ATLS for consultants...

[rfsmithmd at comcast.net]

I am a huge fan of ATLS but I am curious as to the rational for requiring consultants OR primary trauma providers to have taken ATLS. How will this positively impact the care of the injured patient? Hopefully the consultants will not be directing the resuscitation or initial evaluation of the patient. Conversely ATLS will not have a meaningful impact on the experience of trauma providers compared to a full residency in either surgery or emergency medicine.

R. Smith MD

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Ronald Simon <Traumamd at nyc.rr.com> 

> We are currently having a debate in our State Trauma Advisory Committee 
> about whether trauma related consultants (neurosurg, ortho, ent, etc) 
> should be required to have taken ATLS to care for a trauma pt. The 
> question is whether this should be part of the requirements for trauma 
> center designation. No question that members of the trauma service and 
> the ED should but what about the subspecialists? Sure its a good concept 
> but actually getting them to take it is another thing. What is the 
> practice of other trauma systems? 
> Thanks 
> Ron Simon, MD 
> Jacobi Medical Center 
> Bronx, NY 
> 
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