Veterinary Advanced Trauma Life Support

Be Ready When It Matters Most.

The VetATLS online modules are now available!

The Veterinary Advanced Trauma Life Support (VetATLS) Program is designed for veterinarians and veterinary teams who want to enhance their confidence and competence in managing emergent trauma patients. The online modules for this program provide foundational knowledge of the principles of small animal trauma patient management. These modules also identify best practices in veterinary trauma patient care and provide standardized approaches to trauma patient triage, diagnostics, and treatment.

1. 12 interactive online modules that you can complete at your own pace, covering essential concepts and best practices in veterinary trauma care. The online modules start with the Primary Survey, then move through every aspect of veterinary trauma, from head trauma to hemorrhage resuscitation. These modules are now available through ACVECC Learning.
2. An in-person skills lab where you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge hands-on, guided by experienced instructors. Once you have completed the online modules, you will be eligible to complete the in-person skills lab. The first labs will be offered in Fall 2026.

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VetATLS Introduction Video

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What is VetATLS?

For veterinarians, veterinary students, and veterinary teams, who want to enhance their confidence, competence, and communication while managing emergent patients, the Veterinary Advanced Trauma Life Support (VetATLS) is an education program that improves trauma patient outcomes. The pillars of the program include clinical knowledge and skills, communication, teamwork, leadership, and networking across providers.

Why should I choose VetATLS?

• Traumatic injury is a leading cause of death in young and otherwise healthy dogs and cats.
• Trauma can happen anywhere and present to any veterinarian.
• This is where the veterinary team’s skills impact life and death.
• Clinical competence, confidence, and team communication in crisis impact trauma patient outcomes.
• The best way to improve trauma patient outcomes is through education.

Who is the intended learner for these modules?

The intended learner is any veterinary practitioner who seeks to improve the care of veterinary trauma patients. Specifically, general practice and emergency clinicians who see trauma cases with some regularity will be targeted. The intended learner spans a variety of geographic locations, practice compositions, and years out of practice.

What are some key aspects of this work?

• We teach to the highest standards of care by demanding quality and consistency.
• We are non-judgmental.
• This is A way to teach veterinary trauma (not necessarily THE way).
• We use a common language that spans all aspects of the course.
• We focus on material that is evidence-based and most important to improve care.

Pillars of the Program

• Clinical skills and knowledge
• Communications
• Teamwork and leadership
• Regional networks and resources

Partners

• VetATLS has a signed MOU with the American College of Surgeons Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). This is the first major partnership between veterinary and human medical CE programs, allowing VetATLS to adapt framework, philosophies, and a common language of the human course.
• VetATLS is also strongly supported by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC), giving the course the stamp of approval from experts in the veterinary trauma space.
• The course will comprise the educational arm of the Veterinary Committee on Trauma, which also directs the certification of veterinary trauma centers (VTCs) and of the veterinary trauma registry. The support of the VTCs will allow for rapid and national dissemination of the live skills lab. Access to the trauma registry will facilitate evidence-based iterations of the course using the data collected from real trauma cases.

How is the course organized?

The course is organized into 11 modules. Each module is based on a body system or element of triage. The modules are as follows:

1. Initial Assessment and Management
2. Airway and Ventilatory Management
3. Shock
4. Thoracic Trauma
5. Abdominal and Pelvic Trauma
6. Head Trauma
7. Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma
8. Musculoskeletal Trauma
9. Bite Wounds
10. Environmental Trauma
11. Transport to Definitive Care

What do the modules focus on?

The modules are designed to be short, easily understood, and focused on key information about trauma care and stabilization. The following questions should be addressed in each module:

• What are the most common injuries for this type of trauma that need to be readily identified?
• Once the problems are identified, what can you stabilize? What tools and skills are required?
• What is required for definitive care? Can definite care be provided with the hospital’s tools and expertise, or is transfer recommended?

How will completion of the course be assessed?

There will be both an online and an in-person assessments to measure competency and understanding. The assessments will be rooted in objective parameters that will guide knowledge retention throughout the course.

How can I sign up for updates?

Form: Name, Email, Question ([email protected])