
The following link provides detailed information:
http://208.250.24.72/clincon2010/preview.html
Please inform your regional coordinator if you are
planning to attend. We would love to see you!
Content Submission Request
The ATLS office is accepting idea submissions to be
featured in an upcoming issue of the ATLS Advance.
Please contact Emily DeLew at edelew@facs.org or
call 312-202-5387 for idea submission or questions
regarding the content of the ATLS Advance.
“More than 60 percent of ATLS students
worldwide are outside the U.S. and Canada.”