New legislation introduced to protect patient access to surgical care
CHICAGO (October 30, 2020): Representatives Ami Bera, MD (CA-7) and Larry Bucshon, MD (IN-8), along with Representatives Brendan Boyle (PA-2), Raul Ruiz, MD (CA-36), Abby Finkenauer (IA-1), George Holding (NC-2), Phil Roe, MD (TN-1), and Roger Marshall, MD (KS-1) introduced legislation today that will protect patients’ access to surgical care by stopping cuts to Medicare payments for surgical specialties.
Colon cancer surgery performed by highly skilled surgeons improves long-term survival for patients
CHICAGO (October 30, 2020): Colon cancer patients achieve better five-year survival rates when the surgeons who treat them are rated as highly skilled, according to findings from what authors say is the first study to link a surgeon’s technical skills with improved long-term clinical outcomes. The study is published online in JAMA Oncology and virtually presented as part of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer’s Annual Research Paper Competition.
Dr. Timothy W. Mullett is the New Chair of the ACS Commission on Cancer
CHICAGO (October 30, 2020): Cardiothoracic surgeon Timothy W. Mullett, MD, FACS, Lexington, Ky., has begun a two-year term as chair of the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Dr. Mullett has been serving as the Chair-elect of the CoC for the past year.
Some rectal cancer patients can safely avoid an aggressive operation
CHICAGO (October 26, 2020): A nonsurgical treatment option for rectal cancer that preserves quality of life is safe for carefully selected patients, according to a new study comparing it with the standard operation.
229 members of Congress urge leaders to act to protect patient access to surgical care
WASHINGTON, DC (October 20, 2020): Representatives Ami Bera, MD (CA-7); Larry Bucshon, MD, FACS (IN-8); Brendan Boyle (PA-2); George Holding (NC-2); Raul Ruiz, MD (CA-36); Roger Marshall, MD (KS-1); Abby Finkenauer (IA-1); Brad Wenstrup, DPM (OH-2); along with 221 colleagues, sent a letter yesterday to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to protect patients by stopping planned Medicare cuts that will impact physicians across the country.
Florida surgeon Steven D. Wexner, MD, FACS, elected Vice-Chair of ACS Board of Regents
CHICAGO (October 14, 2020): Steven D. Wexner, MD, PhD (Hon), FACS, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Ed), FRCSI (Hon), Hon FRCS (Glasg) was recently elected Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) during the College’s virtual Clinical Congress 2020, held October 3-7. Dr. Wexner is chair of the department of colorectal surgery and director of the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, Fla., and clinical professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University.
Hand surgeon and microsurgery specialist Dr. L. Scott Levin new Chair ACS Board of Regents
CHICAGO (October 14, 2020): L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, Philadelphia, an internationally renowned hand surgeon and microsurgeon was elected Chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) during the College’s virtual Clinical Congress 2020, October 3-7. Dr. Levin is the Paul B. Magnuson Professor of Bone and Joint Surgery, chair of the department of orthopaedic surgery and professor of surgery (plastic surgery) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Penn Medicine).
Winston-Salem vascular surgeon Dr. Julie A. Freischlag is new ACS President-Elect
CHICAGO (October 12, 2020): Julie A. Freischlag, MD, FACS, FRCSEd (Hon), DFSVS, an esteemed vascular surgeon from Winston-Salem, N.C., has been elected to serve as the 2020–2021 President-Elect of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Dr. Freischlag’s election was announced October 7, at the conclusion of the virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020. She will be installed for a one-year term as ACS President in October 2021 during the Convocation ceremony that will be a highlight of the next ACS Clinical Congress.
American College of Surgeons honors three members with Surgical Volunteerism Awards
CHICAGO (October 6, 2020; 6:30 pm CDT): Today three surgeons received the 2020 American College of Surgeons (ACS)/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism Awards in recognition of their selfless efforts as volunteer surgeons who provide care to medically underserved patients.
Addressing social causes of violence will be key to reducing firearm deaths, American College of Surgeons task force says
CHICAGO (October 6, 2020 3:30 pm): As firearm deaths continue to increase in the United States, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Improving Social Determinants to Attenuate Violence (ISAVE) task force outlined steps the medical community must take to understand and address the root causes of firearm violence. At a panel presentation during the 2020 ACS Clinical Congress, the multidisciplinary taskforce urged health care leaders to treat firearm violence as a public health crisis, understand its social causes, and develop interventions to address them.
American College of Surgeons panels warn vaping and marijuana use before an operation can be harmful
CHICAGO (October 6, 2020 1:30 pm): More than a dozen states now allow recreational marijuana use, and millions of adults use e-cigarettes regularly. but surgeons warn that even as these products become more widely available, they can be harmful if used before an operation. At panel discussions during the virtual American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020, experts underscored the importance of helping patients stop tobacco, vaping and marijuana use before having an operation.
Antibiotics treat appendicitis as well as an appendectomy in the short term for most patients
CHICAGO (October 5, 2020; 10:00 am CDT): Seven of 10 adults with appendicitis can safely avoid surgical removal of their appendix (appendectomy) for at least several months by receiving a course of antibiotics, according to early results of a U.S. study that is the largest to compare use of these drugs alone versus an operation for appendicitis treatment.
Winston-Salem trauma surgeon Dr. J. Wayne Meredith installed as the 101st President of the American College of Surgeons
CHICAGO (October 4, 2020; 9:00 pm CDT): J. Wayne Meredith, MD, FACS, MCCM, an esteemed trauma, thoracic, and critical care surgeon from Winston-Salem, N.C., was installed this evening for a one-year term as the 101st President of the American College Surgeons (ACS). The installation occurred during the Convocation ceremony that is a highlight of the virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020, one of the largest educational meetings of surgeons in the world.
Illinois surgeon Hilary A. Sanfey, MB BCh, MHPE, FACS, honored with 2020 Distinguished Service Award of the American College of Surgeons
CHICAGO (October 4, 2020; 11:00 pm CDT): Hilary A. Sanfey, MB BCh, MHPE, FACS, FRCSEd (Hon), FRCSI (Hon), from Springfield, Ill., received the 2020 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) last night during the virtual Convocation ceremony that is a highlight of the College's Clinical Congress 2020, one of the largest educational meetings of surgeons in the world. The DSA is the highest honor bestowed by the ACS.
Boston surgeon Susan Miller Briggs, MD, MPH, FACS, honored for inspiring women in surgery
CHICAGO (October 4, 2020; 11:00 pm CDT): This evening Susan Miller Briggs, MD, MPH, FACS, received the 2020 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Inspiring Women in Surgery Award during the virtual Convocation ceremony that is a highlight of the College’s virtual Clinical Congress 2020.
Captain Frank K. Butler, Jr., MD, receives Distinguished Military Lifetime Achievement Award from American College of Surgeons
CHICAGO (October 4, 2020; 9:00 pm CDT): Retired U.S. Navy Captain Frank K. Butler, Jr., MD, FAAO, FUHM, received the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Distinguished Military Lifetime Achievement Award last night during the Convocation ceremony that preceded the opening of the College's virtual Clinical Congress 2020, one of the largest international meetings of surgeons in the world. The award recognizes Dr. Butler’s outstanding contributions to the field of surgery during military service. Dr. Butler is the second recipient of the Distinguished Military Lifetime Achievement Award.
Honorary Fellowship in the ACS to be awarded to nine prominent surgeons from around the world
CHICAGO (October 4, 2020; 11:00 pm CDT): Earlier this evening, Honorary Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) was awarded to 9 prominent surgeons from around the world during the virtual Convocation ceremony, which preceded the opening of the virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020, one of the largest educational meetings of surgeons in the world
Female Spanish-only speakers get screening mammograms less often than other women
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): Limited English-language proficiency (LEP) is a risk factor for getting potentially lifesaving breast cancer screening or getting a screening mammogram less often, according to new study results using national data. These findings, from women aged 40 and older living in the United States, are presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020.
Pregnant women and their fetuses have better outcomes after immediate surgery for complicated appendicitis
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): Pregnant women who underwent immediate surgery to treat a ruptured or abscessed appendix and their fetuses had significantly better outcomes than those whose condition was managed without an operation.
STOP THE BLEED training has saved lives from Sierra Leone to Connecticut
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): The STOP THE BLEED® course teaches a skill with lifesaving potential that is easy to learn and globally relevant. Two studies presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020 provide evidence that STOP THE BLEED® training is effective and has made a lifesaving difference around the world.
Hospitals serving primarily minority patients follow breast cancer surgical recommendations at similar rate to other hospitals
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): Among accredited U.S. cancer centers, hospitals serving primarily minority patients are as likely as other hospitals to offer the standard of surgical care for early-stage breast cancer, according to results presented at the virtual American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020.
Program to improve outcomes for geriatric surgery patients shows promise in a hospital setting
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): People age 65 years and older account for 40 percent of inpatient operations and one-third of outpatient procedures, and these older patients are more vulnerable to longer hospital stays and other complications after surgery than younger patients.
Surgery for benign breast disease does not impair future breastfeeding capability
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): Young women with benign breast conditions may undergo surgery without jeopardizing their ability to breastfeed later on. One of the first studies to specifically evaluate the effects of surgery on breastfeeding outcomes and lactation capability reveals that more than 80 percent of young women successfully breast-fed or bottle-fed breast milk, including those with a history of a prior breast operation. Findings from the study were presented as a clinical poster at the virtual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020.
Virtual follow-up care is more convenient and just as beneficial to surgical patients as in-person care
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): Surgical patients who participate in virtual follow-up visits after their operations spend a similar amount of time with surgical team members as those who meet face-to-face. Moreover, these patients benefit by spending less time waiting at and traveling to the clinic for in-person appointments, according to research findings presented at the virtual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020.
All members of military surgical teams can benefit from military-civilian partnerships
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): Military surgical teams face unique demands on and off the battlefield. Combat trauma represents 0.5 percent of the 1 million annual military health system hospital admissions, presenting a challenge for military surgical teams to remain combat ready.
Study shows need for balance in post-surgery opioid prescribing guidelines
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): To address the opioid epidemic, surgeons have embraced guidelines to reduce the number of opioid pills they prescribe to patients after surgery, and the efforts have helped to significantly reduce the number of opioids in circulation. But new research presented at the virtual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020 reports that these guidelines may be missing a small group of patients that need a greater level of pain control.
New artificial intelligence models show potential for predicting outcomes in trauma and liver transplantation
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): New applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care settings have shown early success in improving survival and outcomes in traffic accident victims transported by ambulance and in predicting survival after liver transplantation, according to two research studies presented at the virtual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020.
Transportation barriers to surgical care may increase the likelihood of emergency surgical intervention
CHICAGO (October 3, 2020; 9:00 am CDT): Transportation barriers, such as personal access to a vehicle or public transportation, disproportionally affect minority communities, according to results of a new study presented at the virtual American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020.
ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators Admits its Third Class into Membership
CHICAGO (September 28, 2020): Fifty esteemed surgeon educators were recently admitted into the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators™ as Members (22 inductees) and Associate Members (28 inductees) during the Academy’s third induction ceremony which occurred the evening of September 25 in a virtual ceremony. New Academy Members who will attend the virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020 will also be recognized during the annual Convocation on October 4 that precedes the opening of the conference, which is one of the largest educational meetings of surgeons in the world.
Surgical quality and safety rely on institutional leadership, resources, and culture
CHICAGO (September 28, 2020): Hospital resources and infrastructure dedicated to improving quality and safety are essential for achieving safe and high-quality surgical outcomes. A comprehensive review of four key principles of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Quality Verification Program demonstrates the importance of an overall hospital culture of quality and safety, including top- and mid-level, quality-focused leadership and a committee dedicated to quality improvement.
Apply today for Press Credentials to cover the virtual American College of Surgeons 2020 Clinical Congress
CHICAGO (September 11, 2020): The first-ever virtual American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020 will convene October 3-7, offering surgeons and guest clinicians both live and on-demand sessions. The conference will offer the finest in continuing education for surgeons across all specialties and throughout all stages of their careers.
Low health literacy may be a risk factor for postoperative infection
CHICAGO (August 24, 2020): Surgical patients are more likely to experience a postoperative infection if they have low health literacy, which is a limited capacity to understand and act on health information, according to results of a new study presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) 2020 Quality and Safety Conference VIRTUAL.
Low health literacy impact on surgical outcomes on ACS press conference agenda August 24
CHICAGO (August 21, 2020): UAB researchers will present on the impact of low health literacy on surgical outcomes at ACS Quality and Safety Conference.
Children with cognitive delays are more likely to have CT scan to diagnose appendicitis
CHICAGO: CT is used at a higher rate than ultrasound in children with developmental and cognitive impairments to diagnose appendicitis, even though CT scans increase radiation risk in smaller bodies. Additionally, these children have higher rates of postoperative emergency room visits and hospital readmissions after undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy than children with normal development, according to new findings presented today by researchers at the ACS 2020 Quality and Safety Conference VIRTUAL.
Four National Organizations Provide Guidance on Maintaining Essential Operations as COVID-19 Pandemic Continues
(CHICAGO): The recent resurgence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has many states near or at bed and intensive care unit (ICU) capacity, and health care facilities’ ability to meet the ongoing needs of surgical patients may be stressed by new influxes of COVID-19 patients admitted to health care facilities.
New study documents increasing frequency, cost, and severity of gunshot wounds
CHICAGO (August 10, 2020): The rise in firearm violence has coincided with an increase in the severity of injuries firearms inflict as well as the cost of operations to treat those injuries; policy makers must be more aggressive in addressing violence to curb these trends, researchers report in a large national study of gunshot wounds.
Operation delays due to COVID-19 appear non-life-threatening for early-stage disease
CHICAGO (August 6, 2020): New study brings reassuring findings for women with early-stage breast cancer who delayed operations because of COVID-19 pandemic.
American College of Surgeons strongly opposes proposed Medicare physician fee schedule
CHICAGO (August 4, 2020): The American College of Surgeons (ACS) strongly opposes the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for calendar year 2021 (CY2021), which hurts our health care system and surgical care at the expense of patients.
ACS Committee on Trauma awarded grant by National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research
CHICAGO (July 30, 2020): The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) has been awarded a 2-year, $711,218 grant by the National Collaborative for Gun Violence Research for a multi-center, prospective study to improve understanding of the individual and community level risk factors for non-lethal firearm injuries in the U.S.
ACS launches Cancer Surgery Standards Program to improve quality of surgical cancer care
CHICAGO (July 20, 2020): New program develops cancer surgery standards and reporting tools for institutions and surgeons to readily adopt and easily integrate into practice.
Apply today for Press Credentials to cover ACS 2020 Quality and Safety Conference
CHICAGO (July 17, 2020): The American College of Surgeons 2020 Quality and Safety Conference VIRTUAL starts in just one week on July 24! Complete our application now to secure press credentials to cover this online conference from the comfort of your remote location.
Female surgeon scientists claim more than their share of research grants
CHICAGO (July 17, 2020): While their ranks in academic surgery may be not be robust, women surgeons are holding their own when it comes to surgical research, securing a greater percentage of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants than their numbers suggest.
Gender bias in evaluating surgical residency faculty members may be decreasing
CHICAGO (July 10, 2020): Female surgeons teaching general surgery residents did not receive poorer average teaching evaluation scores than their male peers.
Targeting deep areas of the skeletal muscles effectively alleviates postoperative pain
CHICAGO (July 2, 2020): Researchers developed a new method of effective pain control to address postoperative muscle pain in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
American College of Surgeons joins Surgical Care Coalition
CHICAGO (June 18, 2020): Today the American College of Surgeons (ACS) reinforced its commitment to protect surgical patients, improve their quality of life, and ensure access to—and choice of—surgical care by announcing it joined the Surgical Care Coalition (SCC) as a founding member. As a member of this group, the ACS will support the coalition’s effort to work with Congress to stop planned cuts to Medicare payments that would limit surgical patients’ access to quality care and the timely delivery of services in one of our most vulnerable populations.
A coordinated COVID-19 response helped western Washington state “flatten the curve”
CHICAGO (June 16, 2020): A panel of 26 experts analyzed western Washington’s response and identified six key factors that contributed to “flattening the curve” in the state.
Elastomeric masks provide a more durable, less costly option for health care workers
CHICAGO (June 12, 2020): A cost-effective strategy for health care systems to offset N95 mask shortages due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is to switch to reusable elastomeric respirator masks, according to new study results.
New toolkit prepares patients for operations during the time of COVID-19
CHICAGO (June 3, 2020): To help surgeons address patient concerns, ACS has released a new resource document, Preparing to have surgery during the time of COVID-19.
Pediatric scoring scale helps surgeons decide whether to operate during COVID-19 delays
CHICAGO (May 27, 2020): As health care providers observe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) affecting children differently than adults, pediatric surgeons in Chicago have modified an evaluation tool for use in pediatric patients that allows surgeons in every pediatric specialty to prioritize nonemergency (“elective”) operations during all phases of the pandemic.
Blood clotting abnormalities reveal COVID-19 patients at risk for thrombotic events
CHICAGO (May 15, 2020): Article highlights early research on blood clotting evaluation work that may help identify and treat dangerous complications of COVID-19.
National STOP THE BLEED Month will address home injuries during COVID-19 pandemic
CHICAGO (May 1, 2020): National STOP THE BLEED Month will highlight how the public can help each other by knowing how to respond if someone near them is seriously injured
New toolkit provides rapid implementation guide for adopting telemedicine during COVID-19
CHICAGO (May 1, 2020): A urology group in North Carolina developed a guide that enabled them to convert all in-person visits to telemedicine in three days.
Surgeons help create new process for disinfecting and reusing N95 masks
CHICAGO (April 28, 2020): Amid shortages of personal protective equipment due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a St. Louis health care system has implemented a process to disinfect disposable N95 respirator masks that allows health care workers to reuse their own mask for up to 20 cycles.
Medicaid expansion led to more insurance coverage and a higher rate of mammograms
CHICAGO (April 24, 2020): In states that chose to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, lower-income women now have access to mammograms at a higher rate.
Enhanced recovery is an improved, cost-effective approach for breast reconstruction
CHICAGO (April 22, 2020): The cost of perioperative care process for microvascular breast reconstruction is measured for first time using time-driven activity-based costing.
ACS releases guidance to help health care facilities prepare for resuming elective surgery
CHICAGO (April 17, 2020): Today, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) released a new surgical resource document, “Local Resumption of Elective Surgery Guidance,” as a guide for health care facilities preparing to resume elective surgery once the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has peaked in their area.
Safely resuming elective surgery as COVID-19 curve flattens: ACS, ASA, AORN, and AHA develop roadmap for readiness
CHICAGO (April 17, 2020): As the COVID-19 surge wanes in different parts of the country, patients’ pent up demand to resume their elective surgeries will be immense. To ensure patients can have elective surgeries as soon as safely possible, a roadmap to guide readiness, prioritization and scheduling has been developed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), and American Hospital Association (AHA).
New scoring system empowers surgery departments to prioritize medically necessary operations that should not be delayed because of concerns about hospital resources or risk associated with COVID-19
CHICAGO (April 14, 2020): A team of investigators at the University of Chicago (Ill.), has devised a new scoring system that helps surgeons across surgical specialties decide when to proceed with medically necessary operations in the face of the resource constraints and increased risk posed by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
A remote military medical team can offer insights to U.S. hospitals preparing for COVID-19
CHICAGO (April 13, 2020): A surgical team was converted into a pandemic response team to offer care to an isolated population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 response plan addresses unique challenges for rural hospitals and health systems
CHICAGO (April 13, 2020): Surgeons at one rural health care system have reported on their preparedness response plan for dealing with the COVID-19 surge.
Expert Medical Societies Release Multidisciplinary Recommendations for Breast Cancer Patient Care During COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC (April 13, 2020): The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS), the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons, and the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) have released new joint recommendations for prioritization, treatment and triage of breast cancer patients during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Surgeons develop operation-triage plan to reduce operating room volume and manage health care resources during COVID-19 pandemic
CHICAGO (April 9, 2020): Within a month of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health treating its first patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Feb. 3, UCSF surgeons began formulating a plan to respond to the pandemic and help manage the health care system’s available resources.
COVID-19: ACS issues statement on maintaining the emergency care system
CHICAGO (April 8, 2020): As hospitals around the U.S. are faced with a surge of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, the ability for trauma centers to care for injured patients is severely compromised. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) recently issued a statement calling for strategies to preserve capacity and capability to care for injured patients. The statement includes seven recommendations for hospital and health care system leaders to consider.
Two new resources available on expanding health care capabilities during COVID-19 pandemic
CHICAGO (April 8, 2020): The likelihood of expanding health care facilities to accommodate critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic makes it imperative for our health care system to make preparations in advance.
New algorithm aims to protect surgical team members against infection with COVID-19
CHICAGO (April 6, 2020): Researchers from Stanford University’s department of surgery (Stanford, Calif.) have created an algorithm that aims to protect operating room team members who perform urgent and emergency operations from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rationally conserve the personal protective equipment (PPE) they wear.
COVID-19: ACS issues statement on personal protective equipment shortages
CHICAGO (April 2, 2020): With many health care facilities facing shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE)—including face masks, gowns, and respirators—during the COVID-19 pandemic, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has released a statement on the issue.
Critical care surgery team develops blueprint for essential operations during COVID-19
CHICAGO (March 30, 2020): As patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) flood hospitals, the health care system must not only determine how to redeploy limited resources and staff to care for them but must also make well-calculated decisions to provide other types of critical care. For surgeons, this type of critical care involves performing an emergency operation to treat a ruptured appendix or perforated colon—to both virus-exposed and non-exposed patients—while keeping both hospital personnel and non-exposed patients safe
ACS releases clinical guidance document for elective surgical case triage during COVID-19
CHICAGO (March 25, 2020): The American College of Surgeons continues to provide guidance for surgeons to curtail recommendations for elective surgical procedures to preserve the necessary resources for care of critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACS COT releases recommendations on maintaining trauma center access during COVID-19
CHICAGO (March 19, 2020): ACS Committee on Trauma recommendations to provide guidance to facilitate trauma center access and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACS offers triage guidance for non-emergent surgical procedures during COVID-19 outbreak
CHICAGO (March 18, 2020): The American College of Surgeons has released “COVID-19: Guidance for Triage of Non-emergent Surgical Procedures” to provide surgeons with additional guidance.
ACS releases recommendations for surgical management of elective operations during COVID-19 pandemic
CHICAGO (March 13, 2020): The American College of Surgeons recommends hospitals, health systems, and surgeons enact plans to minimize, postpone, or cancel elective operations at the current time.
Aggressive features in some small thyroid tumors increase the risk for metastasis
CHICAGO (March 6, 2020): Study findings support the need for new forms of preoperative testing to find high-risk tumors and thorough patient counseling about all treatment options.
Surgeons cut opioid prescriptions by 64 percent using a new multipronged program
CHICAGO (March 2, 2020): Surgeons in a large health-care system in central Texas implemented a pain management program that reduced longer-term opioid prescriptions by two-thirds.
48 cancer care programs receive CoC Outstanding Achievement Award
CHICAGO (Updated March 3, 2020): Annual Outstanding Achievement Award is granted to accredited cancer programs that exceed compliance expectations of the CoC standards.
The best preoperative definition of cancer-related malnutrition depends on cancer type
CHICAGO (February 26, 2020): The best approach for surgeons to identify malnourished cancer patients before they have a cancer operation may be specifically related to the type of cancer the patient has, according to researchers who found that common definitions of malnutrition do not apply equally to all cancers in assessment of preoperative risk.
Study examines why colon cancer is more deadly in pediatric and young adult patients
CHICAGO February 21, 2020): New research findings reveal the need for further investigation that may indicate why colon cancer is different in children, adolescents, and young adults.
Readmission risk increases for elderly patients with geriatric-specific characteristics
CHICAGO February 18, 2020): Researchers have examined new geriatric-specific characteristics that appear to raise the risk of elderly surgical patients having an unplanned hospital readmission.
ACS comments on surprise billing study in today’s JAMA
CHICAGO (February 11, 2020): ACS issues comments in light of a study released today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examining unexpected medical bills for privately insured patients who undergo elective surgery with in-network primary surgeons and facilities.
Virtual crossmatching improves quality of life for kidney transplant patients
CHICAGO (January 31, 2020): Virtual crossmatching reduces waiting time for compatibility testing, eliminating the need for backup patients to come to the hospital unnecessarily, and expedites transplant surgery scheduling.
Online patient tool is associated with increased likelihood of receiving kidney transplant
CHICAGO (January 8, 2020): Taking a more active role in one’s own health is known to promote better outcomes, but it is especially critical for patients who are waiting for a kidney transplant.