The purpose of the Advanced Trauma Life Support© (ATLS) course is to better prepare a physician to manage a trauma, the leading cause of death in the first four decades of life in the United States.  Fifty million injuries occur annually in the United States, and ten million of these are disabling.

The ATLS© course reviews the initial assessment and management of severe injuries, which ultimately influence the patient’s final outcome.  Specific knowledge of basic treatment principles for various injury types (such as head, chest, abdominal or spinal) can significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality of trauma.

The materials and presentations used in the Southwest Michigan ATLS© course, provider and instructor level, conform with national standards established by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the ACS Michigan Committee on Trauma.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• The Advanced Trauma Life Support© course will prepare the participant to:
• Demonstrate concepts and principles of patient assessment
• Establish management priorities in a trauma
• Initiate primary and secondary management necessary for life threatening emergencies within the first hour of trauma
• Demonstrate the skills necessary in initial management of trauma victims

The ATLS© course is composed of a series of Interactive discussions and interactive skills sessions.  Each topic builds around patient cases.    Testing includes written examinations and performance at practical skills stations.

COURSE SCHEDULE - 2 day course

     FIRST DAY

• Registration
• Welcome & Introduction to the ATLS© course
• Initial Assessment & Management of Patient
• Break
• Airway & Ventilatory Management
• Airway skill station
• Shock
• Thoracic Trauma
• Abdominal and Pelvic Trauma
• Lunch (provided) and Pre-test review
• Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma
• Musculoskeletal Trauma
• Interactive Skill Stations
• Head Trauma
• Adjournment

SECOND DAY

• Pediatric Trauma
• Geriatric Trauma
• Trauma in Pregnancy & Intimate Partner Violence
• Thermal Injuries
• Disability and Adjuncts Skill Stations
• Transfer to Definitive Care
• Secondary Survey and Initial Assessment with Team Training Skill Stations
• Testing Stations/Triage Scenarios
• Adjournment and Evaluation