Dear Friends,
With the inauguration of this new website, ATS also ushers into a new ATS – ATS 2.0. The website is part of important changes in the Society – changes that reflect our continued service to our members and a new outreach to trauma patients and their families. Not only do we want to assist the patient and family during their medical care, but we want to continue service to them as they face many psychosocial issues rebuilding their lives after trauma. The work of the ATS reflects the new emphasis in healthcare on the dual goals of optimal health outcomes and improved patient satisfaction, as measured by Press Ganey scores and other means.
A year ago the American Trauma Society took a critical look at its mission, vision, and goals. Those are now spelled out on this site. They give a focus to our work together. All of us, whatever our role in trauma care, would like to see the elimination of injury – certainly preventable injury. We must also be realistic and we know that often injuries occur. When they do – when they are life-threatening – our work kicks in. The work of the ATS is to assist you, the care provider, through our programs and services, to deliver the best care possible.
Our members had told us that they need quality education courses and we address that with our Trauma Register Course and the Trauma Program Manager Course. Both of there have been updated and are presented several times every year across the country. The Trauma Register Course is also now on DVD. Our 2nd Trauma Course addresses a vital need of families – good communication with members of the trauma team. This course, which has been well received by hospitals, meets the needs of hospital residency programs to teach several of the core competencies of the American College of Graduate Medical Education.
The Trauma Survivors Network is a program that addresses the needs of patients and their families as they cope with not only the hospital stay but rebuilding their lives after the medical care has ended. Five years in the planning, this program is built on needs of patients and families as related to us – services and assistance they need that currently are not available. The Trauma Survivors Network provides those services and addresses those needs.
The ATS is also reintroducing its “Bystander Care” program which provides the lay public with basic care skills if they are on the scene of a major injury.
ATS has always had the trauma patient as its centerpiece. With this new website, and with the other programs of the Society, ATS will continue serving its members, the public, the trauma care system, and especially the trauma patients and their families to ensure they always receive the best trauma care available.
Sincerely,
Harry Teter
Executive Director