Surgical team members, clinical registry experts, and allied and administrative health care professionals who are dedicated to raising the bar on the quality of surgical care and patient safety are invited to attend the American College of Surgeons (ACS) 2018 Quality and Safety Conference, July 21–24 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, FL.
This year’s event will feature leaders in surgery and a variety of speakers and presentations focused on the following ACS Quality Programs:
- ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®)
- ACS Children’s Surgery Verification Program, and ACS NSQIP Pediatric
- Cancer Programs, including the Commission on Cancer and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program
- Trauma Quality Programs, including Pediatrics, Trauma Center Verification, the Trauma Quality Improvement Program, and Performance Improvement and Patient Safety
The conference theme, Partnering for Improvement, will set the tone for the meeting, as presenters and organizers strive to achieve the following:
- Provide a professional forum to discuss and apply the most recent knowledge pertaining to national, international, and local quality and safety initiatives in the field of surgery
- Present methods used to analyze data from ACS Quality Programs and demonstrate practical ways to use the data for quality improvement
- Assist hospitals and providers in managing, analyzing, and interpreting data by providing education on proven methods that will empower hospitals and centers to make a positive impact at their facilities
- Enhance the learning experience by offering breakout sessions that educate attendees on the topic areas of their choice and with consideration of their level of programmatic experience
An additional track will be dedicated to Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality and Safety, the “red book.” This track will explore concepts and resources from the publication, information on quality improvement tools, methodology, nomenclature, and organizational design and infrastructure. Other notable sessions will highlight important clinical topics, such as efficiency in surgical care, the opioid epidemic, and preoperative optimization.
Keynote speaker Rolf Benirschke, a former placekicker in the National Football League, will discuss his experience collapsing on a cross-country team flight while battling ulcerative colitis and subsequently undergoing two emergency operations within six days. Mr. Benirschke made a successful recovery and came back to play seven more seasons for the San Diego Chargers. To this day, Mr. Benirschke serves as a patient advocate and takes time to connect personally with patients.
Further details about the conference can be viewed on the ACS Quality and Safety Conference web page.
