ITACCS Becomes International TraumaCare

he International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society (ITACCS) was founded two decades ago by and for trauma care anesthesiologists and intensivists. Membership has since grown and broadened to nearly 2,000, counting among its members and leadership specialists from all aspects of trauma care. This change in scope resulted in ITACCS now being more accurately known as “International TraumaCare” or “TraumaCare International,” reflecting its international multispecialty make-up. International TraumaCare’s scope is global, with broad international scientific meetings and membership. In addition to the numerous continuing education seminars held throughout the world, our recent 18th Annual Scientific Symposium was held in Paris, and the most recent International Chief Emergency Physician (ICEP) program was held last July in New Zealand. Faculty and attendees for both came from all continents except Antarctica. The breadth of scope of International TraumaCare is one of its major strengths. Sharing ideas and experiences with those around the world gives International TraumaCare a unique perspective as a truly international organization. Often we find that we share issues with other practitioners around the world. Occasionally we find marked differences. For example, in a large portion of the world, anesthesiologists exist as the leaders of trauma care teams. Anesthesiologists are first-responders at the scenes of trauma. They coordinate medical care and supervise in hospital trauma care from the receiving bay through the operating room and into the critical care unit, providing clinical care in a broader fashion and in areas of health care in which we anesthesiologists in the United States have largely either been marginalized or deserted. Discussions among international colleagues with such diverse backgrounds and experiences invariably lead to new and exciting ideas and solutions.

The ICEP program is an example of the new growth and ideas of International TraumaCare. We live in uncertain times, in a global landscape markedly changed from years past. While still concerned about motor vehicle trauma and single-victim gunshot wounds, we face the ever-growing prospect of terrorism and mass casualties worldwide. The ICEP program assists in the development of experts and expertise in dealing with mass-casualty situations. Formal training in on-scene trauma care leadership and systems management is central to the ICEP program. ICEP programs have been held throughout the world, in concert and coordination with local or federal governments, to advance readiness for trauma care of mass casualties. A highly lauded ICEP program was held in New Zealand this past July, and the next program will be hosted in Romania this fall.

International TraumaCare has reinvigorated its societal research endeavors with the formation of the Trauma and Resuscitation International Group for Experimentation and Research (TRIGER). International TraumaCare recognizes that, given constraints of increasing clinical demands, diminishing funding and increasingly restrictive regulatory environment, trauma care research is increasingly difficult. It is with this in mind that TRIGER was formed as a multispecialty trauma care research organization to serve as a central clearing house, putting researchers together with each another and researchers together with funding groups such as industry or government. While still in its infancy, TRIGER has already assisted several researchers and initiated numerous industry contacts. TRIGER has an additional goal of establishing an independent institutional review board panel to facilitate compliance with an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The hallmark of TraumaCare International has always been its educational endeavors. The Annual Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Symposia are alive and well, with the successful TraumaCare 2005 in Paris and TraumaCare 2004 in Sydney only recently behind us and TraumaCare 2006 in Chile, TraumaCare 2007 in the United States (TraumaCare International’s 20th anniversary) and TraumaCare 2008 in Japan to anticipate. ICEP programs are flourishing worldwide. Additionally TraumaCare International’s continuing education programs such as “Trauma: the Team Approach” are exceptionally popular, reaching a large and varied audience. All these TraumaCare International programs provide state-of-the-art education designed with the goal of improving the health and welfare of trauma patients worldwide.

TraumaCare International’s educational efforts do not end with these programs. The Society publishes a quarterly peer-reviewed journal, TraumaCare, now in its 15th year. Each issue contains articles by experts in trauma anesthesiology and offers 10 continuing medical education credits. The journal is published at <www.itaccs.com>. TraumaCare International has contributed to and/or organized more than 100 major trauma care textbooks and monographs. The most up-to-date and definitive trauma textbook to date, edited and authored by TraumaCare International faculty, will be in print within the next several months.

As we look forward, improving trauma care in developing nations continues to be an important component of the mission of International TraumaCare. Our Society has assisted national and international organizations in developing functional trauma care guidelines and educational programs and systems. A variety of educational and supportive programs are in place to assist these countries in providing outstanding trauma care to their citizens. As part and parcel to these efforts, International TraumaCare is proud of its reinvigorated South American component, the Latin American Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society. An upcoming Spanish/English TraumaCare educational program will take place in Panama, and Chile will host the 19th Annual Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Symposium TraumaCare 2006 in Santiago on September 26–28, so mark your calendars.

TraumaCare International continues its mission to ensure excellence in trauma care through educational, research and supportive endeavors. The upcoming years present numerous challenges for traumatologists. We must provide trauma care leadership in our hospitals and communities to ensure safety for our friends and family in these uncertain times. International TraumaCare enhances the opportunity for excellence in trauma care. For more information, please visit <www.itaccs.com>.

James G. Cain, M.D., is Director of Trauma Anesthesia, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh; and Associate Professor, West Virginia University. He is President of the West Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists.

Christopher M. Grande M.D., M.P.H.,  has served in a number of administrative and clinical roles, academic and private practice settings, holding simultaneous appointments such as Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Medicine and has produced a wide range of publications and educational programs dealing with trauma management.