Potential ways to improve survival for certain cancer patients who receive fragmented care
CHICAGO (April 15, 2021, 9 a.m. CDT): New research reveals that 28 percent of patients who are readmitted to the hospital with complications after surgical removal of pancreatic, liver, or stomach cancer go to a different hospital for follow-up care.
Surgery is a viable treatment for pancreatic cancer patients especially after chemotherapy
CHICAGO (March 26, 2021): Patients with stage II pancreatic cancer who receive chemotherapy followed by resection live nearly twice as long as patients who receive only chemotherapy.
More is better, at least when it comes to case volume for complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery
CHICAGO (March 19, 2021): A new study reinforces the principle that “practice makes perfect” when it comes to complex GI cancer operations. Patients whose procedures for gastrointestinal malignancies were performed by a surgical team at a hospital ranked as one of America’s “best” by U.S. News & World Report were nearly two and half times more likely to survive the operation than those who had the same procedure done at an unranked hospital.
American College of Surgeons urges patients to schedule cancer screening sooner rather than later
Chicago (March 18, 2021) – The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (ACS CoC) has joined a nationwide effort to encourage patients to resume appropriate cancer screening to prevent a more extensive illness or excess deaths.
ACS has verified the first hospital in the nation that meets its standardized quality criteria for geriatric surgery
CHICAGO (February 26, 2021): The American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program (ACS GSV) has announced that Unity Hospital, Rochester, N.Y., has achieved Level 1—Comprehensive Excellence verification status, which recognizes its commitment to providing optimal care for its older adult surgical patients by meeting the GSV’s program standards.
[Geriatric Surgery Verification Quality Program]
Guideline for reducing opioid use post-surgery leads to high pain management satisfaction
CHICAGO (February 25, 2021): A prescribing guideline tailored to patients’ specific needs reduced the number of opioid pills prescribed after major surgery.
NIH research funding to support surgeon scientists is rising
CHICAGO (February 12, 2021): An analysis of NIH database reveals surgeon scientists have become more diverse in their research efforts, while keeping a focus on basic science.
Elderly esophageal cancer patients often receive suboptimal therapy due to perceived risks
CHICAGO (February 9, 2021): Elderly patients (70 years and over) with locally advanced esophageal (E) and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer (located in the stomach and esophagus) should be considered for optimal therapy that has the potential to cure. This therapy regimen includes initial chemoradiotherapy (NACR) and surgical resection, an operation that removes the cancerous part of the organ.
Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. James L. Cox receives the 2020 ACS Jacobson Innovation Award
CHICAGO (February 8, 2021): The 2020 Jacobson Innovation Award of the American College of Surgeons was presented to James L. Cox, MD, FACS, at a virtual event held in his honor.
Trauma surgeons and emergency surgeons positively impact patient satisfaction
CHICAGO (January 29, 2021, 9 am CST): Trauma patients and patients who need emergency surgery have little to no opportunity to get acquainted with the surgeon and team that will perform their operation. However, a large study has found that effective and meaningful physician communication is a more important contributor to the overall satisfaction of trauma patients and those having emergency surgery than it is for patients admitted to the hospital for medical reasons or for elective procedures.
ACS endorses resuming cancer screening and treatment with leading cancer organizations
CHICAGO (January 28, 2021): The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (ACS CoC) has teamed up with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), the American Cancer Society (ACS) and other leading cancer organizations across the country to endorse the resumption of appropriate cancer screening and treatment to prevent excess deaths during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Ideal surgical results less likely if cancer patients live in vulnerable communities
CHICAGO (January 25, 2021): Older cancer patients are less likely to have optimal results following an operation if they live in an area affected by socioeconomic challenges.
Pain-relief regimen used to treat trauma patients with fewer opioid drugs
CHICAGO (January 21, 2021): A multimodal pain regimen kept patient self-reported pain scores low while also reducing the amount of opioid drugs given to trauma patients.
Non-Hispanic Black patients are disproportionately left off liver transplant waitlists
CHICAGO (January 11, 2021): Non-Hispanic white patients get placed on liver transplant waitlists at disproportionately higher rates than non-Hispanic Black patients.