DFW's Premier Trauma Instructors
Trauma waits for no one
Every minute counts in trauma care
The Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) program offers a systematic and concise method for the immediate management of injured patients, ensuring both safety and reliability. Introduced in 1980, ATLS has been imparted to over 1 million doctors in over 80 countries globally.
Urgency & Trauma
Injuries occur suddenly and without discrimination.
The initial healthcare provider attending to the injured patient holds the greatest chance to influence the outcome.
The cost of injuries is not only significant in monetary terms but also in terms of human suffering.
CME Program
Created by the Committee on Trauma of the ACS.
A secure and dependable approach for evaluating and initially handling trauma patients. Subject to revision every four years to stay updated with changes. We are currently on the 10th Edition.
Benefits
A structured method for assessing and treating severely injured patients.
Essential shared knowledge for all members of the trauma team.
Applicable in both expansive urban centers and compact rural emergency departments.
Objectives
Swiftly and precisely evaluate the patient's condition.
Prioritize resuscitation and stabilization based on the patient's needs.
Assess whether the patient's requirements surpass the capabilities of the facility.
Arrange for the patient's definitive care in a suitable manner.
Guarantee the provision of optimal care throughout the process.
Adult Mortality Statistics
Motor Vehicle Deaths
46,000
Falls
32,000
Fire / Burns
3,800
Other
110,000
Pediatric Mortality Statistics
Motor Vehicle Deaths 4,564
Falls
151
Fire /Burns
391
Other
2,967
About
Injured patients present a myriad of complex issues, and the Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) Student Course offers a succinct approach to assessing and managing individuals with multiple injuries. This course equips doctors and other qualified healthcare providers with comprehensive knowledge and adaptable techniques. The manual outlines a secure method for each technique, recognizing alternative approaches acknowledged by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Nevertheless, the course's knowledge and skills easily conform to diverse patient care settings.
The ACS, in collaboration with its Committee on Trauma (COT), has formulated the ATLS program tailored for doctors and other qualified healthcare professionals. This program delivers systematic and concise training for the initial care of trauma patients, furnishing participants with a secure and dependable approach to promptly manage injured patients. The essential knowledge includes:
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Rapid and accurate assessment of the patient's condition.
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Resuscitation and stabilization based on priority.
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Determination of whether the patient's needs exceed the facility's capacity.
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Appropriate arrangement for inter-hospital transfer, addressing who, what, when, and how.
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Assurance of optimal care throughout the evaluation, resuscitation, or transfer process, preventing any decline in the level of care.
For healthcare professionals dealing infrequently with trauma, the ATLS course offers an easily memorable method for assessing and treating victims of traumatic events. For those routinely handling traumatic cases, the course serves as a framework for evaluation, treatment, education, and quality assurance. In essence, ATLS provides a measurable, reproducible, and comprehensive system of trauma care.
History: The Tragic Beginning
In February 1976, a tragic incident occurred that brought about a significant shift in the initial hour of trauma care for injured patients not only in the United States but also across much of the globe. Dr. Jim Styner, an orthopedic surgeon, crashed his small aircraft into a cornfield in rural Nebraska. The aftermath left Dr. Styner with severe injuries, three of his children in critical condition, and one child with minor injuries. Unfortunately, his wife lost her life instantly. The subsequent care that Dr. Styner and his family received fell short of the standards of that time. Realizing the inadequacy of their treatment, the surgeon expressed, "When I can deliver better care in the field with limited resources than what my children and I received at the primary care facility, there is something wrong with the system, and the system has to be changed."
History: Program Development
A groundbreaking approach to providing care for individuals facing major, life-threatening injuries was introduced in 1978, coinciding with the inaugural ATLS Course. In January 1980, the American College of Surgeons launched the ATLS Course in the United States and internationally, with Canada joining the program the following year. In 1986, several Latin American countries joined the ACS Committee on Trauma and introduced the ATLS program in their regions. Presently, ATLS is accessible in over 80 countries. Administered by the ACS Military Committee on Trauma, the program has been delivered to U.S. military doctors both domestically and internationally.
For more than twenty-five years, the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma has instructed the ATLS course to over 1 million doctors across more than 80 countries. ATLS has evolved into the cornerstone of care for injured patients, imparting a universal language and approach. The 10th edition was developed through an international, multidisciplinary, and evidence-based methodology, resulting in a contemporary and globally meaningful ATLS program.
Target Audience
This activity is designed for healthcare providers who care for trauma patients,
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Practicing physicians
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Residents
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Advanced practice clinicians
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Final-year medical students
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:
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Demonstrate the concepts, participants of primary and secondary patient assessments
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Establish management priorities in trauma situations
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Identify essential primary & secondary management steps within the golden hour for emergency care of acute life-threatening conditions
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Engage in a simulated clinical & surgical skills practicum, demonstrating skills commonly needed in the initial assessment & treatment of patients with multiple injuries​
Course Outline
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Online Pre-Test
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Module 0: ATLS Overview
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Module 1: Initial Assessment and Management
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Module 2: Airway and Ventilatory Management
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Module 3: Shock
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Module 4: Thoracic Trauma
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Module 5: Abdominal and Pelvic Trauma
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Module 6: Head Trauma
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Module 7: Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma
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Module 8: Musculoskeletal Trauma
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Module 9: Thermal Injuries
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Module 10: Pediatric Trauma
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Module 11: Geriatric Trauma
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Module 12: Trauma in Pregnancy and Intimate Partner Violence
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Module 13: Transfer to Definitive Care
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Post-Module Assessments
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Course Evaluation
