ACS NewsScope
A Weekly News Update from the American College of Surgeons
April 4, 2008
Highlights for the week:
College Supports Patient Charter for Physician Performance Measurement
Earlier this week, the American College of Surgeons expressed support for the Consumer Purchaser Disclosure Project’s efforts to develop a patient charter for physician performance measurement. The charter promotes fairness and transparency in health care quality measurement and reporting programs. Importantly, the charter calls for transparency, validity, and auditing of quality improvement programs that health plans use to evaluate and rate physicians. It also calls for physician organizations to be involved in developing measures and reporting systems. Furthermore, the charter states that individual physicians should have adequate notice and opportunity to correct any inaccuracies in the data that is used to report on their performance.
The Consumer Purchaser Disclosure Project is a group of leading employer, consumer, and labor organizations working to ensure that all Americans have access to public information on health care performance. To view the “Patient Charter for Physician Performance Measurement, Reporting, and Tiering Programs,” go to http://healthcaredisclosure.org/docs/files/PatientCharter040108.pdf.
Highlights
New ABN of Noncoverage Available on CMS Web Site
The new Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) of Noncoverage, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized last month, is now available for use. Surgeons have until September 1 to switch to the new form, which differs from the previous version in the following ways: (1) it consolidates the ABN-G for general services and ABN-L for lab services and replaces both of them; (2) it can be used instead of the Notice of Exclusion from Medicare Benefits form; (3)it contains a mandatory field for cost estimates of the services being performed; and (4)it includes a new option for beneficiaries, which allows them to choose a service they want to pay for out-of-pocket without submitting a claim to Medicare. To access the new form and instructions, go to the CMS Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/BNI/02_ABNGABNL.asp#TopofPage and click on “Revised ABN CMS-R-131 Form and Instructions.”
Highlights
Stay Up-To-Date and Earn CME Credits by Participating in EBRS
Uncertain about what the evidence is on a particular topic? Uncertain whether you need to make changes to your practice? If so, check out Evidence Based Reviews in Surgery (EBRS) at http://www.facs.org/education/ebrs.html. A free benefit for all members of the American College of Surgeons, EBRS will allow you to access the best evidence plus learn what the experts have to say about important clinical issues.
Evidence Based Reviews in Surgery is an Internet-based journal club designed to teach critical appraisal skills to surgeons and residents. Eight packages are offered from October to May each year. CME credits can be obtained by participating in the monthly packages, a process that includes reading the monthly articles, participating in the expert-led listserv discussion, reading the monthly methodological and clinical reviews, and completing the online evaluation and post-test. Previous articles and reviews can be accessed by going to the “Archives” section of the Web site.
The EBRS topic for April 2008 is a quality of life study comparing sentinel node biopsy and standard axillary treatment in operable breast cancer. The listserv discussion will begin on Monday, April 7.
If you are interested in obtaining CME credits or want more information about EBRS, contact Marg McKenzie at mmckenzie@mtsinai.on.ca.
Highlights
Spring Issue of ACS Cross Country Now Online
In the Spring 2008 issue of ACS Cross Country, the College’s monthly Web-based newsletter on state legislative, regulatory, and judicial issues, read about:
- Maryland’s fight to stop a cosmetic surgery tax
- a scope-of-practice “win” in Texas
- how Kentucky passed a bill to create a statewide trauma system
You can also learn about the Florida Supreme Court’s devastating ruling regarding peer review and more. For details, visit http://www.facs.org/ahp/crosscountry.html.
Highlights
Needed: Surgeons for Missions to Philippines and Kenya
—We Serv Mission for the Poor is looking for general and plastic surgeons, gynecologists, and otolaryngologists, along with anesthesiologists and surgical nurses to join its upcoming medical mission to San Jose (Mindoro Islands), Philippines, November 15-23, 2008. The deadline for signing up for this mission trip is May 1, 2008.
—Partnership in Mission is looking for general, gynecologic, pediatric, plastic, burn, and trauma surgeons for its medical mission trip to Naivasha, Kenya, August 29 to September 13, 2008. The deadline for applications is May 15, 2008.
For more information on these and other surgical volunteerism opportunities, visit Operation Giving Back at www.operationgivingback.facs.org. Be sure to register for a “My Giving Back” account when you visit the site, and please take a few minutes to explore the various resources available to those who are interested in surgical volunteerism.
Highlights
Surgery Oral Examination Course Schedule Set for 2008
The Dartmouth Clinical Performance & Oral Examinations in Surgery course will be offered May 2-4 in Newport, RI, and on October 10-12 just prior to the annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco. The three-day course will provide an opportunity for surgeons who have failed the certifying examination or senior residents who anticipate difficulty with the certifying examination to receive individual feedback on their oral skills and knowledge base by selected national faculty. All participants will be videotaped in a mock certifying examination on Sunday morning and assigned a debriefing session for Sunday afternoon. Each debriefing will include a behavioral analysis, content areas of weakness, a plan, and questions for review along with a DVD of mock examinations. In addition, suggestions will be made with regard to specific sessions at the Clinical Congress the surgeon should attend based on weaknesses in the participant’s knowledge base. The full description and registration information are available at http://oralboardreview.net. Questions about the program should be sent to Pamela.Rowland@Dartmouth.edu.
Highlights
AWS Accepting Nominations for 2008 Awards
Each year the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) Foundation presents a number of awards to individuals who are supportive of its mission "To inspire, encourage and enable women surgeons to realize their personal and professional goals." The AWS Foundation is now seeking nominations for the 2008 Awards. Further details and application forms are available http://www.womensurgeons.org/foundation/awards.htm.
Please note: Awards are available for women medical students, residents and, surgeons in practice. In addition, there is an honorary member category for individuals who are supportive of the AWS Mission and Goals. A full list of past recipients is available on the Web site for each category. All nominations are due by May 1, 2008, and the winners will receive their awards during the AWS Awards dinner on October 13 in San Francisco during the Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
Highlights
Last Chance to Sign Up for Las Vegas Coding Workshops
Come join the American College of Surgeons on April 10 and 11 in Las Vegas, NV, for introductory and advanced coding workshops. “Introduction to CPT, ICD-9-CM, and Evaluation and Management Coding” will be presented April 10, with Betsy Nicoletti, MS, CPC, of KarenZupko and Associates serving as the instructor. This course is aimed at surgeons and staff who are relatively new to coding. The College will sponsor “Surgical and Office-based Coding and Reimbursement,” an advanced coding course, on April 11. Leading this course will be Mary LeGrand, RN, CCS-P, CPC, also of KarenZupko and Associates. This workshop is intended for surgeons and staff with at least two years of coding experience and moves at a fast pace. These courses are certified for 6.5 continuing medical education credits or 6.5 continuing education units.
Time is running out. To register online, go to http://www.facs.org/ahp/workshops/registrationfees.html. For more information, go to http://www.facs.org/ahp/workshops/index.html, e-mail dmariani@facs.org, or call 202-672-1506.
Highlights
OSHA Encourages Use of Blunt-Tip Suture Needles
Earlier this month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health issued a safety and health information bulletin, which advises surgical personnel to use blunt-tip suture needles to reduce the risk of percutaneous injuries. For more information, go to http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2008-101/default.html.
Highlights
NewsScope
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The American College of Surgeons is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the study, training, and practice of surgery. ACS NewsScope is a weekly news service for Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and other interested individuals provided by the ACS Communications staff.
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by the American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL 60611-3211
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