The Trauma Program Manager
According to the American College of Surgeons:
“Administrative and budgetary support for the Trauma
Program Manager will depend on the size of the
program. As a guideline, one can identify the need for
a full-time equivalent in support of the registry for
each 500 to 1,00 admissions per year. A comparable
level of secretarial and clinical nursing support
helps fulfill needs for out reach, concurrent case
review, and discharge planning. The registrar,
secretary, and trauma nurse clinicians should report
to the TPM (ACS, 24-25.) “
Qualifications of the Trauma Program Manager (TMP)
The TMP, usually a Registered Nurse, must show
evidence of educational preparation, with a minimum of
16 hours of trauma-related continuing education per
year, certification, and clinical experience in care
of the injured. A selection process defined by the
institution’s personnel policy must be delineated.
Qualifications and activities should include the
following:
Clinical Activities
Coordinating trauma care management across the
continuum of trauma care, including planning and
implementing of clinical protocols/practice management
guidelines, monitoring care of in-hospital patients,
and serving as a recourse for clinical practice.
Education Responsibilities
Providing for interfacility and regional professional
staff development, participating in case review,
standardizing practice guidelines, and directing
community trauma education and prevention programs.
Performance Improvement (PI)
Monitoring clinical outcomes and system issues related
to quality of care delivery, developing filters,
audits, and case reviews, identifying trends and
sentinel events, and helping to outline remedial
actions while maintaining confidentiality.
Administration
Managing, as appropriate, the operational, personnel,
and financial aspects of the Trauma Program, serving
as a liaison to administration, and representing the
Trauma Program on various hospital and community
committees to enhance and foster optimal trauma care
management.
Supervision of the Trauma Registry
Collecting, coding, scoring and developing processes
for validation of data and designing the registry to
facilitate performance improvement activities, trends
reports, and research while protecting
confidentiality.
Consultant/Liaison
Stabilizing the complex network of many disciplines
that work in concert to provide high-quality care,
serving as an internal resource for staff in all
departments, and acting as an extended liaison for
Emergency Medical Services agencies, the community,
and the nation.
Research
Being involved in research selection, analysis, and
distribution of findings, and facilitating protocol
design for accurate data collection, feed back, and
analysis.
Community/National Involvement in Trauma Care Systems
Participating in the development of trauma care
systems at the community, state, provincial, or
national levels (ACS, p.25.)
References:
1. American College of Surgeons, (1999). “ Resources
for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient: 1999”, USA.
p. 24-25.