Press Release: The Trauma Survivors Network Surpasses 100 Participating Trauma Centers

Saving Lives. Improving Care. Empowering Survivors.

Contact: ATS Executive Director, Suzanne Prentiss

Email: sprentiss@amtrauma.org

Telephone: 603.381.9195

News Release

The Trauma Survivors Network Surpasses 100 Participating Trauma Centers

Feb. 20, 2020 (Falls Church, Va.) – For the first time in its history, the Trauma Survivors Network (TSN) surpassed 100 participating sites. The TSN, a program of the American Trauma Society (ATS), was implemented in 2008 to provide the psychosocial support and services to survivors of serious physical injury and their families during recovery. To date, the TSN has sites in 37 states and Canada, serving adult and pediatric trauma centers as well as rehabilitation hospitals.

The TSN offers a variety of services including: peer visitation; peer support groups for adults, children, and families; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) screening; and NextSteps, a self-management course. All services focus on providing structured support to survivors and families while they adjust to a “new normal” life after trauma. “The TSN’s value is bringing together trauma survivors with peers who have survived and thrived through similar traumatic injuries in the past,” stated Peter Thomas, trauma survivor and ATS board member. “Having grown to more than 100 sites shows a true community of trauma survivors and their families dedicated to improving trauma outcomes, and for that we are incredibly grateful.”

ATS staff supports the efforts of TSN coordinators at each participating site in the onboarding and delivery of the program’s services. Community presentations for emergency medical professionals, National Trauma Awareness Month (NTAM) and National Trauma Survivors Day also are a major part of the TSN’s annual activities.

“I want to congratulate all of the TSN sites on the great work they are doing on behalf of our patients, survivors and their families” stated Dr. Christopher Michetti, ATS immediate past president. “It’s inspiring to see how the effort to create connections between survivors as a way of healing has grown.” Current ATS President Anna Newcomb stated that “the growth of the TSN nationwide is a testament to the trauma community’s commitment to their patients and families that stretches beyond the walls of our trauma centers.” Newcomb cited the dedication of local TSN coordinators as critical to the ongoing success of the program. “Each site should be congratulated on being one of the first to deliver services that are often forgotten once physical injuries heal.”

The TSN is a community of patients and survivors looking to connect with one another and rebuild their lives after a serious injury. The underlying goal of our resources and programs is to ensure the survivors of trauma a stable recovery and to connect those who share similar stories.

For more information on the Trauma Survivors Network, please visit www.traumasurvivorsnetwork.org.

The American Trauma Society is a 501c3 organization with more than 2200 individual and institutional members, representing all 50 United States.

####

Download the press release here.