NewsATLS

ATLS® Newsletter, April 2000 1

Advanced Trauma Life Support®

NEWSLETTERApril 2000

American College of SurgeonsATLS® 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 workand fine efforts on behalf of the ATLS® Program and for your continued support of this high-qualityeducational 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 “howto” explanation of the Course Authorization Form. Please review this newsletter carefully and share it withyour staff. We are available to assist you at any time.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 1ATLS Staff Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 1ATLS Regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2Farewell and Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2Meritorious Service Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 32001 Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3ADA Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pages 3-4Primary/Secondary Survey Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4Disclosure Statement Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4

Catching Up and New ATLS Database . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5ATLS Acronyms/Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5Policy Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 6Completing a Course Request Form . . . . . . . . . . . pages 7-8Instructor Reverification: Teaching a Lecture and Related Skills . . . . . . pages 8-10Instructor Reverification: Teaching Credit . . . . . . . . page 11Postcourse Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12Questions and Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 13Disclosure Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 15

ATLS® DIVISION STAFF

! Irvene Hughes Division Manager 312/202-5160 [email protected]! Bill Jenkins Division Supervisor 312/202-5216 [email protected]!Terrie Murphy Administrative Coordinator 312/202-5350 [email protected]

The job of the Regional Program Coordinators is to assist you in providing the highest quality educationalprogram possible, as well as many other course-related responsibilities. If you have any questions or needclarification on any issue, please contact us at any time. If you are unsure of who to contact for your specificarea, please refer to the listing of states/provinces/countries within the specific regions (listed below), or callthe department phone number at 312/202-5160, and your call will be directed to the proper person.

! Veronica Bedolla Regions II, V, VIII, X 312/202-5389 [email protected]! Kathryn Koenig Regions I, III, IX, XI, XII 312/202-5356 [email protected]! Tina Medlin Regions VI, VII, XIII 312/202-5388 [email protected]! Rose Morrison Region XIV 312/202-5202 [email protected]! Susan Bock Regions IV, XV 312/202-5387 [email protected]

ATLS® Newsletter, April 20002

ATLS® REGIONS

Region I Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Region II New York State, New York/Brooklyn, New Jersey, Puerto Rico

Region III Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Virgin Islands, WestVirginia

Region IV Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,Tennessee

Region V Chicago, Illinois State, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

Region VI Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Texas, South Texas

Region VII Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

Region VIII Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Region IX Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern California, San Diego Imperial Valley (CA), SouthernCalifornia

Region X Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Region XI Western Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba

Region XII Eastern Canada: Maritime Provinces, Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec

Region XIII Military: Air Force, Army, Navy, Veterans Administration

Region XIV Latin/South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama,Peru, Venezuela

Region XV Australia, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Portugal, TheNetherlands, 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 Texasand 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 anothercareer opportunity. We wish her well.

We welcome Bill Jenkins as Nancy Foote’s replacement as Division Supervisor. Bill worked as a RegionalCoordinator from 1992–1995 in the division. He then relocated to the ACS Communications Departmentfrom 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 inNovember 1999.


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 havedemonstrated an unselfish commitment to their regional ATLS® Programs and have enhancedpromulgation of the program in other countries as well. They have helped to establish the course in amanner unique to the needs of their respective regions and work continually toward improving the quality ofthe courses conducted, as well as improving the quality of patient care delivered. They are dedicated totrauma education and consistently maintain the high ideals of the ACS Committee on Trauma. Wesincerely thank Dr. Ruiz and Dr. Rinker for their continued fine efforts in promulgating the program andimproving 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 havinga meeting for Coordinators, Educators, and Directors around the time of release and will notify you asinformation becomes available.

As with past revisions, we welcome your input for change, especially for graphics that can be used forslides and illustrations. Please forward these to Irvene’s 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 withDisabilities Act (ADA). Any person who needs accommodation under the ADA shouldcontact ______________.” (Insert name of contact person at course site.)

You may need to make accommodations for individuals with physical disabilities, latex allergies, learningdisabilities, and so on. The law requires that a disabled person disclose his/her disability in order for theaccommodation to be made.

TEAM FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

We are very excited to introduce TEAM (Trauma Evaluation And Management), a program designed formedical students. TEAM introduces the concepts of trauma assessment and management to medicalstudents during their clinical years. The program is a slide/lecture presentation with a flexible format thatcan be adapted easily into a medical school’s curriculum. The basis of the program is a 90-minute slidepresentation that also includes optional components; for example, a three-segment initial assessment videodemonstration 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 theneed for a standardized introductory course in the evaluation and management of trauma. The TEAMProgram 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 thisregard.


TEAM FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS continued

The core content is an expanded version of the ATLS® Initial Assessment and Management lecture, withimportant principles added from other components of the ATLS® Course. TEAM is a very abbreviatedversion of the ATLS® Course and is not intended as a replacement. Medical students who take the TEAMCourse 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, focuseddiscussion and skills guide, slides and slide guide, and the initial assessment and management video) sellsfor $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 ACSCustomer Service/Publications Division for further information on how to obtain materials for this importantnew 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 thelive demonstration on the first and second days of the Student Course. The primary survey component isdivided into two demonstrations, one for use before the Initial Assessment lecture and one for after thelecture. The subcommittee believes that the live demonstrations for these sessions provides a betterteaching tool because of the interactive discussion that ensues. The cost of the video is $20 which includesshipping and handling in the United States only. An additional fee is charged for shipping outside the UnitedStates.

NEW: DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FORM

The ACS is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsorcontinuing medical education (CME) courses. In accordance with the essentials and standards set forth bythe ACCME, disclosure statements must be signed by all faculty and course assistants involved inconducting ATLS® Courses. Such individuals include Directors, Instructors, Coordinators, and assistants(nurses, paramedics, laboratory assistants). Required disclosures include any relationship between thefaculty member or assistant and any health care-related business that involves a financial interest above acertain 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 assistantbe 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 wouldrequire signing another form along with the updated information. Coordinators need to ask their faculty eachtime they teach if any changes have occurred since the form was previously signed. Coordinators shouldretain a copy of the form for their records and forward a copy of the form to the ATLS® Division with thepostcourse reports. Your ACS ATLS® Regional Coordinator will maintain a master file of these forms, andwill ensure that all forms for faculty and assistants are current and signed. If you need an additional form orhave any questions, please call your ACS Regional Coordinator.


CATCHING UP AND NEW ATLS DATABASE

Five Regional Coordinators are now available to directly address course-related issues and conduct qualityassurance reviews on each course conducted. The Regional Coordinators have made significant progressin recent months. Please assist them by ensuring that the information requested on the postcourse reportforms is complete, accurate, and legible. Additionally, please ensure all requested report forms, includingcritiques (Instructor, Director, Coordinator) are enclosed.

Coordinators and State/Provincial Chairs are strongly encouraged to use the Quality Assurance ReviewForm 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 withcourses 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 testand refine. The new database provides us with more in-depth information regarding all aspects of thecourse. In the future, you will notice some differences in our forms and reports sent to State/ProvincialChairs and Coordinators. We extend our sincere thanks to all of you for your patience and assistanceduring this transition period.

ATLS® ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS

Forms Courses

• CRA: Course Request/Authorization form • P: Student• ISN: Instructor Status Notification form • P/SR: Student/Student Refresher• IR: Instructor Reverification form • SR: Student Refresher

(formerly Instructor Update form) • I: Instructor• IU: Instructor Update

• OCP: Original Student Course• OCI: Original Instructor Course• TRC: Teaching Requirements Course

Faculty Other:

• CD/CDC: Course Director/Candidate • COT: Committee on Trauma• C/CC: Coordinator/Candidate • ACS: American College of Surgeons• 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 marksof the American College of Surgeons and should be accompanied by the superscripted registeredtrademark symbol (®).


POLICY REMINDERSEach postcourse report is carefully reviewed and processed by an ACS Regional Coordinator. Infractionsthat detract from the educational benefits and original design of the course may be identified. We appreciateyour endeavors to ensure that the essential requirements are maintained as outlined in the ATLS® InstructorManual.

• A qualified Course Director must be a surgeon with a valid status and be eligible to serve in this rolefor the type of course being directed.

• Two (2) qualified Course Directors are required for a Student Course being conducted for more than24 participants.

• All faculty (including Coordinators and Educators) must be updated on the latest edition of thecourse 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 towardreverification. (See Lecture and Related Skills Stations, pages 8–10 in this newsletter and pages589–590 and 547–548 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. Asix-month grace period is allowed to facilitate the reverification process.

• Student course participants, whose performance is identified as having instructor potential, shouldhave this information noted on the postcourse reports and should receive a letter in this regard fromthe Course Director.

• The student to faculty ratio is maintained at 4:1 for a Student Course and 3:1 for an InstructorCourse.

• Out-of-state/province participants taking an Instructor Course require a letter from their respectiveState/Provincial Chairs granting permission to participate in the course.

• Out-of-country participants taking an Instructor Course require a letter from their respectiveProgram Directors granting permission to participate in the course, providing the program has beenintroduced and promulgated in the individuals’ countries.

• Instructor Course participants must have successfully completed the Student Course within twoyears 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 StudentCourse.

• An Instructor Candidate’s first teaching performance must be monitored by a faculty member withState/Provincial, Regional, or National Faculty status.

• A Student Course Director Candidate’s first directing performance must be monitored by a facultymember with State/Provincial, Regional, or National Faculty status.

• An Instructor Course Director is the State/Provincial Chair or his/her delegate who must be qualifiedto serve in this role.

• The course schedule, as presented in the ATLS® Instructor Manual, is not altered to satisfyindividual faculty member’s or institution’s scheduling needs.


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 thequestions we ask upon receipt of a CRA. The topical page numbers from the ATLS® Instructor Manual areincluded for reference. Ensuring that the requested information is accurate and complete prevents delays inobtaining course coapproval.

• Is this an approved course site?

Include the name of the facility where the course is being held, because there may be morethan one course site in your city. New course sites must be approved by the state/ProvincialChair. Please note on the CRA if it is a new site. (Pages 605–606)

• 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 norcan 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 areconducted over 1.5 consecutive days. Student Refresher Courses are conducted in a one-half-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 toadvertise the course via the ACS Web site listing of courses or the ACS master courseschedule, 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 satisfyestablished policy?

The number and type of participants per type of course are limited. (Pages 514–515)

• Does the course being requested require 1 or 2 Course Directors?Maximum registration for a Student-type Course with one qualified Course Director is 24participants. A Student-type Course scheduled for 25–32 participants requires two qualifiedCourse Directors. An Instructor Course is limited to nine participants and requires onequalified 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 beingrequested?

A qualified Student Course Director is a surgeon with valid status. In addition, the individualhas 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 CourseDirector Candidate on page 532.)

• Is the appropriate level of faculty assigned to evaluate the Student Course DirectorCandidate who also is serving as the second Course Director for a course with 32participants?

In addition to the qualified Course Director, a faculty member with at least State/ProvincialFaculty status must be present throughout the entire course to monitor the DirectorCandidate’s first directing performance. The first Course Director may not serve as thecritiquer of a Director Candidate in the circumstance as outlined here. (Page 532)


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 trainedmuch like all other faculty within a given course. (Pages 539–542)

• If a Course Director Candidate and/or Instructor Candidates are planned for a StudentCourse, 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 monitorStudent Course Director Candidates and Instructor Candidates.

• If a Course Director Candidate, with Regional Faculty status pending successful completionof his/her directing experience, is assigned to be Course Director in an Instructor Course, isa 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/PChair is serving as a Director Candidate, a National Faculty member must monitor thecandidate’s performance. (Pages 525–527, 529–532)

• 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 thelatest edition of the course before being assigned to serve in this role. (Pages 537–539, 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 thenforwards the form (all copies intact) to the ATLS® Division for review and coapproval. TheCRA must include a “live” signature versus the form being stamped with the chair’s name.

INSTRUCTOR REVERIFICATION:TEACHING A LECTURE AND RELATED SKILLS

The Instructor Reverification process is outlined on pages 589–593 of your ATLS® Instructor Manual. To beeligible for reverification, an Instructor must teach four times in four years. Each teaching episode (onecourse) must include a lecture and a related skills station. Teaching more than one lecture and relatedskills 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 credittoward reverification. Related skills stations are defined as primary (directly related to the lecture that theInstructor teaches) or secondary (less directly related, but still relational). Secondary related skills stationsare identified by italicized type. Instructors who are assigned to teach one of the italicized or secondaryrelated skills stations must be present for the related lecture being taught by another Instructor. The onlyexception to this policy is the Triage Scenarios.


INSTRUCTOR REVERIFICATION:TEACHING A LECTURE AND RELATED SKILLS continued

Lecture Related Skills Station

Course Overview • None (lecture presented by Course Director

Initial Assessment and Management • All Skills Stations, including Triage Scenarios• Lecturer must be a surgeon if teaching a surgical

skills station

Airway and Ventilatory Management • 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

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 pelvictrauma/shock)

• Triage Scenarios• Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Thoracic Trauma • 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

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

Head trauma • Station IX: Head Trauma Assessment/Management• Station II: Airway and Ventilatory Management• Triage Scenarios• Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma • Station X: X-ray Identification of Spine Injuries• Station XI: Spine Trauma Assessment/Management• Triage Scenarios• Station I: Initial Assessment and Management


INSTRUCTOR REVERIFICATION:TEACHING A LECTURE AND RELATED SKILLS continued

Lecture Related Skills Station

Musculoskeletal Trauma • Station XII: Musculoskeletal Trauma assessmentand Management

• Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management• Triage Scenarios• Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Injuries Due to Burns and Cold • Station II: Airway and Ventilatory Management• Triage Scenarios• Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Ocular Trauma (optional lecture) • Station I: Initial Assessment and Management• Station IX: Head Trauma Assessment and

Management• Triage Scenarios

Pediatric Trauma • Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management• Triage Scenarios• Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Trauma in Women • Station IV: Shock Assessment and Management• Triage Scenarios• Station I: Initial Assessment and Management

Transfer to Definitive Care • Presented by Course Director; Course Director alsomay present Station I: Initial Assessment and/orTriage Scenarios


INSTRUCTOR REVERIFICATION: TEACHING CREDIT

The number of teaching credits per type of course and faculty are summarized herein. One teaching creditequates to one course toward an Instructor’s required teaching of four courses in four years.

COURSE AND FACULTY TYPE ONE TEACHING COMMENTS CREDIT

< Student or Student/Student Refresher Course

• Director %% Must be present for entire course• Instructor %% Must teach lecture and related skill• Educator %% Audit 1 course every 4 years• Coordinator %% Coordinate 4 courses in 4 years• S/P Faculty in monitoring role %% Must be present for entire course; may

teach lecture and related skills station< Student Refresher (1- or ½-day)

• Director %% Must be present for entire course• Instructor %% Involved in teaching skills for the day or

involved in teaching entire course1-A, 1-B

• Coordinator %%< Instructor

• Director %% Must be present for entire course• Instructor %% Involved in teaching all skills2

• Educator %% Involved in teaching entire course• Coordinator %%• S/P, Regional, or National Faculty

in monitoring role %% Must be present for entire course< Instructor Update

• Director %% Must be present for entire course• Instructor %% Involved in teaching all skills3

• Educator4 %% Involved in teaching entire course• Coordinator %%

1-A Student Refresher—1-day: Teaches 1 of Station II, IV, or VI; teaches 1 of Station IX, XI, or XII; and teaches 1 InitialAssessment Station; preferably present for Course Director’s lecture.

1-B Student Refresher—½-day: Assists in teaching Triage Scenarios; teaches 1 Initial Assessment Station; preferably presentfor Course Director’s lecture.

2 Instructor Course: Teaches 1 of Station II, VI, or IX and 1 Initial Assessment Station; preferably attends Educator’ssessions

3 Instructor Update Course: Teaches 1 of Station II, IV, or VI; teaches 1 of Station IX, XI, or XII; and teaches 1 InitialAssessment station; preferably attends Educator’s sessions.


POSTCOURSE REPORTS

Items Needed After Each course Signature(s) Required

%% Participant form %% S/P Chair

%% Faculty form %% S/P Chair

%% Course receipts/disbursement form %% Director, Coordinator, S/P Chair and profit/loss statement

%% Critique forms %% Critiquer with appropriate faculty status

%% Course schedule with skills rotation schedule %% No signature required

%% Course evaluation summary from students %% No signature required

Please Note:

• Please include all the requested information on the participant and faculty forms

• Items that may be retained at the course site include: Participant’s initial assessment forms, skillsstation worksheets, final evaluation forms, and test answer sheets. If the Coordinator and/or Directorhave concerns about a particular participant’s outcome in the course, these items may be submittedwith 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/hetaught.

• Ensure that the course schedule and faculty form accurately reflect the faculty teaching in thecourse.

• Coordinators may create their own computer-generated postcourse report forms. Please include allrequested information, especially the national identification (NID) or social security (SS) numbers.

• It is important that the previous course history for Student Refresher and Instructor Courseparticipants is included on the participant form. Students should submit a copy of their currentATLS® card with their course registration. If the card cannot be provided, please contact your ACSRegional Coordinator to obtain this information. This step prevents the risk of not achievingsuccessful completion status after the course.


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Listed here are some frequently asked questions. We hope the answers will be helpful to you, and wewelcome 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.htmlor www.facs.org and click on ATLS). The site is updated daily. Coordinators may wish to check this siteto ensure correct posting of their requested course. Each course includes the course type, length, andsite, 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 fromthe electronic publishing manager, Ms. Sally Garneski ([email protected]).

• How do I know if candidates for Student Refresher or Instructor Courses are eligible toparticipate if they cannot provide a copy of their ATLS card? (Or...How do I know if InstructorCandidates are still eligible to complete their teaching requirements?)

We encourage coordinators to call their ACS Regional Coordinator to verify an individual’s status,including Student Refresher and Instructor Course participants, Instructor candidates, and anymember 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 willsubmit the request to the Instructor’s S/P Chair for approval. Once the chair’s 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 RegionalCoordinator, who in turn will verify the individual’s status, complete a new card as warranted, andforward 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 theirexpiration date, they should contact their respective ACS Regional Coordinator. The primary reasonfor Instructors not receiving the appropriate forms is because they have relocated, and their formsare returned to the ACS as undeliverable.

• Our hospital is pursuing Level 1 Trauma Center verification, and I need to verify the ATLS statusof several of our doctors. Can you please provide me with this information?

Information about a course participant’s status is confidential and is only provided to S/P Chairs andCoordinators in the context of conducting courses. Individuals who contact the ATLS Division withthis question are encouraged to obtain the documentation from the individual doctor. If the doctorcannot provide such documentation, the division staff can verify the information upon receipt of asigned release from the doctor.

• I sent my prepayment and materials order form to the lockbox 10 days ago and have beennotified that the ATLS Division has not received them. Why does this happen and what should Ido?

Lockbox payments first go to the bank for direct deposit. Once processed, they are sent to the ACSAccounting Department and then to the ATLS Division. Delays may be incurred when submittingprepayment in this manner. In times of urgency, you may wish to consider submitting yourprepayment directly to the ATLS Division.


We thank you for your continued support ofthe ATLS® Program.

We appreciate all that you do to make thisone of the finest educational programs

in the world.

Warm wishes to the entireATLS Family for a safe and joyous

new millennium!


Disclosure Form for ATLS® Faculty and Assistantsfor 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 anymaterial, 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 entitywhose products or services may be discussed in or directly affected in the marketplace during the course. Arelationship 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, orconsultant.) In addition, the fact that the presentation describes either the use of a device, product, or drug that is notFDA approved or the off-label use of an approved device, product, or drug also must be disclosed. This policy has beenadopted 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 suchrelationships 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 afaculty member or assistant for an educational program does not necessarily preclude the individual from participating inthe program; however, the nature of this relationship must be stated so that the audience may accurately evaluatestatements 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 numbereditem that applies to you):

ë 1. I have no material, financial, or other relationship with any health care-related business or other entity whoseproducts or services may be discussed in or directly affected in the marketplace by participation in this course.

orë 2. I have under consideration a material, financial, or other relationship (as defined above) with a health care-

related business or other entity whose products or services may be discussed in or directly affected in themarketplace by this presentation. (Attach additional sheet[s] as necessary.)

CompanyProduct/Service_____________________Relationship

CompanyProduct/Service_____________________Relationship

and

My participation in this course does ë does not ë describe the use of a device, product, or drug that is not FDAapproved 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, ordrug____________________________________________________________FDA approved? Yes ë No ë

If the device, product, or drug is approved, describe off-label use:

Printed Name:

Signature of faculty member or assistant______________________________________Date

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