Conference Highlights

Why Is Standardization So Difficult?

July 18, 2022

One of our final general sessions tackled standardization as a critical component of being able to understand opportunities to improve care. In this session, Amalia J. Stefanou, MD, FACS, FASCRS; Lillian S. Kao, MD, MS, FACS; Kristen Ban, MD, MS, FACS; and Mark Katlic, MD, MMM, FACS, described the importance of applying quality improvement principles to standardization and provided two examples of how standardization has been implemented.

Quality Programs

Improving Surgical Outcomes for Older Adults

July 18, 2022

During a Geriatric Surgery-focused panel moderated by Ronnie Rosenthal, MD, FACS, panelists Matthew Schiralli, MD, FACS, shared his experience from Rochester’s Unity Hospital; Sarah Wingfield, MD, said an outcome that truly matters to patients is functionality and explained how GSV addresses it; Mark Katlic, MD, FACS, recommended how hospitals can tackle key challenges; and Alexandra Briggs, MD, explained how coordinated care can promote value-based care.

Geriatric Surgery Verification

Improving Surgical Outcomes for Older Adults

100 Years of Quality

July 17, 2022

Throughout 2022, the ACS Committee on Trauma and ACS Commission on Cancer are celebrating their 100-year anniversaries. Cancer Programs Medical Director Heidi Nelson, MD, FACS, and Trauma Quality Programs Medical Director Avery Nathen, MD, PhD, FACS, spoke about the work of each program, shared the most important findings both programs have brought to light, and discussed their impact on patient lives nationally and globally.

Committee on Trauma Commission on Cancer

Quality Care Is Equitable Care

July 17, 2022

During the Quality Care Is Equitable Care general session, Cherisse Berry, MD, FACS; Kathie-Ann Joseph, MD, MPH, FACS; Kasper Wang, MD, FACS, FAAP; and Bonnie Mason, MD, FAAOS, focused on how health equity is linked to quality patient outcomes. They spoke about the economics of achieving health equity within a health system and how to develop and implement a health equity framework within organizations to ensure equity is included as a component of quality for institutions and providers.

ACS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

ACS QVP Announces First Verified Hospitals

July 16, 2022

During the Opening Session, Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, FASCRS, announced the first 25 ACS Quality Verification Program (QVP) hospitals. These hospitals have met the standards defined in the Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality and Safety 2021 ACS QVP Standards.

Leadership Pearls

July 16, 2022

Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS; Vivian Gahtan, MD, FACS; Caroline Reinke, MD, MSPH, FACS; and Feibi Zheng, MD, MBA, FACS, spoke about the definition of leadership and why it’s important, shared leadership decisions and approach techniques, and tips and tactics for negotiating how to get what is needed to improve patient care.

Improving Cancer Care

July 15, 2022

Cancer breakout sessions focused on key patient care issues, including quality measures to improve patient care, using QI projects to identify and address problems, understanding social determinants and their impact on care quality, best practices for managing patient care in the cancer care journey, and improving care through de-implementation.

Dynamic, Interactive Workshops

July 15, 2022

Attendees joined interactive workshops and sessions on improving the experience of SCRs, approaching quality improvement in children’s surgery programs, and leveraging and interpreting data available for metabolic and bariatric surgery programs to choose meaningful initiatives.