Trauma situations often require rapid decision-making, precise coordination, and seamless communication among healthcare providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. In such high-pressure environments, the effectiveness of a healthcare team can be a determining factor in saving lives and minimizing long-term complications.

Trauma management training is essential to facilitate an efficient management for multi-injured patients. Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) started since 1978 and it has become a gold standard protocol-driven approach in trauma management. It allows consistency in evaluation and patients’ management, hence minimizing individual variation. However, the course was designed on the background assumption that an alone doctor is managing a multi-trauma patient.

The ability of healthcare professionals to work efficiently as a team can make a substantial difference in the outcomes of critically injured patients. Recognizing the critical importance of teamwork in trauma management, a new course named “Team-Based Trauma Management Workshop” have emerged, designed to equip healthcare providers with the skills and knowledge necessary to collaborate effectively in these challenging scenarios.

The course is co-organized by six colleges which are involved in trauma patients’ management in their daily practices, namely The Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists, Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine, The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Hong Kong College of Physicians and The College of Surgeons of Hong Kong. The first course was conducted on 24th and 25th October, 2024 at Multi-disciplinary Stimulation and Skills Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Participants will receive pre-course materials to study before the 2-day workshop. The workshop is conducted in stimulation-based training, where participants will go through 12 stimulation scenarios including road-traffic and industrial accidents, suicidal attempts, penetrating trauma such as gun shot wounds as well as explosion injuries. Patients in scenarios also vary from infants, adults, pregnant women to geriatric patients.

Beside trauma cases management, the course also focuses on different roles of trauma team members, responsibility of trauma team coordinator and effective team communications. Team-based approaches in trauma management emphasize the collective expertise, skills, and efforts of all team members, including emergency physicians, nurses, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of trauma patients. By working together cohesively, these teams can provide more efficient and comprehensive care, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced mortality rates. A well-coordinated team approach in trauma care can also significantly enhance patient safety by reducing the risk of errors, oversights, and communication breakdowns. When team members work together seamlessly, they can identify potential risks, address challenges promptly, and ensure that the patient receives the best possible care without unnecessary delays.

By attending the course, participants learn how to effectively coordinate their actions, communicate critical information, delegate tasks, and make decisions collectively in high-stress environments. By simulating realistic trauma scenarios, participants can practice applying their skills in a team setting, thereby improving their ability to work efficiently and collaboratively when faced with actual trauma cases.

Team-Based Trauma Management Workshops play a vital role in preparing healthcare providers to excel in the dynamic and demanding field of trauma care. It is a good opportunity for doctors from different specialties to gather together, to discuss management on certain trauma cases, as well as to learn from each other. By emphasizing the importance of teamwork, communication, and collaboration, these courses empower healthcare teams to function effectively in high-pressure environments, ultimately improving patient outcomes and saving lives.

The integration of team-based approaches in trauma management not only enhances the quality of care delivered to trauma patients but also fosters a culture of mutual respect, trust, and professionalism among healthcare providers. We are thus planning to conduct more sessions of the workshop in near future, hopefully in regular basis. As we continue to advance in the field of trauma care, prioritizing teamwork and collaboration will remain essential in ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients in their most critical moments.