The Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM) course uses simulation in an operative laboratory to teach proper operative techniques for penetrating injuries to the chest and abdomen. The course was established in 1998 and is intended for senior surgical residents, trauma fellows, military surgeons, and general surgeons not frequently called on to treat penetrating injuries. Its goals are to improve knowledge, self-confidence, and technical competence for managing these surgical repairs. During the program, students are asked to identify traumatic injuries, develop a plan to surgically repair them, and then execute the plan using proper operative technique.
The course follows a 1-day, standardized schedule with the didactic lectures/discussions preceding the laboratory experience, where the instructor evaluates the operative skill of the participant in the laboratory. The pre- and post test, pre-course and post course self-efficacy evaluation, course evaluation, and CME claiming are all completed online using the American College of Surgeons' (ACS) Learning Management System (LMS).
For questions about course content, please contact the ACS COT Trauma Education office at ATOM@facs.org
Click on the 'TAKE COURSE' tab when you are ready to begin the course.
The ATOM course is intended for:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
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 CME/Completion Certificate Instructions | 973.49 KB |
Disclosure Policy
In accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all financial relationships with any commercial interest (termed by the ACCME as “ineligible companies”, defined below) held in the last 24 months (see below for definitions). Please note that first authors were required to collect and submit disclosure information on behalf all other authors/contributors, if applicable.
Ineligible companies: The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition.
Financial Relationships: Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.
Conflict of Interest: Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of an ineligible company with which he/she has a financial relationship.
The ACCME also requires that ACS manage any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity. Any conflicts noted below have been managed to our satisfaction. The disclosure information is intended to identify any commercial relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during the educational activity, please report it on the evaluation.
For course-specific disclosure listings, please refer to the disclosure insert provided at your course site.
Planning/Development Committee for the ATOM Course
Jody M. Kaban, MD, FACS
Nothing to disclose
Neil Parry, MD, FRCSC, FACS
Nothing to disclose
Ron Gross, MD, FACS
Nothing to disclose
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirements of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program.
Through an agreement between the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, MOC Program participants may record completed self-assessment programs or simulation activities developed and accredited by the American College of Surgeons in Section 3 of the Royal College's MOC Program.
