The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (COT) has officially released Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (2022 Standards). The release is the first major revision to ACS trauma center standards since 2014.
To access a copy of the new standards, download or order the manual directly from the ACS.
Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (2022 Standards) outlines the personnel, resources, policies, and practices that are required for trauma center verification by the COT.
In developing the new manual, the COT eliminated some previous standards and consolidated many others. The 2014 edition (the Orange Book) included 387 standards. The new 2022 manual has 110 standards.
For more information about the new ACS trauma center standards, read:
9 new expectations in the 2022 ACS trauma center standards
Rollout timeline for new ACS trauma standards
As ACS rolls out new trauma standards, program leaders eye resource demands
Official ACS information on the new trauma center standards is available on the 2022 Resources Repository page.
“We carefully reviewed evidence related to the delivery of optimal trauma care, worked closely with key stakeholders and specialty organizations, and feel that with these new standards, ACS-verified trauma centers will continue to deliver exceptional trauma care,” said Avery Nathens, MD, PhD, FACS, medical director of ACS Trauma Quality Programs.
“These standards provide the framework for the trauma center verification site visit process,” said Nilda Garcia, MD, FACS, chair of the COT’s Verification, Review, and Consultation (VRC) Committee. “By meeting these standards, trauma centers show that they have the resources and commitment to provide the best possible care for patients in their communities.”
