1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE This document defines the terms of reference for the Trauma Committee. 2. KEYWORDS Terms of Reference, Trauma Committee 3. BODY OF POLICY 3.1. Background The College recognises its responsibilities to contribute towards reducing the frequency of death and severity of disability resulting from injury. The major goal of the Trauma Committee and its sub-committees is to minimize the burden of injury on individuals and society, through injury prevention activities and promoting optimal trauma care. The ultimate goal is to maintain the highest standards of care in trauma surgery in its broadest sense. The treatment of trauma depends on a complex matrix of care modalities, all of which can affect the outcome for the patient. The activities of the RACS Trauma Committee and its sub-committees are based on a tradition of research, the application of fact to a defined problem and inter-disciplinary organisation. Using an integrated, cooperative approach with other organizations and the community can give surgeons confidence that they will be able to achieve the highest standards of surgical care. The College Trauma Committee was instrumental in introducing the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program to Australasia in 1988 (known as Early Management of Severe Trauma [EMST] in Australia and New Zealand). The Trauma Committee fully supports the EMST program and remains strongly committed to, and involved in, the program and its continuing development. The EMST Committee reports to Council via the Education Board. 3.2. Objectives 3.2.1. To influence the education and training of trauma surgeons including liaison with the EMST and Definitive Surgical Trauma Care (DSTC) courses. 3.2.2. To recommend, establish, review and support policies and position statements, on optimal trauma management including prevention of injury, the care of trauma patients, workforce and education for the community. 3.2.3. To foster research in the education and training of trauma surgeons and surgical trainees, the prevention of injury and the care or trauma patients. 3.2.4. To promote and coordinate continuing professional development programs for Trauma surgeons including the Trauma Week and working closely with the convener of the trauma scientific program, to ensure a quality, balanced program is delivered annually at the RACS Annual Scientific Congress (ASC). 3.2.5. To participate in Trauma Education Development, the Trauma Committee may have a role in determining aspects of the curriculum and the standard of provision of education and training (Surgical Education and Training (SET) and Post-Fellowship Education and Training (PFET)) based on the RACS Competencies for this sub-specialty or area of special interest. This will be by Page 1 of 5 Review Date: May 2017
way of advice to the Board of SET or the PFET Committee and providing advice on trauma training pathways within the College. 3.2.6. To continue an interest in Disaster Preparedness by retaining this topic as a standing agenda item at Trauma Committee meetings. 3.3. Duties and Responsibilities 3.3.1. To advise the College on the scope and nature of surgical practice in trauma services in Australia and New Zealand. 3.3.2. To advise and assist the College with workforce issues relating to the provision of trauma surgical services including recruitment, retention, training and support for surgeons working in trauma services in Australia and New Zealand. 3.3.3. To assist in promotion and facilitation of the essential components of quality surgical care for trauma patients including: 3.4. Powers a) Maintenance of professional standards b) Audit c) Peer review d) Ongoing training e) Advocacy for safe and appropriate working hours for surgeons caring for the injured patient to reflect best practice in the international standard of trauma care f) Research activities g) Education and training facilities h) Accreditation of hospitals for trauma training 3.3.4. To advise the College on responses and recommendations that relate to the care of the trauma (injured) patient when requested of the College by external organisations. 3.4.1. The Trauma Committee will have powers to recommend policy, prepare position papers and make decisions in relation to trauma surgery as delegated to it from time to time by the Committee. The Committee will recommend management of sub-committees and working parties of the Trauma Committee. 3.4.2. The Trauma Executive will have powers as delegated to it from time to time by the Trauma Committee. 3.5. Membership 3.5.1. Membership of the Trauma Committee will consist of: a) One Member of Council, to be appointed by Council if there is no Councillor who is a member b) Chair RACS Road Trauma Advisory Sub-Committee c) Chair RACS EMST Committee Page 2 of 5 Review Date: May 2017
d) One Fellow representing New Zealand e) Four Fellows representing General Surgery f) One Fellow representing Australian Orthopaedic Association or New Zealand Orthopaedic Association g) One Fellow representing Neurosurgical Society of Australasia h) One Fellow representing the Australian and New Zealand Association of Paediatric Surgeons i) One Fellow representing RACS Rural Surgery Section j) One representative of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists k) One representative of the College of Intensive Care Medicine l) One representative of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine m) One Fellow representing the RACS Military Section n) One Fellow representing the Australian and New Zealand Burns Association o) One Fellow representing the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons or The New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons p) One Fellow representing the Australia New Zealand Association for the Surgery of Trauma (ANZAST) q) One Fellow representing the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists r) One Fellow representing the Australasian College of Sports Physicians 3.5.2. One Fellow may fulfil one or more of the above roles. 3.5.3. Wherever possible each of the Trauma Sub-Committees needs to be represented on the main Trauma Committee so, in addition to the above, a sub-committee chair or delegate may be co-opted to the Trauma Committee to report on the activities of a Trauma Sub-Committee 3.5.4. In addition up to four other Fellows, who may be co-opted to fill deficiencies of a geographic or specific-needs nature. Every endeavour will be made to achieve representation from each region of Australia and New Zealand on the membership of the Trauma Committee. 3.5.5. The President of the College may attend and chair any meeting. The Chair of Committee may participate in any meeting. The CEO may attend any meeting. 3.5.6. Others who do not qualify under 3.5.1 may be invited if they have a specific interest and/or expertise related to Trauma. After invitation such members may participate in the business of the Committee. However they will have no voting rights and may not be elected to office. Page 3 of 5 Review Date: May 2017
3.6. Office Bearers and the Committee 3.6.1. The Trauma Executive (Office Bearers) will consist of Chair and Deputy Chair (who are members of the Trauma Committee). 3.6.2. The Office Bearers will be elected (via email) by the Trauma Committee members prior to the Trauma Committee meeting held at the ASC. 3.6.3. Committee members will be elected for a three year term and will be eligible for two further periods of three years to a maximum of nine years. 3.6.4. If the Chair is in their third term of membership of the Committee, they may be eligible to be appointed for another one year term of the Committee membership if they are also appointed as the Chair for that year. 3.6.5. Office Bearers will be elected for a term of three years and will be eligible for election for two further periods of three years to a maximum of nine years. 3.6.6. Office Bearers for any particular position will be nominated and, if necessary, elected, and may be from among any of the membership of the Committee. 3.6.7. From time to time other Committee members may be co-opted onto the Executive from the Committee. 3.6.8. The appointment of the Chair will be approved by Committee. 3.6.9. Any member may nominate any other member to fill any vacancy. 3.7. Elections 3.7.1. The Executive will be elected every three years prior to the ASC Trauma Committee meeting. 3.7.2. The Secretariat will send to all Committee members (via email or other electronic means) a call for nominations, twelve weeks prior to the date of the ASC. 3.7.3. All nominations proposed and seconded in writing by a Committee member, and accepted by the nominee in writing, are to be returned to the Secretariat eight weeks prior to the ASC. 3.7.4. Should there be more than two nominations for the Executive an election (via email or other electronic means) is required. 3.7.5. The Secretariat will send to all Committee members (via email or other electronic means) a ballot paper at least seven weeks prior to the ASC. 3.7.6. The ballot paper is to be returned to the Secretariat four weeks prior to the ASC. 3.7.7. The Secretariat will send to all Committee members (via email or other electronic means) two weeks prior to the ASC the names of those elected to the Executive, along with the proposed agenda the ASC Trauma Committee meeting. 3.7.8. At the ASC the Committee will elect a Chair and Deputy Chair. This may also be done prior to the ASC. Page 4 of 5 Review Date: May 2017
3.7.9. In the event of two or more candidates receiving an equal number of votes the current Chair will have the casting vote. 3.8. Meetings of the Trauma Committee and Trauma Executive (Office Bearers) 3.8.1. The Trauma Executive will meet informally when necessary, usually prior to a Trauma Committee meeting to review agenda items. These informal meetings are not minuted. 3.8.2. The Trauma Committee will meet face-to-face twice per year (during Trauma Week and the ASC). In addition the Committee will meet by teleconference twice per year. 3.8.3. The Trauma Committee quorum will consist of 50% of the membership, and in the event of a tied vote the Chair will have a casting vote. 3.8.4. Other scientific meetings may be held from time to time if there is a Council approved budget for this purpose and as decided by the Committee. 3.8.5. Members will receive twenty-eight day notice of the Trauma Committee meetings. 3.8.6. When applicable, approval of resolutions, responses and recommendations by email communication is acceptable. 3.9. Reporting 3.9.1. The Committee reports regularly via the Committee (FSC) to the Professional Development and Standards Board. 3.9.2. All sub-committees and working parties will report to the Trauma Committee. 3.10. Alterations to the Terms of Reference Any alterations to this Policy are subject to the approval of College Council through the Committee and the Professional Development and Standards Board (PDSB). 4. ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS Terms of Reference - Trauma Sub-Committees Approver Authoriser Chief Executive Officer Professional Development and Standards Board Page 5 of 5 Review Date: May 2017