Outcomes Research Course

Sponsored by the Surgical Research Committee of the American College of Surgeons

ACS Headquarters, Chicago, IL
November 11-13, 2010

The fourth biennial Outcomes Research Course will be offered by the Surgical Research Committee of the American College of Surgeons November 11-13, 2010. This course is designed for clinical and health services researchers with varying degrees of experience in the field. Participants are able to select modules appropriate to their skill level and interest. Surgeons new to the field will be able to focus on didactics and skills-based labs in managing, analyzing, and interpreting large datasets. Those with more established research agendas are able to present their research to experts for critique and advice. All course attendees will be exposed to both scientific and practical aspects of the ongoing surgical outcomes research of leaders in the field.

Educational objectives of this course are to:

• provide a primer on the core methodologies in outcomes and health services research, along with their applications in surgery
• help surgeons manage, analyze, and interpret information from clinical registries and administrative databases
• provide surgeons with practical advice on developing an outcomes research agenda and developing academic careers in this area

Participants will meet their peers, selected from surgical departments in US and Canadian academic medical centers, and have ample opportunity to network with the faculty, which includes surgeons in the forefront of outcomes research.

The program features lectures, labs, and breakout sessions in:

• Fundamentals of outcomes research
• Designing high-level observational studies and assessing validity
• Working with administrative data and clinical registries
• HRQOL Assessment, Decision Analysis/Cost-effectiveness Analysis, and Meta-analysis
• Managing and analyzing large datasets
• Critique and feedback on participants’ research
• Qualitative research

General Information

All sessions will be held at the American College of Surgeons headquarters, 633 N. Saint Clair Street, Chicago, IL. Spouse/guest attendance is strongly discouraged.  The course begins early each day and, due to the intensity of the program, no free time is allocated.  All attendees are expected to remain until the conclusion of the course. 

Each participant must bring his/her own laptop (preferably one with wireless accessibility), Windows 98, or higher with at least 128 MB memory and 40MB disk space. 

Course Fee, Cancellation, and Refunds

The course fee is $2,095 ($1,895 early discount fee applies for completed registration with payment received by Friday, September 3, 2010). The fee includes course materials, breakfasts and lunches during the course, a group reception, and one group dinner.  Participants are responsible for transportation, hotel charges, and remaining meals.  Confirmation is contingent upon payment of the course fee and subject to availability.  Attendance is limited and preference is given to members of the American College of Surgeons.

Participants who find it necessary to cancel their registration will receive a full refund, less an administration fee of $250, provided written notice of the cancellation is received by close of business on Friday, September 10, 2010. Registrants who cancel after Friday, September 10, 2010, will not receive a refund unless an alternate from the course’s official waiting list can be confirmed. Such refunds will be prorated based on the College’s liability.

Housing Information

A course housing room block has been reserved at the Wyndham Hotel, located within the College’s headquarters building. The special course rate is $199 per night, plus 15.4 percent tax. This special rate is not guaranteed after October 15, 2010. Further information regarding travel and hotel arrangements will be mailed with notification of application acceptance, and participants will be asked to identify any special needs regarding accommodations or meals.

Accreditation

The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Credit

The American College of Surgeons designates this educational activity for a maximum of 19 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Course Contact

Mary Fitzgerald, 312-202-5319 or mfitzgerald@facs.org.

Please click on the following links for a preliminary course schedule, course faculty listing, and the 2008 course bibliography.  Online registration is available for payment by credit card.  For payment by check, please complete an application form (410 K PDF).

Outcomes Course Overview | 2010 Preliminary Course Schedule 
2010 Course Faculty | Online Registration | Application Form (410K PDF)
2008 Course Bibliography

Revised June 29, 2010

Continuous Quality Improvement

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by the American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL 60611-3211