The Power of Quality

Quality has been the cornerstone of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) since its founding 110 years ago. Through the Power of Quality Campaign, the ACS is on a mission to improve surgical quality and patient care across the country. We will expand the reach of ACS Quality Programs to more hospitals, enlist more surgeons in quality improvement efforts, encourage adoption of quality metrics into public policy, and help patients seek out hospitals committed to delivering the highest quality of care.

Power of Quality Overview

Learn about ACS Quality

Quality in Action

Featured hospitals with ACS Quality programs

For Hospitals

ACS Quality Programs demonstrate a hospital's dedication to providing surgical teams with the tools and resources they need to put quality at the forefront and help them do what they do best—save and improve lives. Partner with us to begin or enhance quality programs.

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For Patients

ACS Quality Programs use the best data, expert input, and proven processes to help surgical care teams deliver the highest quality care. Find ACS-verified or ACS-accredited care near you.

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ACS Quality Programs

Improving surgical care quality is crucial to ensuring better outcomes for patients. That’s why we’re working to bring ACS Quality Programs to every hospital and patient in America.

Explore Our Quality Programs

A Patient's Story

See how Nicole Watson was at the center of every decision of her breast cancer journey thanks to a Inova Health System’s commitment to the ACS Surgical Quality Programs.

Quality Hospitals Save Lives

Trey Rogers knew something was seriously wrong when he began experiencing severe abdominal pain. He trusted the surgical team at Atrium Health Pineville with his care. “Every day is truly a gift. The fact that they’ve given more days…what greater gift can you give somebody?”

Learn how the Emergency Surgery Verification Program helps hospitals be well-prepared when patients require emergency surgical intervention.

Surgical Quality

Panelists Share How to Enhance Surgical Quality in Patient-Centered Care

A panel of experts addressed the current landscape of surgical quality and how to leverage ACS Quality Programs to improve care.

ACS Quality News

The Power of Quality in Surgery

Dr. Peter Kim sits down with Dr. Clifford Ko on "Between Two Scalpels" to discuss what “surgical quality” means and what the ACS is doing to support a surgeon’s ability to provide quality care.

CHA Honored for Surgical Quality

Cambridge Health Alliance received the prestigious Surgical Quality Partner distinction from the ACS for commitment to the highest quality of care.

The ACS Honors Boston-Area Surgical Quality Partners

Representatives from 28 Boston-area hospitals were present on Wednesday, October 25, for a celebration ceremony honoring their hospitals’ commitment to the highest quality of surgical care.

Ko: Working to Improve Quality Care for Patients

An op-ed from Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, FASCRS looks at the progress made in surgical quality and the strategies for continuing this improvement.

Seventy-Eight ACS NSQIP Hospitals Recognized for Achieving Meritorious Outcomes for Surgical Patient Care

Recognized hospitals are deemed “Meritorious” for their composite quality scores in eight surgical care outcome areas.

Power of Quality Featured on The MM+M Podcast

The ACS's Brian Edwards appeared on the Medical Marketing Media podcast to discuss promotion of the Power of Quality program.

Health Policy Goals, Must-Pass Bills and Gridlock

ACS Executive Director and CEO, Dr. Patricia L. Turner, spoke to Politico's Daniel Payne about Covid-19’s impact on cancer care, health equity, and more.

Dr. Clifford Ko on Beckers Healthcare Podcast

Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, FASCRS, Director of Quality at American College of Surgeons, discusses the multitude of programs centered around quality at the ACS.

ACS News

Emergency General Surgery Verification Program Verifies First Five Hospitals

Five hospitals are among the first in the nation to be verified under the new American College of Surgeons Emergency General Surgery Verification Program (ACS EGS-VP) launched in September 2022.

Press Release

Vascular Verification Program Verifies First Four Hospitals

ACS, with the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), has verified the first four hospitals as part of the recently launched Vascular Verification Program (Vascular-VP).

ACS Bulletin

ACS Launches Power of Quality Campaign

Learn about the Power of Quality Campaign and view a recording of the panel discussion at the official launch of this program.

Dr. Turner Discusses Power of Quality on CSPAN

Executive Director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons, Patricia Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, discusses Quality Programs in an appearance on CSPAN.

ACS Launches Campaign to Improve Surgical Quality

A national campaign launched by the American College of Surgeons to improve patient care and safety in hospitals nationwide hopes to "promote policy frameworks and incentives" that drive improvements across the country.