Waiving the ATLS requirement in favor of CALS or RTTDC
Level IV
Trauma Care Facilities only
May 2006
1.
The winter of
2006, the State Trauma Advisory Council (STAC) recommended to the Department of
Health and Family Services (DHFS), Bureau of Local Health Support and
2.
Currently the
Trauma Care System Administrative Rules, Chapter 118 states "Level III and
Level IV Trauma Care Facility physicians involved in the care of trauma
patients shall take the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Course and the
refresher course every four years to meet CME requirements. If a physician currently is Emergency
Medicine Board Certified, ATLS course only need to be completed
once." The Trauma Care Facility
(TCF) has three years from their original designation date or three years from
the physician joining the trauma team to successfully complete the course.
3.
The
Administrative Rule will need to be opened and changed which is a long process. DHFS has agreed to waive the ATLS requirement
and allow CALS or RTTDC to serve as a substitute for ATLS. What this means for you is:
A.
In the Level IV's
only, the physicians that apply to this rule, may take either the CALS or the
RTTDC course, in place of ATLS, however this must be accomplished in the same time line, within the three years
from the original designation date. This means most of the TCFs must have one
of these courses completed by the summer of 2008.
B.
In order to be
waived from ATLS, each trauma care facility interested in taking the CALS or
RTTDC in place of ATLS must submit a written letter sent by mail. (No
electronic or faxing permitted).
C.
The recommended
language may be to the effect of - "Our trauma care facility is requesting
to be waived from the ATLS requirement in the Trauma Care System Administrative
Rule Chapter 118, that is to be completed three years after our original
designation. The reason for this request
is _________(State here why the ATLS is a hardship for your physicians). We understand we must complete either the ATLS,
CALS or the RTTDC course within the three years from our original designation
date."
This
is just to assist you - feel free to word the letter the way you so
choose. This must come from your
CEO/President.
D.
Please address the inside part of the letter
to:
Dan
Williams, Chief
Bureau
of LHS and
However,
this must be sent to me at:
DHFS
Attn: Marianne Peck
State
Trauma Care System Coordinator
Bureau
of LHS & EMS
Note:
The Bureau of LHS and
Also - both CALS and RTTDC are fairly new to
If you have questions
about this - please address them to
Marianne Peck at: 608-266-0601 or peckme@dhfs.state.wi.us