Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma

For Hands-On Learning, Skills, and Confidence

Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET™) begins by providing a manual prior to the course that overviews key surgical exposures in five anatomic areas: neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis, and upper and lower extremities. Then, the one-day cadaver-based course follows with hands-on exposure performed by students. Low student-to-faculty ratio allows extensive faculty guidance.

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How do I bring the ASSET course to my site?

Review the requirements below, and contact traumaeducation@facs.org if your site meets them. The first course will require an evaluation by national faculty and final approval by the program director, so please contact our office before scheduling your first course.

What are the requirements for hosting an ASSET course?

Access to fresh/fresh frozen cadavers (one [1] per every four [4] students) and institutional approval for use of cadavers for planned course
Cadaver lab that adheres to all applicable state, regional, and local regulations
Adequate equipment to support lab dissection and A/V equipment in lab to support lab slides and video
On-site coordinator for scheduling of students and resources, and to ensure completion of paperwork
A qualified ASSET course director and one qualified ASSET instructor (or instructor candidate) per cadaver

If your site meets these requirements, contact traumaeducation@facs.org for more information about the process for becoming a verified site.

How do I check my instructor status?

To check your instructor status, contact traumaeducation@facs.org.

How do I become an ASSET instructor?

Instructors must be a surgeon with experience in trauma surgery. Surgeons who are in a current trauma fellowship are eligible to become instructors, but residents are not.

Instructors must participate in and successfully complete an approved ASSET course as a student, and be identified as "Instructor Potential." Candidates must teach and be evaluated in an approved ASSET course as an instructor candidate within one year of being identified as Instructor Potential under the supervision of a qualified instructor/course director.

How can I purchase an ASSET manual?

If you register to take an ASSET course, the course site will provide you with a manual. However, if you are not registered to take a course, and are still interested in purchasing a manual, please visit the store.

How do I search and register for an ASSET course? What is the course fee?

Search for a course online, and contact the site coordinator about registration and costs associated with the course. Each course site determines the pricing of the course.

Who do I contact if I have not received my Certificate of Attendance or CME certificate?

If you have not received your ASSET CME certificate or Certificate of Attendance, contact traumaeducation@facs.org.

Course Objectives

Several ASSET courses will be offered this year in various locations throughout the country. Wherever you take it, ASSET will teach you to:

Demonstrate key anatomical exposures for the care of injured and acutely ill surgical patients
Show the technical ability to expose important structures that may require acute surgical intervention to save life or limb
Gain confidence in performing anatomic exposures independently

Contact

For any questions about the ASSET course, contact us at traumaeducation@facs.org.

Accreditation

The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

The American College of Surgeons designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Of the AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ listed above, a maximum of 8 credits meet the requirements for Self-Assessment.

Of the AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ listed above, a maximum of 8 hours meets the requirements for Pain Management.*

*The content of this activity may meet certain mandates of regulatory bodies. Please note that ACS has not and does not verify the content for such mandates with any regulatory body. Individual physicians are responsible for verifying the content satisfies such requirements.

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