Trauma Team – the team approach is optimal in the care of the multiple injured

Trauma Team – the team approach is optimal in the care of the multiple injured patients. There must be identified members of the trauma team. Policies should be in place describing the respective role of all personnel on the trauma team. The composition of the trauma team in any hospital will depend on the characteristics of that hospital and its staff. The team leader must be a qualified general surgeon. All physicians and mid-level providers (physician assistant/nurse practitioner) on the trauma team responsible for directing the initial resuscitation of the trauma patients must be currently certified in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). ATLS requirements are waived for Board Certified Emergency Medicine and Board-Certified General Surgery Physicians. Minimum composition of the trauma team for a severely injured patient shall include: 1. Emergency Physicians and/or mid-level providers (physician assistant/nurse practitioner) 2. General/Trauma Surgeon 3. Nurses 4. Laboratory Technicians 5. Respiratory Therapists