AAAM announced the new revision of its Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS©) coding system. AIS© is the gold standard for traumatic injury classification and severity scaling. This newest revision improves brain injury coding, spinal cord impairment coding and enhances many code definitions by incorporating current and appropriate medical terminology. Clearer and expanded coding rules encourage improved interrater reliability to support an improved tool for both medical coders and researchers.
“AAAM applauds the incredible work of the AIS committee, made up of physicians, nurses, engineers, researchers, certified AIS coders and AIS trainers,” said Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, president, AAAM. “Their significant contribution to the new content in this release has resulted in enhancements to tables, codes, guidelines and rules – most significantly in the head and spine chapters.”
AIS 2015 content was derived from expert consensus and analysis of trauma data including injury diagnostics, classifications and feedback from field use of AIS 2005 / Update 2008. 140 new AIS codes were created, many to improve the classification of high-energy military-type blast and penetrating injury. Nearly 400 codes underwent definition update, the severity level was updated on more than 40 codes, and more than 140 AIS 2005 Update 2008 codes were deleted for AIS 2015. For version compatibility, AIS 2015 includes both forward and backward maps for the purpose of translating previously coded data between AIS 2005 Update 2008 and AIS 2015.
AIS 2015 training programs are currently being offered by AAAM to familiarize users with the new version. Students who have recently taken the AIS 2005 Update 2008 course may qualify to take an AIS 2015 special course that focuses on the major updates. This short course as well as AIS 2005 Update 2008 training will be offered beginning in calendar year 2017. For more information about AIS, courses and dictionaries click here.
Students who have taken the AIS08 coding course (two-day) after July 1, 2014, will be eligible to take the AIS15 Update Course. This 4-hour online course will describe the major updates between AIS08 and AIS15. The special online course is not intended for students who are new to AIS coding. The new course is currently in production; no pricing has been set.
Robert M. Bergquist, CAE
AAAM Education Program Manager
When do you expect the online 4 hour class to be available?
Hi Donnell,
We are still working on logistics (pricing, schedule, etc.) regarding the online AIS15 Update course. We are hoping to make this course available in early 2018. We do have an AIS15 course coming up on November 10th in Chicago, IL. This course will be held in conjunction with the TQIP Annual Scientific Meeting and Training at the Hilton Chicago Downtown. You can check out the details on the Course Schedule & Registration page of the AAAM website.
Thanks!
Libby
Good morning, Monica!
We are still working on logistics (pricing, schedule, etc.) regarding the online AIS15 Update course. We are hoping to make this course available in early 2018. We do have an AIS15 course coming up on November 10th in Chicago, IL. This course will be held in conjunction with the TQIP Annual Scientific Meeting and Training at the Hilton Chicago Downtown. You can check out the details on the Course Schedule & Registration page of the AAAM website.
Thanks,
Libby
Good Morning,
I wanted to get an update on the progress of the 4hr course for AIS 15 update
Hi Monica,
We are hoping to have the AIS15 Update course available as an online offering in early 2019. Please keep checking the AAAM website for updates and please feel free to connect with us directly at info@aaam.org or (847) 844-3880.
Hello,
Has there been any update on the 4 hour course for AIS15?
Jennifer,
Not yet, we are working now to finish it up! Keep watching for an announcement on the AAAM website.
How do we register for the update course?
When can I take the 2015 update course, and can I do it from home on an evening schedule.
Hi Mabel,
We are working on making the AIS15 Update course available as an online offering and are hoping to incorporate it into our course schedule by the 3rd quarter of 2018. Please keep checking the Course Schedule & Registration page on the AAAM website for updates as new courses become available for registration.
Thank you for contacting AAAM!
AAAM has beta tested a new two-day course modeled after its current two-day course. The new two-day course uses AIS15 as the basis to describe injury scaling, introduce the AIS, and present uses and techniques. The current course is titled “AIS08 and Injury Scaling: Uses and Techniques”. The new course will be titled “AIS15 and Injury Scaling: Uses and Techniques”. Both two-day courses cost $750.00 US whether one takes it online or on site.
Robert M. Bergquist, CAE
AAAM Education Program Manager
The latest version of the AIS (2015) is available for purchase by clicking “STORE” at the top right corner of the web page. It is currently available only in book form.
Robert M. Bergquist, CAE
AAAM Education Program Manager
What is the deadline to convert to AIS15?
My co-worker and I took the AIS 2005 Update 2008 course in July 2012. Are we eligible to take the AIS 15 4 hour course or would we have to take the 2 day course for AIS 15 when it becomes available? Thank you.
Hello Alicia,
*Professionals who have taken the AIS08 course after July 1, 2012 are eligible to take this special AIS15 Update Course.” If you are positive you took the course after July 1, 2012 then you are eligible for the course.
I took the online AIS course in March 2017, why wasn’t the AIS 2015 used for this course
Hello Cherelle,
ALL of our 2017 online courses are AIS08. AIS15 was only offered at onsite courses this year.
Is there an AIS 2015 update online course. I took the AIS 2005 update 2008 in July 2014
Hi Patricia,
We are still working on logistics (pricing, schedule, etc.) regarding the online AIS15 Update course. We are hoping to make this course available in early 2018. We do have an AIS15 course coming up on November 10th in Chicago, IL. This course will be held in conjunction with the TQIP Annual Scientific Meeting and Training at the Hilton Chicago Downtown. You can check out the details on the Course Schedule & Registration page of the AAAM website.
Thanks!
Libby
I have a new registrar who began in August 2017, she is approaching her 6 months and I need to see about scheduling her for AIS Training. Does she need to take AIS2005/Update 2008 first or go ahead and just take the AIS15?
Thank you
Hi Regina,
Thanks so much for your inquiry! It would be up to you to decide whether your registrar should take the AIS08 or the AIS15 course. She does not need to take the AIS08 course as a “prerequisite” for taking AIS15, so if you would prefer for her to take AIS15 that is absolutely fine. We currently have AIS08 Online courses available for registration and are working to make our AIS15 courses available sometime this spring. Please be sure to check out our “Course Schedule & Registration” page to view and register for all available courses.
What year cases do we start using the AIS 2015 manual? I’ve read through the website and still don’t see a start date. Can someone please clarify.
Thanks
Hi Christy,
We unfortunately have no way of knowing when AIS15 will be mandated. That is up to the ACS to determine. If we use the gauge of when they required AIS2005/2008 Update to be submitted, then we’re most likely several years out before they make AIS15 required.
I was also told that if you are presently certified in injury scaling you were eligible to take the 4 hour update course no matter when you attended your last class.
Hi Deb,
Yes, that is correct! If you are certified you are more than welcome to take the Update course.
Please email me information and when I can take the 4 hr update course AIS 2015. I have taken the 2008 coarse.
Do you have any new information as to when the 4-hr update course for AIS 2015 will be available?
Hi Janine,
We are hoping to have the AIS15 Update course available as an online offering in early 2019. Please keep checking the AAAM website for updates and please feel free to connect with us directly at info@aaam.org or (847) 844-3880.
Thank you!
Any update as far as the AIS15 Update course online? Thank You!
Hi Jessica,
We are planning to release and begin scheduling the AIS15 online courses this year! Towards the end of the year, third or fourth quarter, we will also be hosting Update classes online that only cover the differences between the 08 and 15 versions.
Is it possible to take the AIS 2015 course without having taken the 2008 course when the 2015 course is available? Or do I have to take the 2008 course first. Thank you
Debbie,
You can absolutely take the AIS15 course without having taken the AIS08 Course. They are different versions of the AIS dictionary and do not build on each other, so each course stands alone on its own.
Crystal
Just checking to see if you know what year AIS 15 is mandated to be used. If you are unsure, do you have an idea where I can find out this info? The ACS website has not been helpful at all.
Thank You!!!!
We, unfortunately, have no way of knowing when AIS15 will be mandated as that is up to the ACS to determine. If we use the gauge of when they required AIS2005/2008 Update to be submitted then we may be several years out before they make AIS15 required
Taking the CAISS exam soon. Is it graded/scored on the AIS2005/2008 guidelines or the AIS15?
The CAISS exam is based only on the AIS2005 Update 2008 version at this time. We expect that it will be a couple of years before AIS2015 is integrated into the exam.
If I’m taking the CAISS exam, how will this be affected by the AIS 15 change?
Any information on the 4-hour updated course for AIS15? I see the full 2 day course but have taken it as well as the certification exam so would be interested in the 4-hour course.
Thank you!
Hello, Wondering if there is any new information on the 4-hour course?