Archive for January, 2017
Looking forward – January 2017
In this month’s column, Dr. Hoyt reflects on his seven years as ACS Executive Director, including the College’s key accomplishments in that timeframe and future goals of the organization.
The 2017 Medicare physician fee schedule: An overview of provisions that will affect surgical practice
This article summarizes provisions in the 2017 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule that are relevant to general surgery and its related specialties.
2017 CPT coding changes
Changes to Current Procedural Terminology codes and an overview of related reporting information are described.
Profiles in surgical research: Mary T. Hawn, MD, MPH, FACS
Mary T. Hawn, MD, MPH, FACS, a prolific health services researcher with a focus on complications in postoperative patients, is the latest surgeon-scientist to be spotlighted in this in this ongoing series.
The 2016 RAS-ACS annual Communications Committee essay contest: An introduction
The theme of the 2016 RAS-ACS annual Communications Committee essay contest was Paying It Forward: When the Mentee Becomes the Mentor.
First-place essay: Paying it forward: When the mentee becomes the mentor
Kevin Koo, MD, MPH, MPhil, the 2016 RAS Communications Committee essay winner, describes how his experiences as a student with strong mentors have shaped how he works with junior members of the operating team today.
Highlights of Clinical Congress 2016
This Clinical Congress 2016 wrap-up summarizes key events at the annual meeting, including the Convocation, Named Lectures, and awards winners and honorees.
ACS Officers, Regents, and Board of Governors’ Executive Committee
The ACS Officers were elected at the Annual Business Meeting of Clinical Congress 2016.
Impact of SSI reduction strategy after colorectal resection
A nurse at Stony Brook Medicine, Long Island, NY, describes how that institution reduced surgical site infection for colorectal surgery by taking precautions at all phases of care, from prehospital to postoperative.
Rural surgery: High pressure but rewarding
The challenges of practicing in a rural setting, including professional isolation, are explored in this month’s column.
Trust: The keystone of the physician-patient relationship
Trust is the basis for a productive physician-patient according to Dr. Pellegrini, who summarizes his John J. Conley Ethics and Philosophy Lecture presented at Clinical Congress 2016.
Surgery versus monitoring and endocrine therapy for low-risk DCIS: The COMET Trial
The COMET Trial—a prospective randomized study aimed at assessing the risks and benefits associated with active surveillance versus guideline concordant care for patients with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ—is the focus of this month’s column.
J. Marion Sims: Paving the way
J. Marion Sims, MD, a pioneer in gynecologic surgery, is profiled in this month’s column.
New ACS Foundation board members installed
The philanthropic interests of three new members of the ACS Foundation Board of Directors are described in this month’s column.
Annual report provides details on patient safety, quality improvements
An overview of The Joint Commission’s Annual Report 2016 is provided, including a summary of chart-abstracted measures covered in the report.
Annual Report 2016: Almost a 10
The 2016 Annual Report of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB®)—an updated analysis of the largest aggregation of U.S. and Canadian trauma registry data—is highlighted.
Michael J. Zinner, MD, FACS, elected Chair of ACS Board of Regents
Nationally recognized cancer surgeon Michael J. Zinner, MD, FACS, Coral Gables, FL, is the 2016–2017 Chair of the Board of Regents (B/R) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
Leigh A. Neumayer, MD, FACS, elected Vice-Chair of ACS Board of Regents
Leigh A. Neumayer, MD, FACS, is the 2016–2017 Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents (B/R) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
In memoriam: Jay L. Grosfeld, MD, FACS, champion for pediatric surgery patients
Jay L. Grosfeld, MD, FACS, a pediatric surgery and Past First Vice-President of the ACS, died October 19, 2016.
ACS achieves notable legislative victories in 2016
The ACS federal lobbying team successfully accomplished multiple legislative wins in 2016 covering a range of topics including the Cancer Moonshot initiative, opioid research and treatment funding, and issues related to health information technology interoperability.
