American Trauma Society ATS

American Trauma Society ATS
7611 South Osborne Road ,Suite 202
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Tel: 800-556-7890
Tel: 301-574-4300
Fax: 301-574-4301

Email: info@amtrauma.org

About Us

The American Trauma Society (ATS) is a leading spokes organization for trauma care and trauma prevention in the United States. The ATS has been the foremost advocate for trauma victims and their families for the past 30 years and continues to seek optimal care for all trauma victims.

Trauma is severe blunt or penetrating injury primarily caused by automobile crashes, gunshots, knife wounds, falls, battery, or burns.

The survival of trauma victims is reliant upon the strength of the trauma system in that victim's geographical area.  The trauma system must provide:

• Immediate response and medical care at the scene of the injury
  
  
• Rapid transport from the scene of the injury to a qualified trauma medical facility
  
  
• Qualified trauma medical facilities capable of delivering immediate medical care and ongoing treatment for the injured person or person

Excellent trauma care relies on an excellent trauma system. It requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to the care of the victim. Unlike other medical problems, a trauma victim’s care cannot be reviewed and a decision reached as to where the victim wants to go or who should care for him. The survival of the trauma patient is dependent upon the trauma system to make that decision in the most expedient manner possible.

For over 30 years the American Trauma Society has dedicated its time and resources to the formation and operation of trauma systems across this country.

Many members of the ATS are members of trauma teams in communities across the country. They are active in their communities and often are politically active, advocating trauma systems to their governments; federal, state and local.

The ATS strongly supports national and state legislation that creates and maintains trauma systems. It works closely with the U.S. Congress, various federal agencies and with the office of the President, supporting legislative and administrative efforts that address the financial and legal issues surrounding trauma.

The ATS provides critical information on trauma to its members, to policy makers, and to the public. It supports the needs of families. It is also a strong supporter of injury prevention, creating and producing programs and providing these programs to its members.

The members of ATS are the critical players in trauma care. They are the backbone of trauma systems. They provide the care trauma victims must have if they are to survive.

ATS works with its members to insure that they are the best informed and the best prepared to provide unsurpassed medical best care in their communities.

Our History

Since our founding in l968, the ATS has led the fight for nationwide quality trauma care. Our goal was, as it is today, to see that the injured victim is cared for by the ‘right people, in the right place, in the right time’. This means that the nation must have trauma systems to properly manage the care of the trauma victim. The ATS was an original advocate for the l973 EMS Act which established the first federal program that builds EMS/Trauma systems. In l984-5 ATS worked with Congress to develop a new trauma program. This effort culminated in the passage of the l990 Trauma Systems Development Act. Today ATS is working for the renewal of this Act. ATS has established close working relationships with the Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; the Health Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Injury Prevention, the Health Resources Services Administration and with the Emergency Medical Services for Children. Together we work for resources to develop and maintain trauma systems and for the establishment of injury prevention programs. The ATS is proud to work with fellow EMS and Trauma organizations. It is committed to building strong partnerships and alliances that foster trauma care and injury prevention. Other significant accomplishments include: The award winning Traumaroo for Children Formation of 25 state trauma divisions

Mission Statement
TO SAVE LIVES THROUGH IMPROVED TRAUMA CARE AND INJURY PREVENTION

Goals

• Fostering legislative and financial support for trauma care, trauma systems development and injury prevention.
• Partnering with agencies, corporations and organizations to expand the Society's involvement with all components of the trauma care and public health communities.
• Creating a greater awareness of trauma and trauma care throughout the community.
• Making available the necessary tools required by medical institutions to help insure the economic stability of the their trauma services
• Addressing the growing demands and needs of the trauma care medical team.
• Sponsoring and conducting leading-edge research designed to improve the clinical, operational and administrative/managerial aspects of trauma care and injury prevention.
• Maintaining its preeminent status as the primary source for information and educational offerings regarding trauma care and injury prevention.

Continuing its role as a primary spokes organization for trauma to federal and state governments, national and local media and to private industry.