Amazing experience at national meeting..

[maryfran123]

I just returned from the annual scientific assembly for Eastern Association Surgical Trauma (EAST).

 

I have been working Trauma/SCC since 1992 and my experience during the outgoing EAST president's address to the entire general assembly--over 500 Trauma/SCC/ACS physicians--was one of the most amazing moments of my career.

 

Dr. Donald Jenkins, Mayo clinic, is the outgoing president. Last year, he had an ad hoc committee formed for Advanced Practitioners (APs) in Trauma. Dr Hoff, my trauma director was named chair. THe term AP's encompasses both PA and NPs and accepts that clinically there is no difference in our roles. This was agreed upon by all members of the committee. In Jan 2010 we had our first meeting at the EAST assembly. In that time we devised a mission statement, policy statement, had an article published in the EAST newsletter re: the committee and orgazined the first ever pre-conference workshop for AP's. There actually ended up being a second workshop for AP's added. We were assured thru multiple conference calls that EAST was committed to reaching out to APs in Trauma/SCC and ACS.

 

At EAST the outgoing president speaks for approximately 45mins, summarizing what has been accomplished in the last year, future goals, etc., prior to the passing of the gavel to the incoming president. This speech is given to the general assembly, typically a packed house of trauma surgeons, fellows, nurses and AP's. There were over 600 people in attendance and this year APs made up 1/6 of that total.

Dr Jenkins spent 15mins of his time speaking directly and specificially about advanced practitioners(APs) and how we were an integral part of the future of caring for the injured pt.

He had a number of power point slides in his presentation that were AP specific. He asked that APs be "embraced" by EAST, he discussed our roles, the education of PA and NPs, the PA certifying process and CME requirements, that EAST should strive to enhance the professional and leadership development of not only surgeons but APs as well. How studies have shown an improvement in quality care by adding APs to trauma centers, our low malpractice rates( APs 1:75 vs 1:4 for physicians), procedures we perform, continuity of care, improvements in quality of care as measure by benchmarks, and enouraged his surgical colleagues to bring APs with them to the annual EAST conference and encouraged APs to become members of EAST.

It was an amazing experience having APs brought to the front and center in such a positive way to one of the major national organizations for Trauma/SCC and ACS.

 

Additional highlight was the large number of APs that attended EAST, the great workshop Dr Hoff ran for APs and his role in helping to bring APs front and center to the EAST membership. The second workshop held for AP's which revolved around first assisting in a number of areas was very well attended as well.

 

At our ad hoc committee meeting a Board of Trustees member of EAST attended asking what could be done to get more APs involved, what were they interested in from EAST, another board member from EAST and chairman of the Rural Trauma committee came to our meeting and asked that any APs working in rural trauma centers to please attended his meeting as well because he was very interest in our input.

 

The American College of Surgeon's Committee on Trauma (COT) is currently engaged in the revision process for the Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (Green Book). Dr Hoff will be contacting ACS COT to have a formal definition and description of APs role in this new edition, another first.

 

In a year, this committee has done a great deal and the doors have been opened wide for our future involvement at EAST.

 

Just wanted to share....

[LESH]

Excellent news! Thanks for sharing MaryFran.