Archive for December, 2012
Looking forward – December 2012
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) launched its Inspiring Quality campaign in May 2011. Since then, these forums have been presented in cities across the nation and have enabled the ACS leadership to inform policymakers and the public of the College’s 100-year commitment to analyzing clinical data and using this knowledge to set standards that lead to better quality care.
Presidential Address: The next hundred years
This article summarizes the Presidential Address that A. Brent Eastman, MD, FACS, delivered to the 1,377 Initiates of the American College of Surgeons during Convocation ceremonies at the 2012 Clinical Congress. For the full text of Dr. Eastman’s address, see the February 2013 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
The 112th Congress: The year in review
Over the last year, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has remained focused on advancing its health policy agenda in Congress. This article summarizes the ACS’ steadfast efforts to lobby on the primary issues of concern to Fellows, including Medicare payment reform, medical liability, surgical workforce issues, and funding for trauma and emergency medical services systems.
Controlling state health care costs: Massachusetts forges ahead
State legislatures have grappled with reform measures, especially with respect to Medicaid, for decades. Adding fuel to efforts to reform the program are falling state revenues and a rising number of Medicaid recipients—both of which may be attributed to the recession. State governments will be closely watching Massachusetts’s efforts to control health care costs and improve quality as policymakers across the nation face the same concerns.
2012 Executive Director’s annual report
David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, Executive Director of the American College of Surgeons, provides a detailed summary of the College’s activities and notable accomplishments in 2012.
A look at the College’s first registry: The Bone Sarcoma Registry
This month—as part of an ongoing series to commemorate the American College of Surgeons’ Centennial—the Bulletin is reprinting the introductory text to the January 1926 issue, which highlighted the ACS’ first registry—the Registry of Bone Sarcoma. These remarks summarize the College’s experience in establishing and managing this repository.
Statement on concussion and brain injury
The following statement was developed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Subcommittee on Injury Prevention and Control to educate surgeons, coaches, and legislators about concussions and brain injuries.
Statement on Council of Medical Specialty Societies’ Code for Interactions with Companies
The Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons adopted the Council of Medical Specialty Societies’ Code for Interactions with Companies during its October 2012 Meeting.
Choosing not to participate in the CMS incentive programs
This column summarizes the different reporting options available for the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program, the Physician Quality Reporting System, and the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, and consequences for surgeons and other eligible professionals who elect not to participate in these programs.
Multiple ipsilateral breast cancers: Can the breast be preserved?
ACOSOG Z11102 is a recently activated Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology study that will determine prospectively whether breast conservation is a safe surgical approach for patients with multiple ipsilateral breast cancers. This trial is the first prospective look at this increasingly common clinical scenario, and results will provide important data that surgeons and radiation oncologists may use to inform patients regarding surgical treatment options.
Building consensus on ways to minimize overuse of five treatments
This column summarizes the National Summit on Overuse meeting—a collaborative effort with representatives from a variety of physician organizations and specialty societies—to discuss appropriate action for five common medical treatments that are often employed unnecessarily.
No humour
This month’s column examines the occurrence of biliary tract injuries in the National Trauma Data Bank® (NTDB) research dataset for 2010 and admissions medical records were searched using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM).
Dr. Pellegrini selected as next President-Elect of the College
Carlos A. Pellegrini, MD, FACS, FRCSI (Hon), The Henry N. Harkins Professor and Chair, department of surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, was named President-Elect of the American College of Surgeons during the Annual Business Meeting on October 3.
ACS Regents and Governors elected at Annual Business Meeting
Regents and Governors of the American College of Surgeons were elected during the 2012 Annual Business Meeting, which took place during the Clinical Congress.
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh honors ACS President Dr. A. Brent Eastman
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) awarded Honorary Fellowship to A. Brent Eastman, MD, FACS, President of the American College of Surgeons, at a diploma ceremony held in October at Scotland’s Edinburgh College.
Chapter news
This report summarizes the recent notable activities, events, and meetings of the chapters of the American College of Surgeons.
Archives page on ACS website now offers descriptions of Dr. Martin’s collected papers
Complete descriptions of American College of Surgeons Founder Franklin H. Martin’s, MD, FACS, collected papers and other archival materials are now available for viewing on the ACS Archives website.
College accepting nominations for 2013 Jacobson Promising Investigator Award
The American College of Surgeons is accepting nominations for the ninth annual Joan L. and Julius H. Jacobson II Promising Investigator Award to be conferred in 2013. This award recognizes outstanding surgeons engaging in research, advancing the art and science of surgery, and demonstrating early promise of significant contribution to the practice of surgery and the safety of surgical patients.
ACS, Philadelphia health care leaders discuss physician-led quality improvement initiatives
The American College of Surgeon’s Surgical Health Care Quality Forum in Philadelphia, PA—the ninth stop on a national tour to drive discussions on effective quality improvement methods—focused on the importance of physician-led initiatives in achieving better outcomes, citing the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) as a leading model.
Members in the news
Notable accomplishments of several Fellows and Members of the College are described.