New framework for humanitarian health systems to improve civilian care in conflict zones
CHICAGO (November 13, 2019): Representatives of a number of medical and non-government organizations developed a framework for setting up health care systems in conflict zones.
ACS NSQIP recognizes 88 hospitals for achieving meritorious surgical patient care outcomes
CHICAGO (November 6, 2019): ACS NSQIP has recognized 88 of an eligible 592 hospitals participating in the adult program for achieving meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2018.
Winston-Salem trauma surgeon Dr. J. Wayne Meredith is new ACS President-Elect
CHICAGO (November 5, 2019): J. Wayne Meredith, MD, FACS, MCCM, has been elected to serve as the 2019–2020 President-Elect of the American College of Surgeons.
When a major injury occurs again in children, it’s too often no accident
SAN FRANCISCO (October 30, 2019; 3:00 pm PDT): Among U.S. children who survive major trauma—bodily injuries severe enough to require a hospital stay—nearly 3 percent experience another sudden injury in the same year and nearly one in five of these repeated injuries is due to violence, according to new research findings presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2019.
Five-year breast cancer survival rates at a safety net hospital rival national averages
SAN FRANCISCO (October 30, 2019; 2:30 pm PDT): Patients treated for breast cancer at a Miami safety net hospital achieved similar five-year survival outcomes to national averages, despite having a patient population that was largely poor, uninsured, and diagnosed with more advanced disease, according to findings from a pair of studies presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2019.
Surgeons report that 12-hour shifts improve patient outcomes, lower costs vs. 24-hour call shifts
SAN FRANCISCO (October 30, 2019; 11:15 am PDT): For covering emergency and urgent operations, hospitals have traditionally assigned general surgeons to 24-hour on-call schedules, which often puts them in a situation where they need to operate and make complex medical decisions after being on duty for 18 or 20 hours or more.
Gallbladder removal operation linked to better outcomes when performed soon after hospital admission
SAN FRANCISCO (October 30, 2019; 9:30 pm PDT): Delaying a needed gallbladder removal operation (known as a cholecystectomy) for an inflamed gallbladder (called acute cholecystitis) for more than 72 hours after hospital admission may not be the safest approach for patients.
American College of Surgeons Honors Five Members with Surgical Humanitarian and Volunteerism Awards
SAN FRANCISCO (October 30, 2019; 12:01 am PDT): Last night, five surgeons received the 2019 American College of Surgeons (ACS)/Pfizer Surgical Humanitarian Awards and Surgical Volunteerism Awards in recognition of their selfless efforts as volunteer surgeons who provide care to medically underserved patients.
Artificial intelligence outperforms clinicians’ judgment in triaging postoperative patients for intensive care in a pilot test
SAN FRANCISCO (October 29, 2019; 2:00 pm PDT): Artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of a machine-learned algorithm correctly triaged the vast majority of postoperative patients to the intensive care unit in its first proof-of-concept application in a university hospital setting.
Medical scribes have a positive impact on surgeons and residents
SAN FRANCISCO (October 29, 2019; 1:30 pm PDT): Some clinicians are turning to medical scribes to reduce the time spent managing electronic health records (EHRs). In fact, incorporating medical scribes into surgical practice increases the number of patients seen, according to research findings presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2019.
Adults 85 years and older generally fare well after colon cancer operations
SAN FRANCISCO (October 29, 2019; 11:15 am PDT): As people are living longer, more elderly patients are being diagnosed with age-related colon cancer, making it of increasing concern to the medical community. Another related issue is whether an operation should be suggested as a form of treatment for this vulnerable population.
ACS NSQIP surgical risk calculator accurately and reliably predicts four quality-of-life outcomes for geriatric surgical patients
SAN FRANCISCO (October 29, 2019; 11:00 am PDT): The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) Surgical Risk Calculator establishes a new threshold for assessing quality care for elderly patients undergoing operations.
Postoperative opioid prescribing and use drop significantly with no change in patient-reported pain control or satisfaction after state imposes regulations
SAN FRANCISCO (October 29, 2019; 11:00 am PDT): A state-mandated policy restricting opioid prescriptions along with increased public awareness and education about the opioid epidemic preceded drastic reductions in opioid prescribing and use for surgical patients at the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) without impacting patient satisfaction with their postoperative pain management, according to findings presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2019.
Colonel Norman M. Rich, MD, FACS, receives inaugural Distinguished Military Lifetime Achievement Award from American College of Surgeons
SAN FRANCISCO (October 28, 2019; 10:00 pm PDT): Retired U.S. Army Colonel Norman M. Rich, MD, FACS, DMCC, MC, of Rockville, Md., received the first American College of Surgeons (ACS) Distinguished Military Lifetime Achievement Award last night during the Convocation ceremony that preceded the opening of the College's Clinical Congress 2019, one of the largest international meetings of surgeons in the world. The award recognizes Dr. Rich’s “outstanding contributions to surgery during military service and as a pioneer of modern vascular surgery.”
Patricia J. Numann, MD, FACS, receives ACS Lifetime Achievement Award
SAN FRANCISCO (October 28, 2019; 10:00 pm PDT): Patricia J. Numann, MD, FACS, Past-President of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and a general surgeon from Syracuse, NY, received the ACS Lifetime Achievement award last night during the Convocation ceremony that preceded the opening of the College's 2019 Clinical Congress, one of the largest international meetings of surgeons in the world.
Smartphone data can help surgeons understand a patient’s recovery
SAN FRANCISCO (October 28, 2019; 11:15 am PDT): New applications for smartphone data are continually emerging, and the area of surgical care is no exception. In a new study presented during the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2019 and published on the JAMA Surgery website, surgeons report that they can describe the impact of certain postoperative events in their patients by capturing passively-collected accelerometer data from a patient’s smartphone.
General surgery residents who often experience mistreatment during residency training are at a greater risk of burnout and suicidal thoughts
SAN FRANCISCO (October 28, 2019; 10:00 am PDT): Half of U.S. general surgery residents, especially women, experience workplace mistreatment at least a few times a year, which greatly raises their risk of burnout and suicidal thoughts, results from a national survey reveal. These survey findings were presented today at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2019 and published on the New England Journal of Medicine website ahead of print
Honorary Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons is awarded to 12 prominent surgeons
SAN FRANCISCO (October 28, 2019; 12:01 am PDT): Last night, Honorary Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) was awarded to 12 prominent surgeons from around the world at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, Calif. The Honorary Fellowships were presented at the Convocation, which preceded the opening of the ACS Clinical Congress 2019, one of the largest educational meetings of surgeons in the world.
Alexandria surgeon Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono, MD, FACS, honored for inspiring women in surgery
SAN FRANCISCO (October 28, 2019; 12:01 am PDT): Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono, MD, FACS, received the 2019 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring Women in Surgery Award last night during the Convocation ceremony that preceded the opening of the College's Clinical Congress 2019
Chattanooga surgeon R. Phillip Burns, MD, FACS, honored with 2019 Distinguished Service Award of the American College of Surgeons
SAN FRANCISCO (October 27, 2019; 11:00 pm PDT): R. Phillip Burns, MD, FACS, a general surgeon and surgical educator from Chattanooga, Tenn., received the 2019 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) last night during the Convocation ceremony that preceded the opening of the College's 2019 Clinical Congress, one of the largest international meetings of surgeons in the world. The DSA is the highest honor bestowed by the ACS.
New York City surgeon Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS, is installed as the 100th President of the American College of Surgeons
SAN FRANCISCO (October 27, 2019; 9:00 pm PDT): Valerie W. Rusch, MD, FACS, an esteemed thoracic surgeon from New York City, was installed for a one-year term as the 100th President of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) this evening at the Convocation ceremony that preceded the opening of the annual ACS Clinical Congress, which is one of the largest international meetings of surgeons in the world.
American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress Convenes in San Francisco Next Week
CHICAGO (October 24, 2019): The ACS Clinical Congress 2019, one of the largest international meetings of surgeons in the world, convenes in San Francisco next week, October 27-31.
ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators Admits its Second Class into Membership
CHICAGO (October 16, 2019): Eighty-three esteemed surgeon educators were recently admitted into the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.
Large-scale enhanced recovery program improves outcomes for bariatric surgery patients
CHICAGO (September 24, 2019): Implementation of a protocol to improve recovery of patients after weight-loss operations reduced rates of extended hospitalization by almost half.
More than 1 million people around the world have now been trained to Stop the Bleed
CHICAGO (September 6, 2019): ACS life-saving program—that turns bystanders into immediate responders—continues its global training efforts as it enters its fourth year.
New risk/benefit calculator can predict possible outcomes for bariatric surgery patients
CHICAGO (August 20, 2019): A new surgical risk/benefit calculator will provide metabolic and bariatric surgeons and their patients with accurate, patient-specific information.
ACS comments on the continual occurrence of firearm deaths and injuries in the U.S.
CHICAGO (August 7, 2019): Two mass shootings in less than 24 hours on August 3-4, 2019, have ravaged the communities of El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and devastated our entire nation.
Delay from breast cancer diagnosis to chemotherapy after a cancer operation may shorten survival for patients
WASHINGTON, DC (July 22, 2019): Women with breast cancer should start postoperative chemotherapy, when recommended, ideally within four months of their cancer diagnosis because new study findings show that waiting longer is associated with poorer overall survival.
[National Cancer Database (NCDB) data study]
Researchers identify four characteristics in older patients associated with an inability to return home after an operation
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 22, 2019): Older adults have a different physiology and unique set of needs that may make them more vulnerable to complications following a surgical procedure. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Geriatric Surgery Pilot Project has, for the first time, identified four factors in older patients that are associated with an inability to return home after an operation.
[ACS NSQIP® Geriatric Surgery Pilot Project]
Implementation of enhanced recovery pathway for bariatric operations cuts hospital stays by half, opioid use by 95 percent
WASHINGTON, DC (July 22, 2019): A change in the care protocol of patients undergoing weight-reduction operations exceeded its desired effect by cutting postoperative hospital stays in half, reducing postoperative hospital readmissions by 38 percent, and reducing the amount of opioids the patients were sent home with by 95 percent, according to study results from a large bariatric and metabolic surgery center in Charleston, S.C.
[MBSAQIP® Quality Program]
ACS introduces a new standardized program for hospitals devoted to high-quality surgical care for older adults
WASHINGTON, DC (July 19, 2019): Today, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) launched its new Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program at the ACS Quality and Safety Conference.
ACS and HBS Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness partner to develop value measurement tool for hospitals
Washington, DC (July 18, 2019): Leaders from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and Harvard Business School’s (HBS) Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness gathered on Capitol Hill today to announce a new partnership aimed at improving health care value.
MBSAQIP manual presents updated program standards for overweight and obese patients
CHICAGO (July 11, 2019): Third version of nationally recognized manual includes a designation for bariatric and metabolic centers to offer patients non-surgical interventions
American College of Surgeons Opposes the Lower Health Care Costs Act
WASHINGTON, DC (June 20, 2019): Proposed pro-health plan legislation imposes federal payment rate setting on physicians, leading to serious consequences to the entire health care system.
Minneapolis surgeon Dr. Henry Buchwald receives 2019 Jacobson Innovation Award
CHICAGO (June 10, 2019): International award recognizes surgeon’s life-long pioneering work and innovative research in metabolic and bariatric surgery.
National surgical care program opens enrollment for new cohort of hospitals
CHICAGO (June 6, 2019): Hospitals will have access to tools for implementing enhanced recovery pathways for colorectal, orthopedic, and gynecologic operations.
American College of Surgeons applauds congressional passage of PAHPAI (H.R. 269/ S. 1379)
WASHINGTON, DC (June 4, 2019): The ACS has expressed its ringing endorsement of the successful passage of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019.
More than half of patients in pain management study took no opioids after operations
CHICAGO (May 31, 2019): Patients undergoing six operations said postoperative pain was manageable, according to Journal of the American College of Surgeons study findings.
American College of Surgeons applauds Ruiz/Roe legislative framework to address surprise medical bills
WASHINGTON, DC (May 23, 2019): Today, Representatives Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), Phil Roe, MD (R-TN), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Van Taylor (R-TX), Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN), Donna Shalala (D-FL), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) released an outline of the bipartisan Protecting People from Surprise Medical Bills Act.
Just released: Proceedings from inaugural Medical Summit on Firearm Injury Prevention
CHICAGO (May 20, 2019, 8:00 am CDT): Proceedings from the first-ever Medical Summit on Firearm Injury Prevention have been published on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website.
American College of Surgeons opposes “Stop Surprise Medical Bills” legislation
WASHINGTON, DC (May 16, 2019): The American College of Surgeons announced its opposition to the legislation introduced by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) titled “Stop Surprise Medical Bills.”
Standards for quality surgical care for older adults finalized
CHICAGO (May 14, 2019): Coalition for Quality in Geriatric Surgery publishes feasibility survey results in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Online tool gives surgeons and their patients probabilities for the success of their ventral hernia repair operation
CHICAGO (May 2, 2019): New patient engagement tool provides predictive data for five different postoperative outcomes according to Journal of the American College of Surgeons study.
May is our nation’s first ever National Stop the Bleed Month
CHICAGO (April 30, 2019): A month-long national observance features training courses around the country to teach bleeding control techniques to the general public.
Save the date: San Francisco will host ACS Clinical Congress October 27-31
CHICAGO (April 9, 2019): Annual surgeons’ conference will include hundreds of scientific sessions, including educational courses for today’s practicing surgeon.
New trauma care pathway reduces delirium and likelihood of returning to the hospital
CHICAGO (April 5, 2019): New treatment approach for vulnerable patients implements standardized processes of care that a geriatrician would typically recommend.
Save the date: ACS Quality and Safety Conference convenes in Washington, DC, July 19-22
CHICAGO (March 20, 2019): National medical conference will provide a professional forum on the most recent national and local quality and safety initiatives in the field of surgery.
Traffic accidents involving moose are 13 times more likely to result in human death
CHICAGO (March 14, 2019): Journal of the American College of Surgeons study details hazards of moose-motor vehicle crashes in northern New England.
Frailty May Be a New Screening Criterion for Fitness for an Operation
CHICAGO (March 1, 2019): Frailty is linked to more complications after an operation among adults of all ages.
Medicaid expansion led to increase in screening for colorectal cancer patients in Kentucky
CHICAGO (February 22, 2019): The number of low-income patients screened for colorectal cancer more than tripled after Medicaid expansion in 2014, according to study findings in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Inaugural Firearm Injury Prevention Summit Held
CHICAGO (February 15, 2019): National health care and legal leaders came together for the first-ever Medical Summit on Firearm Injury Prevention.
[Committee on Trauma Quality Program]
Gallbladder Removal Operation During Pregnancy Associated with Adverse Maternal Outcomes
CHICAGO (February 12, 2019): Pregnant women should consider postponing cholecystectomy until after childbirth, new Journal of the American College of Surgeons study results show.
Kidney Transplantation to Minority Patients with a Different Blood Type Is Safe
CHICAGO (January 30, 2019): Minority patients who are blood type B achieve the same outcomes if they receive a kidney from donors with blood type A2 compared with patients who receive organs from donors with the same blood type, according to study findings from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.