★ Featured Article

AAST's Dr. Rachael Callcut Appointed to National Library of Medicine Board of Regents

AAST congratulates Rachael A. Callcut, MD, on her appointment to the National Library of Medicine Board of Regents by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Palliative Trauma Committee

The Potentially Futile Transfer: From Describing to Preventing Bad Deaths

Written by: Mackenzie R. Cook, MD, Gretchen Dunford, DO, Stephanie Joyce, MD, Sophia Tam, MD, Christine Toevs, MD

Transferring patients who are not expected to survive across long distances costs their families a great deal. Is there a way to move from always saying "yes" even when potentially futile to proactively addressing goals of care?

Palliative Trauma Committee

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections: Goals of Care Discussions

Written by: Craig Follette, DO

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are severe life- and limb-threatening infections with extraordinary rates of morbidity and mortality. Discussions of operative/intensive care plans should be paired with honest talk about expectations, surgical outcomes, overall prognosis, functional outcomes, wound healing, and long-term complications. Each patient requires not only technical surgical management but prognostication and early goals of care conversations that align treatment intensity with patient values rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach to patients with NSTI.

Pediatrics Committee

Pediatric Delirium

Written by: Allison G. McNickle, MD FACS

"The kid is not acting right." Delirium is a complicating factor in pediatric trauma that leads to worse outcomes. It may be challenging to diagnose without dedicated, age-appropriate screening tools. Attention is needed to adequately screen, minimize interventions that elevate risk and optimize delirium prevention.

★ Featured Article

Cutting Edge Committee Spotlight:
Susan Kartiko, MD PhD FACS

Get to know Dr. Susan Kartiko, co-moderator of the Cutting Edge podcast, her research interests in chest wall injury and geriatric trauma, and her passion for cooking and travel.

Healthcare Economics

Code Like You Operate: 5 Professional Fee Tips for the New Acute Care Surgeon Out of Fellowship

Written by: Pooja U. Neiman, MD MPA, Samir Fakhry, MD FACS, Raeanna C. Adams, MD, MBA, FACS

How do I get started learning documentation as a new ACS faculty? 5 Professional Fee Tips for the New Acute Care Surgeon Out of Fellowship.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

A Generational Divide or an Opportunity to Connect?

Written by: Najiha Farooqi, MD FACS

Four generations now work together in trauma and acute care surgery. Recognizing their different perspectives is key to building strong, effective teams.