MyATLS, the mobile trauma services app developed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT), ranked in the top 100 of all medical apps only a month after its September 29, 2012, debut. MyATLS has already been downloaded in 116 nations, reaching some countries where Advance Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) training content had not been available, such as Morocco, the Philippines, and Turkey.
The total number of downloads is 8,885 for IOS and Android devices, and MyATLS ranked as the 89th top-grossing iPad application in the Apple Store’s medical category and as the 176th top-grossing iPhone application in the same category. MyATLS content comes from the ninth edition of the ATLS Student Course Manual, which was released in tandem with the app.
“The impact of MyATLS has been unquestionable, providing a first-rate mobile ATLS reference tool for all providers of trauma care in both the rural and developing world setting, as well as in the busy emergency room. We’re very encouraged by the enthusiastic interest and positive feedback from over 8,000 IOS and Android users in over 100 countries and hope to see this demand continue to grow,” according to trauma surgeon and MyATLS content developer George Brighton, MD, Barnstaple, UK.
MyATLS marks the first time that physicians and first responders to emergency medical situations have access to a mobile ATLS app ready for use at the patient’s bedside, in areas of the hospital with restricted Internet access, or in the field. “MyATLS puts information needed by trauma practitioners at their fingertips,” said Karen Brasel, MD, FACS, ATLS Committee Chair.
Furthermore, the MyATLS mobile app enhances the educational content and visual presentation of the print version of the ATLS Manual. The app consists of interactive algorithms, calculators, animations, Just in Time videos demonstrating key skills, summaries of chapters from the course manual, and other important features, such as skill station guides. “It’s organized according to the familiar ATLS concepts and chapters, supplemented with several high-quality videos demonstrating lifesaving procedures. Helpful to both the novice and experienced provider, it allows proven ATLS concepts to be delivered beyond the traditional structure of an in-person ATLS course,” Dr. Brasel explained.
It can be downloaded by users in advance via the Web for use in the hospital or in the field. The app is native to the device on which it is downloaded, so users do not need Internet access to use the app in the field.
“We look forward to seeing MyATLS play its key educational role as a companion for students of ATLS courses across the world,” Dr. Brighton said.
“The impact of this app on surgical residency education worldwide is amazing—with favorable responses and constructive feedback—we feel this app is truly a game changer,” added vascular surgeon Wesam Abuznadah, MB, ChB, FRCSC, FACS, a MyATLS Content Specialist, and ATLS National Educator in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The app is available at no extra cost to all users who purchase the ninth edition of the course manual and as a stand-alone product via MyATLS.com. For more information, go to www.facs.org/trauma/atls/.
