The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) released its new standards for care of the injured patient in Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (2022 Standards), now in its seventh edition.
The resources manual outlines the personnel, resources, policies, and practices required for ACS COT trauma center verification. Research has shown that centers that meet the standards deliver better patient outcomes.
The ACS COT revised the standards to incorporate new evidence and practices while eliminating standards wherever possible. Standards were consolidated and clarified to facilitate implementation. From the 387 standards in the 2014 edition, the 2022 edition has 110 clear, concise standards. Above all, the new standards will continue to support and advance optimal care for injured patients while making it easier for centers to incorporate these standards into daily practice.
“The updated resources manual will enhance the care ACS-verified trauma centers deliver. The COT carefully reviewed evidence related to the delivery of optimal trauma care, worked closely with key stakeholders and specialty organizations, and determined that with these new standards, ACS-verified trauma centers will continue to deliver exceptional trauma care,” said Avery Nathens, MD, PhD, FACS, Medical Director, ACS Trauma Quality Programs. “In our revision of the standards, we focused on what’s best for patients while acknowledging the challenges faced by centers in their delivering high quality of care.”
The updated standards are part of a broader effort to align the ACS COT’s efforts with the accreditation and verification processes of all ACS Quality Programs. The standards manuals have the same layout across all ACS Quality Programs to ensure consistency for hospitals participating in multiple programs.
“These standards provide the framework for the trauma center verification site visit process. By meeting these standards, trauma centers show that they have the resources and commitment to provide the best possible care for patients in their communities,” said Nilda Garcia, MD, FACS, Chair of the ACS COT’s Verification, Review, and Consultation (VRC) Committee.
Established in 1987, the ACS COT’s VRC Program supports hospitals in delivering the highest quality of trauma care. Through the trauma center verification process, the ACS COT ensures that centers are applying the standards needed to provide optimal care. At present, there are 578 ACS-verified trauma centers in the US.
The new Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (2022 Standards) is available for trauma centers to download today at bit.ly/3jwx8yC.
