Qualifications of Surgeons on the Trauma Team

Qualifications of Surgeons on the Trauma Team 1. Basic to qualification for trauma care for any surgeon is current or previous Board Certification in a surgical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, the Advisory Board for Osteopathic Specialties, the American Dental Association, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or other appropriate foreign board. Many boards require a practice period. Such an individual may be included when recognition by major professional organizations has been received in their specialty. The board certification criteria apply to the general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons. 2. The surgeon is expected to serve as the captain of the resuscitating team and is expected to be in the emergency department upon arrival of the seriously injured patient to make key decisions about the management of the trauma patient's care. The surgeon will coordinate all aspects of treatment, including resuscitation, operation, critical care, recuperation and rehabilitation (as appropriate in a Level III facility) and determine if the patient needs transport to a higher level of care. If transport is required, he/she is accountable for coordination of the process with the receiving physician at the receiving facility. If the patient is to be admitted to the Level III Trauma Center, the surgeon is the admitting physician and will coordinate the patient care while hospitalized. Guidelines must be written at the local level to determine which types of patients should be admitted to the Level III Trauma Center or which patients should be considered for transfer to a higher level of care. General Surgeons taking trauma call must have eight (8) hours of trauma specific continuing medical education (CME) over three years. This can be met within the 40-hour requirement by licensure. 3. The general surgery and orthopedic liaisons must participate in a multi- disciplinary trauma committee and the PI process. Committee attendance must be at least fifty percent (50%) over a year's period of time.