Program Overview

Course Description
DMEP is a one-day course that is both didactic and interactive. It addresses core competencies as outlined by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT) Disaster and Mass Casualty Management Committee. Major topics addressed include planning, triage, incident command, injury patterns and pathophysiology, and consideration for special populations. Small group discussions are based on illustrative scenarios. The course requires a pre and post test, which are reviewed onsite. A comprehensive syllabus and supportive CD with resource material is provided.

Target Audience
The intended audience includes acute care providers (ie, surgeons; anesthesiologists; emergency medicine physicians; ER, OR, ICU and trauma nurses; and pre-hospital professionals) who will most likely be the first receivers of casualties following major disasters. Other health care providers, administrators, public health personnel, and emergency managers are also encouraged to attend.

Objectives

Understand the surgical problems, injury patterns, and issues that may result from disasters.
Discuss the role that surgeons can play in planning for and responding to mass casualty incidents and disasters, especially at a hospital level.
Become familiar with the terms and concepts of incident command.
Understand the principles and challenges of disaster triage.
Become familiar with treatment principles related to blast injury, chemical attacks and radiological dispersal devices.
Know the civilian and military assets available for support.

Core Competencies

epidemiology and history of disasters
disaster planning
disaster response organization and execution
medical management of mass casualties
pathophysiology and patterns of injury
post-disaster assessment and recovery
pitfalls and barriers in disaster planning and response
understanding the needs of special populations (ie, pediatric, geriatric, disabled)

Accreditation
The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Credit
The American College of Surgeons designates this educational activity for a maximum of 8.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing
For the purposes of recertification, the American Nurses Credentialing Center accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME.

DMEP

Trauma Programs

Revised January 18, 2011