List Archives

Sun, 26 May 2002 23:58:30 +0200

To all the list members,

The congress "TraumaCare 2002 Scandinavia" in Stavanger Norway with over
1100 delegates from all over the world just finished. The delegates were
doctors, nurses and paramedics from different disciplines in acute trauma
care. Lectures were being held by doctors and nurses. In Scandinavia we
believe strongly that cooperation is the way to move forward to improve
trauma care. During the congress doctors and nurses started the "Nordic
Trauma Forum". This forum will welcome all Nordic team members from
different disciplines within trauma care as members.

TraumaCare 2002 took up the issue: "Trauma nurse training: TNCC, ATNC or
ATCN? More than just a difference in names?"  In the audience were
representatives from all these courses and the conclusion were that these
courses have very similar content and that they are all "speaking the same
language and content" as ATLS and PHTLS courses. In a lecture "PHTLS, and
ATLS, - American imperialism or the road to improve outcome? Should we
replace them with European-based training models?" a debate was held
pro-con. 

It is time to stop arguing about trauma courses for doctors and nurses. We
are heading towards an even bigger problem than what we have ever faced in
trauma in the world. Howard Champion, USA said in one of his lectures that
approx. 5 million people die from trauma. This number will increase to
approx. 8 million in 2010. While we in the western world keep arguing over
issues like "who should be the trauma team leader in the trauma team",
"should it be nurses, doctors or paramedics working prehospital", and "which
trauma course is the best for nurses and doctors" people are dying from
trauma in the third world were they can not afford courses like ATLS, PHTLS,
TNCC and ATCN. Mads Gilbert, Norway in his key-note lecture gave us some
ideas on how we could help. This help is simple teaching and giving some
inexpensive supply for first aid. Help that most of us can contribute to in
one way or another.

Most speakers and delegates during the congress agreed with Peter Oakley,
Great Britain that competence, compassion, commitment and cooperation are
necessary for all trauma team members.

The work ahead is escalating and we need to put all of our energy and
efforts on helping each other to be the best possible helpers in helping
people survey.  A big group of delegates from the congress hiked together
after the closing session to the "Pulpit Rock" above Lysefjorden outside
Stavanger Norway. From the top of the "Pulpit Rock" the call goes out to the
trauma community: 

IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON IN TRAUMA IN THE DIRECTION OF "TOGETHERNESS"
between different disciplines, professions, units, hospitals, regions,
states, people and countries.

UNITED WE SHALL STAND AGAINTS TRAUMA DEATH AND DISABILITIES.

Kerstin Sluys, Chairman
Swedish Association of Trauma Nurses

> From: KMATTOX@aol.com
> Reply-To: trauma-list@trauma.org
> Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 10:17:49 EDT
> To: trauma-list@trauma.org
> Subject: Re: choice of trauma courses
> 
> Several persons have recommended the TNCC course.  While I have respect for
> this course and its historic contributions, it does need to be revised.   In
> all due respect, the trauma community has had very little input into this
> course.  I would strongly recommend that the ACS Committee on Trauma and the
> designers of the TNCC course seriously look at the ATLS course and the TNCC
> course.   They are currently teaching some principles totally differently.
> Time for standardization.    The newly emerging course put together by the
> Society of Trauma Nurses looks very very good.
> 
> k
> 
> --
> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
> To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
> http://www.trauma.org/traumalist.html

List Archives

For your convenience, find the Trauma List Archive Below

A message from the "Pulpit Rock"