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Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

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Statements

Joint Statement by the ACS and SAGES on FLS Completion for General Surgeons Who Perform Laparoscopy

March 7, 2012

The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery™ Program program (FLS) was developed to ensure that every surgeon practicing laparoscopic surgery has the minimum knowledge, judgment, and technical skills required to perform basic laparoscopic operations. FLS was designed to be independent of specialty area and procedure type. The goal of the curriculum is to provide a strong foundation for practice. Beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year, the American Board of Surgery (ABS) required that all general surgery residents successfully complete the FLS exam to be eligible to take the ABS Qualifying Exam in surgery.

The FLS program was modeled after Advanced Trauma Life Support

The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) recommend that all surgeons practicing laparoscopic surgery be certified through the FLS program. FLS is the only validated, objective measure of a surgeon’s fundamental knowledge and skills related to laparoscopic surgery. As such, SAGES and the ACS also recommend that institutions credentialing surgeons to perform laparoscopic surgery consider FLS certification a requirement of their credentialing process.

This joint statement was approved by the ACS Board of Regents Executive Committee in February 2012.

Related Pages

Statements

Statement for the Advisory Council for General Surgery to the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons

The Advisory Council for General Surgery recognizes and reaffirms that General Surgery is the basic core specialty within the discipline of surgery.
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Support of the FSMB Policy on Physician Illness and Impairment

Seeking access to physician health programs can be a critical intervention for physicians and surgeons
Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Case
Statements

Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Case

The ACS has long opposed governmental interference in the clinical practice of medicine and in the privileged physician-patient relationship.

1 Min
Statements

Diversity

The ACS shall acknowledge diversity and inclusion by developing measures of progress in mentoring leaders of different backgrounds in its activities.
Statements

Surgery Using Lasers, Pulsed Light, Radiofrequency Devices, or Other Techniques

ACS statement due to increased usage of laser surgery and to provide professional guidance to state and federal regulatory bodies.
Statements

Patient Safety Principles for Office-Based Surgery Utilizing Moderate Sedation/Analgesia

Recognizing that many states still haven't issued patient safety guidelines for the in-office procedures, the ACS sponsored a resolution.
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ACS Statement on Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a major public health problem for children, partners, and the elderly, with victims often needing surgical care.
Statements

Physician-Led Team-Based Surgical Care

Optimal care is best provided by a coordinated multidisciplinary team recognizing each member’s expertise.

Statements

Statement in Response to the Clinical Alert from the National Cancer Institute

A clinical alert from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) was released on May 16, 1988, to a selected group of physicians in the U.S.
Statements

Physician Qualifications for Stereotactic Breast Biopsy: A Revised Statement

The ACR and ACS have held discussions regarding the qualifications for physicians performing stereotactic breast biopsy.