ACS in the News

December 2023

As gun violence increases, a lack of trauma care in rural America puts millions at risk
NBC News, December 29, 2023

"For more than a decade, the Rural Trauma Team Development Course developed by the American College of Surgeons has helped rural hospitals buy lifesaving time for people shot far from a major trauma center."

Post-Trauma Support Can Prevent Repeat Hospitalizations
U.S. News & World Report, December 27, 2023

"Best practices for treating trauma are detailed at the American College of Surgeons."

Is Our Healthcare System Prepared For A Massive Terrorist Attack?
Forbes, December 20, 2023

"The American College of Surgeons soon developed programs such as Advanced Trauma Life Support to train thousands of health care providers in state-of-the-art trauma care while they also established (and continue to advance) rigorous standards for designated trauma centers."

November 2023

Finding high-quality surgical care in your community.
Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2023

“Navigating healthcare is a complex endeavor and knowing where to find high-quality surgical care can be an intimidating task. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) makes it easier for patients and families to find hospitals that meet high-quality evidence-based standards and consistently deliver better surgical outcomes.”

Why so many Americans bleed to death after a traumatic injury
The Dallas Morning News, November 28, 2023

“Earlier this year, three medical associations, including the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, published a joint statement showing their support for giving blood to hemorrhaging patients on the way to the hospital whenever possible.” 

• Read the entire six-part series

Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Doctor stresses importance of screenings -- and no smoking
CBS New York, November 9, 2023

“November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and this Saturday is the second annual National Lung Cancer Screening Day. Screening is one of the most effective ways to detect lung cancer at its earliest stages - when it's most treatable. But only about 15% of Americans are routinely screened for lung cancer, resulting in thousands of preventable deaths every year. We spoke with Dr. Timothy Mullett, with the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer, to learn more about the screening process, and why people should quit smoking.”

October 2023

More on breast cancer screening recommendations
WGN9, October 28, 2023

“Many women find breast cancer thanks to early screening. But the recommendations can be confusing. What age do we begin? How often should we screen and what is the best method? For those answers, we turn to breast surgeon Dr. Katharine Yao of the American College of Surgeons and NorthShore University HealthSystem.”

7,500 Daily Steps Before Surgery and Complication Risks Plummet
HealthDay, October 25, 2023 

“The odds of complications within 90 days after hospital discharge were reduced by half if a patient was getting more than 7,500 steps a day before their procedure, the study found. The findings were presented this week at the American College of Surgeons annual meeting, in Boston.”

Looking for Reliable Info Online on Breast Cancer Surgery? It's Tough to Find
HealthDay, October 25, 2023

“Educational materials on breast cancer surgery often vary widely in quality of information and tone, and they are often written above the sixth-grade reading level, new research indicates. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends a sixth- to seventh-grade reading level for these materials. The research was presented Wednesday at the American College of Surgeons' annual meeting, in Boston.”

AI Can Now Predict Your Chances of Surviving Cancer
Newsweek, October 20, 2023

“Their analysis, presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2023, included data from 259,485 breast cancer patients, 76,624 thyroid cancer patients and 84,514 pancreatic cancer patients. For each cancer site, the team found multiple characteristics that significantly influenced survival at five years post-diagnosis. These included age at diagnosis, tumor size, the time from diagnosis to treatment and whether the patient had surgery.”

All right, let’s settle this: Could Sabine have survived that lightsaber wound or not?
Polygon, October 4, 2023

“Our expert is Dr. Owen McCabe, an MD board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care. He’s a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is currently a trauma and acute care surgeon. He works for District Medical Group and staffs Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Aside from that, he’s a professor of surgery at Creighton University and the associate program director for the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship. Crucially, McCabe also considers himself a Star Wars fan (although he admits to dropping off a bit after the prequels), and he dialed into our call having done ‘prep work,’ which we took to mean ‘spent several hours on Wookieepedia.’”

Find Hospitals Deemed Ready to Treat Children in Your Area
The Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2023

“State criteria for pediatric trauma centers also vary. The Journal excluded pediatric trauma centers that didn’t meet many of the requirements of the American College of Surgeons, a professional association that sets detailed standards for trauma centers and verifies hundreds of them nationwide.”

August 2023

Surgery underutilized for early-stage pancreatic cancer
Healio, August 17, 2023

“Researchers observed an association between older age and failure to operate (OR = 2.55; 95% CI, 1.8-3.61). In contrast, treatment at an American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer-accredited center appeared associated with a lower likelihood of failure to operate (OR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.5-0.78).”

Billings Clinic becomes Montana's first Level 1 Trauma Center     
NBC Montana, August 3, 2023

“Billings Clinic is honored to announce that it has been verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as Montana’s first Level I Trauma Center, making it the only one in a 550-mile radius that includes all of Montana and Wyoming.”

July 2023

ACS: 19 surgical organizations oppose CMS code G2211
OR Manager, July 26, 2023

“The American College of Surgeons (ACS) announced, on July 26, that it and 18 other surgical organizations sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), strongly opposing implementation of its code G2211.”

What you need to know about copperhead snake bites             
National Geographic, July 25, 2023

“A 2010 study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons tracked 88 copperhead bites in patients seen from 1995 to 2010. Of these patients treated, none received antivenom or surgery but were instead treated for pain and swelling.”

June 2023

Health Beat: Medical trauma in rural areas
WFMZ, June 7, 2023

“Dr. Brown is working with the American College of Surgeons to develop triage guidelines for emergency responders and with EMS groups across the country to get the information out to first responders.”

May 2023

Experts renew concerns over delayed cancer diagnoses
Becker’s Hospital Review, May 31, 2023

“‘The incidence for all these cancers decreased, but there's no reason to believe that cancer incidence dropped during the pandemic in 2020. The data we observe is not likely due to decreasing incidence rates, but I think more likely reflective of missing cancer diagnoses,’ Kelsey Romatoski, MD, author of the study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and general surgery resident at Boston Medical Center said in a statement.”

Bleeding control kits at wall stations in Wrigley Field
WGN, May 25, 2023

“Doctors with the American College of Surgeons say knowing how to stop the bleed is just as important as knowing CPR.”

Dr. Patricia Turner on the Health Care Industry in the U.S.
Washington Journal C-Span, May 1, 2023

“Dr. Patricia Turner talked about the state of the health care industry in the U.S., including financial challenges and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

April 2023

New Breast Cancer Standards Focus on Putting the Patient's Journey First
NBC Connecticut, April 21, 2023

“The American College of Surgeons released new standards this week for who doctors can better treat breast cancer patients.”

March 2023

A surgeon drove all night to make an emergency house call
Chicago Tribune, March 31, 2023

“‘Dr. Gurmendi’s exceptional dedication to caring for his patient is yet another inspiring example of how surgeons put their patients first each and every day,’ said Dr. Patricia L. Turner, executive director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons. ‘Going to extraordinary lengths to care for their patients is common for surgeons as we strive to embody our mission to heal all with skill and trust.’”

Kidnapping in Mexico Draws Attention to Medical Tourism Industry
New York Times, March 8, 2023

“It’s important for patients to ensure that anyone giving them medical care has received proper training, said Dr. Patricia Turner, executive director of the American College of Surgeons. That includes not just the doctor performing surgery, for example, but also the person administering anesthesia or interpreting X-rays.”

February 2023

Surgeons' intuition is often correct, but technology is better, study says
Becker’s Hospital Review, February 24, 2023

“Led by researchers from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., the study set out to understand ‘whether a physician's intuition, including their training and past experiences, could be used in risk prediction similar to a standardized surgical risk calculator developed by the American College of Surgeons,’ according to a Feb. 23 press release.”

How ‘extraordinary’ survivors are still being pulled from rubble 10 days after massive earthquake
CNN, February 18, 2023

“‘In trauma patients, cold temperature is not a good thing for the physiology in general. After some degree of hypothermia, cardiac arrest can be a problem. Blood clotting factors do not work well, and other serious physiologic derangements happen,’ said Dr. Girma Tefera, medical director of the American College of Surgeons’ Operation Giving Back.”

January 2023

These ordinary people risked their lives to save others. Who makes a hero?
San Diego Union-Tribune, January 29, 2023

"Dr. Kenji Inaba is the chief of trauma and surgical critical care at the University of Southern California’s Kent School of Medicine. He also runs the Stop the Bleed program for the American College of Surgeons.
Bleeding is the number one preventable cause of death after injury, Inaba said, and when bleeding occurs, seconds can make a difference between living and dying."

Jacobi earns surgical quality designation from American College of Surgeons
Bronx Times, January 3, 2023

“NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi’s Chief Executive Officer Christopher Mastromano announced on Dec. 23, that the facility had been named a Surgical Quality Partner by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).”

December 2022

Surgeons pitching ideas for safe, responsible gun ownership
KSAT, December 26, 2022

"Dr. Stewart treated patients after two mass shootings, the May 24th shooting at Robb Elementary and the November 2017 shooting in Sutherland Springs. “We should all acknowledge that it is preventable,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be this way.” Dr. Stewart is a part of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. The committee drafted these articles focused on preventing gun violence and death."

November 2022

Raising lung cancer awareness on Coast Live
WTKR, November 30, 2022

"Dr. Daniel Boffa joins Coast Live to discuss some risks, warning signs and common misconceptions associated with lung cancer."

Health Tips Tuesday: importance of lung cancer screenings
Western Mass News, November 29, 2022

“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in United States, according to the American Cancer Society, but is there a way to detect it early? Dr. Timothy Mullett, chair of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons in Lexington, KY, spoke with Western Mass News to discuss screening options that can detect lung cancer at its earliest stages when it is most treatable.”

October 2022

The Dr. Pat Show, October 24, 2022

Dr. Katharine Yao discusses the decline in mammograms and why it’s critical for anyone who has put off a mammogram during the pandemic to get their screening completed soon. October is a vital month of observance for breast cancer awareness.

Transplanted Livers Can Survive Past 100
Smithsonian Magazine, October 20, 2022

"Your liver could outlive you—even into the triple-digits, new research suggests. Using the United Network for Organ Sharing’s organ transplant database, scientists assessed the ages of 253,406 livers transplanted between 1990 and 2022. Their analysis revealed that 25 of them had survived for more than 100 years. Fourteen of these were still in their recipient, and the oldest liver the researchers found was 108 years old, per New Scientist’s Carissa Wong. The research, presented Sunday at the Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2022, has the potential to make more livers available for donation, cutting down long waiting lists for the organ."

September 2022

Doctors lobby Congress for Medicare payment bump, again
MSN, September 7, 2022

““We’re continuing to urge action on this and try to see if we can’t facilitate some commitment toward action on this issue,” said Christian Shalgian, director of the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy at the American College of Surgeons.”

Physicians and EMS Who Responded to Mass Shootings Develop Consensus Recommendations for Improving Care
JAMA Medical News & Perspectives, September 27, 2022

"Amid recurring mass shootings in the US, health care responders have helped develop consensus recommendations for improving care during these incidents. The guidance, recently published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, is based on the experiences of emergency medical services (EMS) professionals, emergency medicine physicians, and surgeons who responded to 6 US mass shootings in which 15 or more people were injured or killed."

August 2022

Las Vegas trauma surgeon shares lessons learned from Oct. 1 shooting
Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 3, 2022

"Trauma surgeon Dr. Deborah Kuhls was nearing the end of a 12-hour shift at University Medical Center when she heard over the hospital radio there had been a shooting on the Strip and to expect five to 10 patients. Then it was 10 to 20 patients. Minutes later, the guidance was to prepare for 50 to 100 patients. This was Oct. 1, 2017, when a gunman opened fire from the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay on the crowd below attending a country music festival. Sixty-one people died, including the gunman, and hundreds were injured…She has co-authored a new study, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, with recommendations for the medical response to a mass shooting based on lessons learned."

Access to trauma care is improving across the country, but progress remains uneven
STAT, August 9, 2022

"The study, which looked at trauma centers verified by the American College of Surgeons, found that access differed across regions. Native Americans faced the lowest access to trauma care at 70%, as well as the smallest improvement to access among any group. The share of people living in proximity to a trauma center was also lower in rural states like Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota, and in the South, where it dipped below 50% in two states."

July 2022

A Clunky Mask May be the Answer to Airborne Disease and N95 Waste
New York Times, July 3, 2022

“Experts say the U.S. government has unintentionally encouraged a dependency on imported masks by failing to promote elastomeric respirators, a reusable mask that is domestically produced…According to a paper [Dr. Sricharan Chalikonda] published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, none of the employees went back to wearing N95s. The cost benefit of relying almost entirely on elastomerics became irrefutable: Outfitting the workers was one-tenth as expensive than supplying them with disposable N95s. A separate study found that after one year, the filters were still 99 percent effective.”

June 2022

Surgeons call for action to reduce gun violence
MedPage Today, June 2, 2022

"Working to understand and address the root causes of gun violence while also making firearm ownership as safe as possible will go a long way toward solving the problem of gun violence, Ronald Stewart, MD, said here Thursday at a briefing sponsored by the American College of Surgeons."

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: The damage to the human body caused by firearms
CNN, June 8, 2022

"The American College of Surgeons, the professional organization that represents the people who see this type of injury all too often, has been calling for tighter control of weapons and more common-sense rules. In 2018, the ACS’s Firearms Strategy Task Force released 13 recommendations that includes items like regulating heavy-duty firearms, more safety training, and increasing recognition of mental health issues. But the bipartisan legislation currently being considered in the House of Representatives falls short of these recommendations."

May 2022

How to Find the Best Health Care in a Post-Pandemic World
AARP, May 9, 2022

"Doctors often have multiple abbreviations after their names, but look for “FACS” (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons). That means surgeons are not only board certified, but they have also passed a thorough professional and ethical evaluation, says Patricia Turner, M.D., executive director of ACS."

April 2022

How to Stop Bleeding in an Emergency Until Help Arrives
Huffington Post, April 26, 2022

"There’s a difference between a mild injury and a life-threatening situation that you need to address ASAP. If the bleeding you see is continuous, large in volume, or spurting like “a sprinkler,” it is life-threatening, according to Stop the Bleed, which is led by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma."

March 2022

Trauma kits to be installed in every city building in Chicago under 'Stop the Bleed' program
Health Day, March 1, 2022

"Chicago officials on Tuesday announced the expansion of the 'Stop the Bleed' program, which will provide the kits in every city building. [...] More than 500 kits are already installed in 350 city buildings, including public libraries, City Hall and Navy Pier.The Stop the Bleed program was created in 2015 by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. The program has trained more than 1.5 million people."

February 2022

Standard Protocol Cuts Opioid Rx After Pediatric Appendectomy
Health Day, February 23, 2022

"A standardized prescribing protocol can minimize opioid prescriptions at the time of discharge for pediatric appendectomy patients, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

'Elective surgery is essential surgery,' says American College of Surgeons
Healio, February 14, 2022

"The American College of Surgeons has issued comments on elective surgery during the recent surge in COVID-19 cases stating, "Elective surgery is essential surgery.""

The State of Telemedicine in Surgery
General Surgery News, February 8, 2022

"At the 2021 virtual annual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, current and future trends in telemedicine in surgery and surgical education were discussed by three experts: Aaron Lesher, MD, an associate professor of surgery and pediatrics at Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston; Joe Sharma, MD, the vice chair of quality, patient safety and care innovation at Emory University, in Atlanta; and Christopher Schlachta, MD, a professor of surgery at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, in Western University, London, Ontario."

Dr. Bonnie Simpson Mason named 1st director of diversity for American College of Surgeons
Becker's Spine Review, February 7, 2022

"Bonnie Simpson Mason, MD, was named the first medical director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the American College of Surgeons. [...] In the role, she will lead initiatives for anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, according to a Feb. 1 news release. She will work with stakeholders to assess potential barriers and identify opportunities to recruit and retain a diverse workforce."

Americans get sicker as omicron stalls everything from heart surgeries to cancer care
NPR, February 4, 2022

"The impact on surgery is incredibly broad," says Dr. Patricia Turner, executive director of the American College of Surgeons. "It's going to be felt for a long time." [...] Hospitals have processes for evaluating which operations can't afford to wait. The American College of Surgeons publishes guidelines for decision-making around elective surgeries."

January 2022

Counting Covid-19 Cases Doesn't Capture the Pandemic's Impact
The New York Times, January 26, 2022

"But other unnecessary deaths are only now being set in motion. When hospitals fill up during Covid surges, for example, elective surgeries are postponed. Yet "elective" — a designation that applies to everything from cancer removal to joint replacement and accounts for about 90 percent of operations in the U.S. — doesn't mean "optional." "Elective cases are no less essential, but they can be scheduled," says Patricia Turner, executive director of the American College of Surgeons, which published guidance early in the pandemic for how hospitals should triage patients. "Patients who delay their surgery may be worse by the time they get to the operating room." If they have complications or don't survive, however, that Covid-related delay won't be listed as their cause of death or disability."

Black Women and Breast Cancer: Experts Discuss Shortcomings in Care
General Surgery News, January 26, 2022

"Black women have more aggressive breast cancer at a young age than other women, and they're more likely to die at a young age from these cancers. But they don't have the same opportunities for screening, genetic testing, treatment and clinical trial participation, experts in oncology reported during a panel session at the 2021 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons."

Blacks Increased Telemedicine Use for Surgical Consults
The New York Times, January 21, 2022

"There was increased use of telemedicine for surgical consults among some historically underrepresented patient groups during the second phase of the pandemic, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Telemedicine use grows among Black patients, but barriers remain
Health Leaders, January 18, 2022

"The study, published online this week in Journal of the American College of Surgeons, found that in-person visits increased among Black and White patients as the pandemic dragged on in mid-2020. And while White patients continued to be majority users of video telehealth, Black patients were 50% more likely to have virtual visits than white patients."

November 2021

American College of Surgeons, Oct. 23-27
Health Day, November 12, 2021

"The annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons was held virtually this year from Oct. 23 to 27 and attracted participants from around the world, including surgeons, medical experts, allied health professionals, and administrators. The conference included hundreds of general and specialty sessions, postgraduate courses, scientific paper presentations, video-based education presentations, and posters focusing on the latest advances in surgical care."

How does a surgeon's language affect patient risk perception?
News-Medical, November 4, 2021

"We conducted a series of online surveys using Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk) crowdsourcing platform. In the surveys, we described appendicitis, which is one of the most common acute surgical conditions, and some options for treating it including surgery and antibiotics. We then described some of the complications that can happen with each treatment, such as a surgical site infection or an abscess in the belly."

ACS: Patients Can Be Evaluated for Stroke and Trauma With STRAUMA Alert
Health Day, November 3, 2021

"The novel STRAUMA alert activation allows for expedited evaluation of both stroke and trauma, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons, held virtually from Oct. 23 to 27."

October 2021

'We are failing Black women': Experts urge action to reduce disparities in breast cancer
Healio, October 27, 2021

"'It is widely known in the medical community that BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are prevalent in the Ashkenazi Jewish community, but what is not widely known is that they are also prevalent in Black women — and this is not new data,' Debra Monticciolo, MD, past president of the American College of Radiology and vice chair of the department of radiology and section chief of breast imaging at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Temple in Texas, said during an American College of Surgeons virtual press event. 'We have also long known that Black women have higher death rates and that these women have a twofold increased risk for triple-negative breast cancers, as well.'"

Volumes for these elective procedures are closest to rebounding from COVID declines, Epic finds
Fierce Healthcare, October 25, 2021

"Lockdown was defined as when the American College of Surgeons and the U.S. surgeon general recommended halting elective procedures, Epic said. The study used predictive modeling to estimate volume baselines for each month studied and then compared the difference to actual figures. The model did not account for COVID-19, Epic told Fierce Healthcare."

Correlation Identified Between Financial Toxicity and Disparities in Psychosocial, Physical, and Mental Quality of Life in Breast Cancer
Cancer Network, October 13, 2021

"Financial toxicity appears to have a correlation with statistically significant and meaningful differences in BREAST-Q psychosocial wellbeing, as well as well as satisfaction with breast reconstruction and SF-12 global mental and physical quality of life, according to findings from a retrospective study published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons."

AI finds forgotten surgical instruments in patients' bodies
AI in Healthcare, October 6, 2021

"Noting that surgical sponges account for 70% of instruments and supplies that inadvertently get left behind in patients' bodies, researchers say they've designed AI software that can flag these "retained" items with good to excellent accuracy. The work was conducted at Nagasaki University in Japan and is published in Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

9 Advances in Breast Cancer Treatment
American Mobile, October 5, 2021

"The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has developed an evidence-based breast cancer skills kit, with videos and images to simplify complex information, in collaboration with other organizations, including the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers with ONS representatives. Patients, caregivers and nurses can use the online kit to educate patients about all aspects of breast cancer, including treatments and expectations. "We go into detail about how to manage [post-operatively]," Heneghan said."

September 2021

Weight Loss Surgery a Good Option for Severely Obese Kids: Study
Health Day, September 28, 2021

"'Our findings present clear evidence that should remove hesitance to perform bariatric surgical treatment in children and young adolescents who could benefit from the operation,' Alqahtani said in a news release from the American College of Surgeons. 'We have a proven solution for severe obesity and its comorbidities [related diseases],' he added."

Weight loss surgery should be an option for severely obese children, doctors say
The Philly Voice, September 28, 2021

"The study participants lost an average of 30% of their total weight and had reversal of type 2 diabetes and important heart disease risk factors. There were no major complications, nor were there any differences in weight loss or height trajectory for the younger kids, ages 5-14, compared the older participants. The long-term results of the surgery also were positive. Participants maintained an average 71% loss of excess weight. More than 70% of them had complete reversal of type 2 diabetes. The findings were published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons."

Give fat children weight loss surgery because it's safe and works, doctors say
The Daily Mail, September 23, 2021

"NHS England said in 2017 that bariatric surgery should be offered to severely obese children after other non-invasive methods, such as diets, have failed. Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics published in 2019 say children and teenagers should be eligible for surgery if their body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher, or if they have a related major health problem. The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

'I Just Cry All the Time': Non-Covid Patients Despair Over Delayed Care
The New York Times, September 22, 2021

"'We all learned a tremendous amount over the last year and a half,' said Dr. David Hoyt, the executive director for the American College of Surgeons, which released guidelines to help surgeons adjust their caseloads rather than cancel non-urgent procedures."

Telemedicine Gets High Marks for Follow-Ups After Surgery
US News, September 20, 2021

"After routine surgery, a "virtual" follow-up visit might be just as good as a traditional office appointment, a new study suggests. […] The study -- published recently in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons -- involved 289 patients who had appendix or gallbladder surgery between 2017 and March 2020."

August 2021

Hospitals full with COVID patients, making waits and diversions the norm
The Daily News, August 30, 2021

"The medical branch couldn't immediately say Monday what kind of procedures were being postponed. Common procedures canceled by COVID include cataract surgeries, knee or hip replacements, hernia repairs and plastic or reconstructive procedures, according to the American College of Surgeons."

Hospital-Based Intervention Can Save Lives. A Growing Movement Is Betting on Medicaid to Fund It.
The Trace, August 19, 2021

"The Health Alliance has 40 participating members nationwide and works with about as many emerging programs. The number is growing, but it still represents a proportionally small presence among the 536 trauma centers verified by the American College of Surgeons, the hospitals most likely to treat gunshot victims."

Gov. Greg Abbott asks Texas hospitals to delay nonessential procedures as COVID-19 patients strain capacity
Texas Tribune, August 9, 2021

"For now, Abbott appears most focused on freeing up resources for COVID-19 patients, particularly hospital capacity. Still, after Abbott's announcement Monday, the American College of Surgeons issued a reminder that delaying elective procedures "is not without consequences by creating more medically complex cases and significantly impacting patients' quality of life.""

July 2021

How to Get Surgeons to Make Cost-Effective Decisions Without Jeopardizing Care
Harvard Business Review, July 28, 2021

"To spur others to adopt a similar approach, professional associations such as the American College of Surgeons and the American Hospital Association should work with electronic-health-records vendors to develop these kinds of simple plug-ins and packages to provide cost comparisons and reminders to physicians. Physician leaders should consider initiating  "accountability & affordability" tracks to their hospitals' "Morbidity & Mortality" conferences in order to encourage all clinicians to be more conscious of costs. And residency programs should include cost-transparency initiatives as part of the training of new physicians."

Leading medical groups urge mandatory vaccinations for all health care workers
NBC News, July 26, 2021

"'As the health care community leads the way in requiring vaccines for our employees, we hope all other employers across the country will follow our lead and implement effective policies to encourage vaccination,' according to a joint statement from 56 health care associations. 'The health and safety of U.S. workers, families, communities, and the nation depends on it.' The coalition includes the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Surgeons and the American Public Health Association."

Survey: 85% of U.S. surgeons support ACS efforts to reduce gun injury
Trauma System News, July 22, 2021

"According to a new survey, a substantial majority of U.S. members of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) support the organization taking an active role in advocating for policies and programs designed to lower the risk of firearm-related injuries and deaths. The initiatives they support include preventing people with serious mental illness from buying firearms and cracking down on illegal firearms sales."

American College of Surgeons launches surgical quality program for hospitals
Becker's Hospital Review,  July 12, 2021

"The American College of Surgeons has created a standardized method to measure and improve surgical quality in hospitals, the organization said July 12. The college's Quality Verification Program is based on 12 standards for hospitals to meet, such as having a designated surgical safety officer and standardized data collection processes."

Meet The Medical Pioneer Who Founded America's First Black-Owned Hospital
Forbes, July 10, 2021

"[Daniel Hale] Williams' impact was wide. He co-founded the National Medical Association (NMA), the first professional organization for Black doctors, created as an alternative to the American Medical Association which had racist policies at the time. He performed another breakthrough surgery with the successful repair of a spleen, in 1902. And in 1913 he became the first Black surgeon to be accepted into the American College of Surgeons (ACS). 'Prejudice being as it was, there were some who said that it wasn't appropriate for a Black surgeon to be part of the American College of Surgeons,' says Don Nakayama, the current ACS treasurer. But Williams was too accomplished to ignore. In the end, Nakayama explains, 'he was acknowledged and accepted as an equal.'"

Inside the Launch of The Surgical Palliative Care Society
General Surgery News, July 8, 2021

"Fifty years ago, Balfour M. Mount, MD, a urologic oncologist, introduced and championed the field of palliative medicine, a specialty that aims to enhance quality of life for patients and families who are facing potentially life-limiting conditions. In the late 1990s, Geoffrey Dunn, MD, and Robert Milch, MD, both general surgeons, brought the concept of palliative medicine to the attention of the American College of Surgeons, and in 2003, the ACS spearheaded a committee dedicated to surgical palliative care."

July Fourth Puts Focus on Surging Sales of Fireworks, and a Severe Toll
The Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2021

"'It was just a striking number of people that had serious injuries,' Dr. Inaba said. 'The other thing that's important to note is that, as trauma surgeons, we see the most severely injured patients. There are a lot with minor injuries that don't require the services of a trauma surgeon.' The doctors—whose experience was mirrored in emergency rooms across the country—plan to present their data at the American College of Surgeons meeting this fall."

Oncology Social Workers 'Just as Important' as Chemo
Medscape, July 6, 2021

"Last year, [Timothy W. Mullett, MD, MBA, FACS,] was appointed chair of the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a subgroup of the American College of Surgeons that oversees the accreditation of 1500-plus community cancer care facilities serving 70% of cancer patients in the United States.

In 2015, after consultation with the Association of Oncology Social Workers (AOSW), the CoC formally integrated social work into cancer care by mandating psychosocial distress screening followed by an appropriate clinical response as a new standard of care for accreditation."

June 2021

Covid's lingering effects can put the breaks on elective surgery
NBC News, June 24, 2021

"Some experts said seven weeks is too arbitrary a threshold for scheduling surgery for patients who have had Covid-19. In addition to patients' recovery status from the virus, the calculus will be different for an older patient with chronic conditions who needs major heart surgery, for example, than for a generally healthy person in their 20s who needs a straightforward hernia repair. Covid-19 is just one of the things to be taken into account,' said Dr. Kenneth Sharp, a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons and vice chair of the Department of Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center."

Amnesty International USA Urges Congress To Pass The Break The Cycle Of Violence Act
Amnesty International, June 24, 2021

"'Reintroducing the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, and signing it into law, will give local heroes and the programs they run to reduce gun violence the financial support that's been missing for far too long,' said Ernest Coverson, Amnesty International USA's End Gun Violence Campaign Manager. According to a study by physicians and researchers featured in the American College of Surgeons Journal, gun violence costs the U.S. healthcare system $170 billion per year. The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention concluded that it would cost an estimated $670 million per year — $5.36 billion over eight years — to fund sustained and adequate violence intervention programs in the 48 U.S. cities with the highest rates of violence."

Take stock of your health with this post-lockdown checklist
The Oakland Press, June 17, 2021

"Indeed, in March 2020 alone, more than 800 lung cancer screening appointments at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center were postponed because of COVID-19 restrictions, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. When testing resumed later that year, 29% of people had suspicious nodules versus 8% before the pandemic."

15 words that changed, defined healthcare this past year
Becker's Hospital Review, June 15, 2021

"The word "essential" also gained prominence as hospitals grappled with COVID-19-related capacity restraints and had to cancel elective surgeries to free up space or reserve limited personal protective equipment supplies. This ignited discussions about what qualified as essential or nonessential surgeries, with some hospitals opting to ignore the American College of Surgeons' recommendation to cancel all elective procedures."

In Alleged Health Care 'Money Grab,' Nation's Largest Hospital Chain Cashes In on Trauma Centers
Kaiser Health News, June 14, 2021

"HCA 'has basically taken a position that all of their hospitals should be trauma centers,' said Dr. Robert Winchell, describing conversations he had with HCA officials. Winchell is a trauma surgeon and former chairman of the trauma evaluation and planning committee at the American College of Surgeons."

Health Care Workers Deserve Fashion, Too
The New York Times, June 9, 2021

"Scrubs, which take their name from the fact they are worn in a scrubbed environment, according to a history of operating room attire from the American College of Surgeons, were first mentioned by a surgeon in 1894. But they did not come into widespread use in hospitals until the 1940s. (Doctors used to just put aprons over their suits.) Initially made in white, scrubs morphed into their familiar green because under bright lights the white blended in with the white of most operating rooms."

AMM surgical simulation enhances learner experience for trauma surgeons Study
Medical Dialogues, June 3, 2021

"The DoD subcontracted with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education to conduct field testing of the AMM. The results have been published online in advance of print by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Robert M. Sweet, MD, FACS, MAMSE, of the department of surgery at the University of Washington, served as principal investigator (PI) of the DoD contract to build the AMM. Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS, FRCSC, FSACME, MAMSE, Director, Division of Education, American College of Surgeons, served as the PI for the subcontract to conduct field testing."

Rad Strong: Through Collaborations, "We Are Stronger Together"
Diagnostic Imaging, June 3, 2021

"Partnership for joint recommendations for breast cancer patients with the American Society of Breast Surgeons, National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the Commission on Cancer, and the American College of Surgeons."

Fixing what telehealth couldn't
Politico, June 2, 2021

"L. Scott Levin, chair of the American College of Surgeons Board of Regents and an orthopedist and plastic surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, says post-surgical telehealth visits could become routine. Doctors could examine how a patient stands up, straightens a limb or moves about at home."

Massachusetts surgeon pioneers multidisciplinary breast cancer clinics
Fifty Plus Advocate, June 2, 2021

"Wertheimer added, 'In 2009, our clinic was the first in the state to be certified by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a branch of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. The hospitals from the other side of the river in Boston were looking at us.'"

May 2021

As Medicaid Access Expands, So Does Cancer Survival
U.S. News, May 19, 2021

The study included nearly 1.5 million adults aged 18 to 64. They were diagnosed with one of 17 common cancers between 2010 and 2013 and were in the National Cancer Database."

As Vaccination Rates Increase, Doctors Remind Patients to Resume Routine Cancer Screenings
Verywell Health, May 7, 2021

"With more than a third of Americans now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) recently began a nationwide campaign to remind people to resume regular cancer screenings if they missed any such tests during the pandemic."

In Interactions With Law Enforcement, Black Males More Likely to Suffer Severe Injury
Medscape, May 6, 2021

"The analysis of data from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) found that the number of white individuals who sustained firearm injuries was about twice that of Black individuals, according to the report published in JAMA Surgery."

Mortality Risk Up for Fragmented Care After Complex Cancer Surgery
Health Day, May 3, 2021

"Travel distance and timing contribute to care fragmentation following hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and gastric oncologic operations, according to a study published online April 15 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

April 2021

After Complex Cancer Surgery, Readmission to Different Hospital Tied to Increased Risk of Death
Medscape, April 30, 2021

"The fragmentation of care that happens when a patient is readmitted to an outside hospital (OSH) is more likely if a patient lives farther from the index hospital or if they present later after the index discharge. But these two factors were not associated with increased mortality, researchers report in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

AHA News: Take Stock of Your Health With This Post-Lockdown Checklist
U.S. News, April 29, 2021

"Indeed, in March 2020 alone, more than 800 lung cancer screening appointments at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center were postponed because of COVID-19 restrictions, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. When testing resumed later that year, 29% of people had suspicious nodules versus 8% before the pandemic."

Margin-Positive Surgery Still Beneficial in Pancreatic Cancer
Health Day April 22, 2021

"For patients with stage II pancreatic cancer, attempted surgery with margin-positive resection may offer survival benefit over chemotherapy alone, according to a study published online March 26 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

FedEx shooting just another night for busy Indianapolis hospitals used to gun violence
Indy Star, April 19, 2021

"The American College of Surgeons has started a Stop the Bleed campaign, which trains people on how to save victims from bleeding to death. Many public places are now equipped with Stop the Bleed kits people can use to staunch the bleeding after a gunshot wound or injury in a car crash or another accident."

March 2021

Deaths From Complications After Complex GI Cancer Surgery Lower at 'Top Hospitals'
General Surgery News, March 29, 2021

"Patients who underwent complex gastrointestinal surgery for cancer at institutions listed in the US News & World Report annual ranking of top hospitals were less likely to die from complications than patients treated at nonranked hospitals, according to a study published this month in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Don't Delay Your Cancer Screenings, Surgeons' Group Urges
US News, March 29, 2021

"The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer is urging people to resume recommended cancer screenings to prevent further delays that could lead to diagnosis after a cancer is more advanced."

Opioids After Surgery Appropriate for Most Patients, Most Excess Pills Properly Disposed Of
Clinical Pain Advisor, March 24, 2021

"After recovering from surgery, most patients were satisfied with prescribed pain relief medications and properly disposed of excess opioid pills. These findings, from a clinical trial, were published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Blunt vs Penetrating Neck Trauma: A Retrospective Cohort Study
MDLinx, March 16, 2021

"Using the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program database, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study with the aim to ascertain the correlation between blunt and penetrating neck injuries on mortality and length of stay. In addition, they investigated the additional patient and hospital‐level characteristics that influence these outcomes."

Opioid Discharge Prescription Guideline Satisfies Most Patients
Health Day, March 16, 2021

"A patient-centered opioid discharge prescription guideline satisfies 93 percent of patients undergoing surgery, according to a research letter published online Feb. 25 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Factors Associated With Treatment Refusal and Impact of Treatment Refusal on Survival of Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer
Cancer Network, March 16, 2021

"The National Cancer Database provides national cancer surveillance data through a joint program of the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer and the American Cancer Society. This database captures approximately 70% of newly diagnosed cancer cases."

Research led by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Surgeon Shows Promise in Reducing Opioid Abuse by Surgery Patients
Yahoo! News, March 10, 2021

"A study led by Dartmouth-Hitchcock's (D-H) Section Chief of General Surgery Richard J. Barth Jr., MD, FACS, and recently published online in advance of print in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, showed high levels of satisfaction of pain management after surgery, despite being given fewer quantities of prescription opioids to take home."

February 2021

Optimal Therapy for Esophageal Cancer Feasible in Fit Elderly
Health Day, February 26, 2021

"Patients 70 years and older with locally advanced esophageal or esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer should be considered for optimal, potentially curative therapy, including neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Pain Regimen Reduces Opioid Use
News Max, February 17, 2021 

"Their study, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, found that using oral acetaminophen along with naproxen, gabapentin (the only drug that required a prescription), and lidocaine patches was an effective pain management approach."

As COVID-19 fills ICUs, Chronically Ill Patients Suffer 'Ripple Effect' of Delayed Surgeries
Los Angeles Times, February 5, 2021

"A recently updated order from the California Department of Public Health directed hospitals in regions that meet certain criteria, including having zero available ICU beds, to use a tiered system recommended by the American College of Surgeons to categorize the urgency of all elective procedures. Once ranked, the procedures that would require an overnight hospital stay should be delayed in descending order of priority, the order said, and cases should be 'triaged by the clinical judgment of the physician.'"

Bedside Manner Even More Important for Hospital Patients Admitted Via the ER
HealthDay, February 4, 2021

"Among trauma and emergency surgery patients, physician communication had a significant impact on overall satisfaction after nursing factors were accounted for, representing a 12% increase in the former and an 8.6% increase in the latter group, the researchers found. Among elective surgery and medical admission patients, physician communication didn't even rank as a third or fourth factor, the study authors said in a news release from the American College of Surgeons."

January 2021

When Will You Feel Safe to Travel? 5 Epidemiologists Share Hopes, Fears, Data and Guesses
Los Angeles Times, January 28, 2021

"Scores of U.S. hospitals are at surge capacity, with shortages of ICU beds. Because most county governments report COVID information daily, Ostrosky said, 'it's actually pretty easy' to find data. As for capability, any hospital with a Level 1 trauma center (the most comprehensive trauma care) would satisfy him, Ostrosky said. The American College of Surgeons maintains a database."

After Cancer Surgery, Higher Risks for Minorities and the 'Socially Vulnerable'
U.S. News, January 26, 2021

"Published this week in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the study found that minority patients living in struggling communities were 40% more likely to encounter a complication after cancer surgery compared with white patients who lived in better-off areas. They also faced a 23% increased risk of dying within 90 days."

Black Patients Disproportionately Left Off Liver Transplant Waitlists
Medscape, January 15, 2021

"'A potentially alarming finding derived from the data is that disparities in listing non-Hispanic Blacks increase with increasing percentage of non-Hispanic Blacks in the donor service area population,' the researchers note in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Pandemic Has Disrupted Lung Cancer Screenings
HealthDay, January 5, 2021

"COVID-19 has caused significant disruption in lung cancer screening, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Robert M. Van Haren, M.D., from the University of Cincinnati, and colleagues examined the impact of COVID-19 on lung cancer screening and subsequent cancer diagnosis among 2,153 patients captured in an institutional screening database (January 2017 to July 2020)."

COVID-19 Continues to Impact Trauma Training for CPD Officers
ABC17 News, January 5, 2021

"In the meantime, officers who have had training on the kits are advising other officers on how to use them. Hunter said even if they do not have formal training, it is important for officers to be able to provide first aid at a scene until EMS crews or someone with more training can arrive and help.

Dr. Jeffrey Coughenour is Trauma Medical Director and MU Health Care and works with the Stop the Bleed program. The program was established by the American College of Surgeons after the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting."

Clinical Congress 2020 News Coverage

Antibiotics Found Noninferior to Surgery In Randomized Appendicitis Trial
General Surgery News, November 16, 2020

"'[This] gives information to people so that, based on their characteristics, their preferences and their circumstances, including maybe COVID-19, they can figure out what's right for them,' Dr. Flum added.

He presented the results at the 2020 American College of Surgeons' Clinical Congress, which was held virtually. The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine"

Limited English-Language Proficiency May Affect Frequency of Screening Mammograms
ASCO Post, October 19, 2020

"Limited English-language proficiency may be a risk factor for receiving screening mammograms less often, according to new study results using national data. These findings, concerning women age 40 and older living in the United States, were presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020, as well as published by Jose L. Cataneo, MD,  and colleagues in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Bariatric Surgery Tied to Lower Aortic Dissection Risk
Medscape, October 15, 2020

"'It has an incredible impact on hyperlipidemia and hypertension,' said Luis Felipe Okida, MD, from Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston. 'Those are the main risk factors for aortic dissection.'

He presented the finding at the virtual American Congress of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020. The study was also published online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Do Hospitals That Primarily Serve Minority Patients Offer Standard Surgical Care for Patients With Breast Cancer
ASCO Post, October 14, 2020

"Among accredited cancer centers in the United States, hospitals serving primarily minority patients are as likely as other hospitals to offer the standard of surgical care for early-stage breast cancer, according to results presented at the virtual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020 and published by Olga Kantor, MD, MS, and colleagues in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

Virtual Care After Surgery May Be More Convenient
Newsmax.com (via HealthDay), October 8, 2020

"Total clinic time was longer for in-person visits than virtual visits (58 minutes versus 19 minutes), but patients in both groups spent the same amount of time with a member of their surgical team (8.3 minutes versus 8.2 minutes) discussing their recovery.

The findings were presented Saturday at a virtual meeting of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary."

Some Breast Surgery Won't Harm Ability to Breastfeed
U.S. News & World Report (via HealthDay), October 7, 2020

"Whether they'd had surgery or not, 80% were able to breastfeed or obtain breast milk for bottle-feeding, according to findings presented Saturday at a virtual meeting of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal."

Think enjoying a puff has no effect? Researchers say weed users may need more anaesthesia during surgery and have more pain afterward
GrowthOp, October 7, 2020

"During panel discussions at the virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020, "experts underscored the importance of helping patients stop tobacco, vaping and marijuana use before having an operation," notes a group statement. Even for routine procedures, experts noted that stop-smoking programs can reduce the risk of complications."

Screening Mammography Less Common Among Spanish-Only Speakers

Diagnostic Imaging, October 5, 2020

"'Spanish-only speakers appear to have a 27-percent less likelihood of having a screening mammogram than English speakers,' said lead study investigator Jose L. Cataneo, M.D., a general surgery resident at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC/Metropolitan Group Hospitals.

Cataneo and his colleagues presented their findings, based on women ages 40 and above living in the United States, during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2020."

Pitt Trauma Experts Aim to Reduce Death With Blood-Clotting Agent
UPMC, October 5, 2020

Severely injured trauma patients who received a blood-clotting drug before arriving at the hospital had a better chance of surviving than those who didn't, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The results will be reported at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020 and published in JAMA Surgery."

December 2020

The Military Learned to Stop the Bleeding
The Wall Street Journal, December 20, 2020

Civilian trauma care has always benefited from military wartime experience, but the process can be slow. By 2010 tourniquets were routine in the military but rare outside it. Civilian tourniquet use increased significantly after 2013, when Hartford, Conn., trauma surgeon Lenworth Jacobs convened a group of experts to study ways of saving lives in civilian mass casualty incidents such as the Sandy Hook school shooting. The Hartford Consensus led the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Emergency Physicians to endorse tourniquet use by professional first responders.

Lung Cancer Screenings Drop, Biopsy Rates Rise During COVID-19
American Journal of Managed Care, December 18, 2020

Lung cancer screenings are critical for early detection and timely treatment, but the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has made keeping up with routine care, including screenings, more difficult. A study published as an article in press by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that deferred care in the spring of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic first surged has worsened outcomes for patients with lung cancer.

The COVID-19 Results Are In: Lung Cancer Preventive Screenings Are Down, Patient Outcomes Worse
Diagnostic Imaging, December 17, 2020

Since the start of the pandemic, cross-sectional analyses have revealed a 46-percent plummet in new cancer diagnoses nationwide across six common forms of cancer, including lung cancer. In a study published Dec. 17 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, a team of investigators led by University of Cincinnati thoracic surgeon Robert Van Haren, M.D., who is also assistant professor of surgery, concentrated on the impact of not being able to provide low-dose CT (LDCT) screening for at-risk patients during this time.

Female Surgeons at Back of Bus for NIH Grants
MedPage Today, December 9, 2020

Disparities in research funding have previously been attributed to differences in academic status, but women and women of color in this study still received fewer research dollars after controlling for professional level, said Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, director of the American College of Surgeons' division of member services, who was not involved in the study.

November 2020

Medicaid expansion likely improved colon cancer care, study finds
United Press International, November 23, 2020

"Medicaid expansion has likely improved care of colon cancer, researchers said in a study published Monday in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The researchers compared states that expanded Medicaid health insurance in 2014 to non-expansion states and found that expansion led to earlier diagnosis, better access to care and improved surgical care."

Colon cancer detected earlier in states that expanded Medicaid, study finds
Becker's Hospital Review, November 23, 2020

"Patients who live in states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA were more likely to receive an earlier diagnosis of colon cancer than those who live in states that didn't expand the program, according to a study published Nov. 23 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons." 

Cancer treatment delays caused by the COVID‐19 pandemic may not hinder outcomes
American Cancer Society Journals, November 10, 2020

"For patients and clinicians who may be uneasy about delaying cancer treatments during the COVID‐19 pandemic, 2 new studies that analyzed data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) have offered some reassurance. Both investigations—a breast cancer study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and a prostate cancer study that appeared in JAMA Oncology—concluded that, in many cases, delayed breast surgery and prostate radiotherapy after diagnosis will not lead to worse outcomes."

Gun Violence Curriculum Benefits Surgical Trainees
HealthDay, November 6, 2020

"The Anatomy of Gun Violence (AGV) curriculum is well received and improves the knowledge and skills of surgical residents, according to a study published online Nov. 2 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons

'Watch and Wait' Feasible for Some Rectal Cancer Patients
HealthDay, November 3, 2020

"A "watch-and-wait" (WW) strategy may be an option for carefully selected patients who achieve a complete response (CR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) for rectal adenocarcinoma, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

August 2020

New ACS study will capture detailed data on non-lethal firearm injuries
Trauma System News, August 28, 2020

"'U.S. trauma centers that participate in TQIP will have the opportunity to take part in the study by collecting additional data elements from patient charts that relate to individual patient and community risk factors for injury,' Dr. Kuhls said. 'Trauma registrars already review charts and enter data in the TQIP database, and by adding several other data elements, we will have a much more complete picture of risk factors and circumstances of firearm injuries.'"

Proposed cuts to Medicare will be devastating to surgeons and their patients
CNN, August 20, 2020

"The Covid-19 pandemic has thus far killed more than 170,000 Americans and infected more than 5.2 million. The country's doctors and health care workers have been on the frontlines for the past six months, often working longer hours without any added pay, sleep or complaint to meet the overwhelming demands of this outbreak. Our health care system has suffered greatly due to Covid-19, and now surgeons could be faced with ill-advised and dangerous pay cuts."

Prognosis for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Remains Good Despite Pandemic-Related Delays in Surgery
Cancer Therapy Advisor, August 20, 2020

"Endocrine therapy was recommended nationwide as the initial treatment of ER-positive breast cancer during pandemic-related surgical delays by the COVID-19 Pandemic Breast Cancer Consortium. The Consortium included representatives from the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and the American College of Radiology."

'We want people to understand why we're upset' — 5 surgery, specialty group leaders on CMS' proposed 2021 fee schedule
Becker's ASC Review, August 10, 2020

"David Hoyt, MD, executive director of the American College of Surgeons: 'What Medicare reimburses surgeons does not completely cover costs. There are types of insurance that pay even less, like Medicaid, but the way a physician makes their living is to [see all those patients] in aggregate, and there is a point where you can't recover enough in aggregate to cover your cost. [When that happens,] you then have to eliminate staff or you may limit the access [that Medicare and Medicaid] patients have to your practice. There are absolutely surgeons around the country that don't take Medicare patients right now. Cutting reimbursement even more will only make that worse.'"

Survival Consistent for Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer Despite Surgery Delays
American Journal of Managed Care, August 7, 2020

"Overall delays in surgical procedures to treat early-stage breast cancer, particularly estrogen-sensitive early-stage disease, as well as receiving neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) because of such a delay, did not decrease odds of 5-year survival or increase odds of pathologic upstaging among a cohort of female patients, authors report in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

July 2020

'Race shouldn't be a factor': Healthy Black kids nearly 3.5 times more likely to die after surgery than white kids, study finds
Yahoo! News, July 20, 2020

"In the retrospective study, researchers analyzed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database, focusing on more than 170,000 children under age 17 who had inpatient surgery from 2012 through 2017. The researchers looked at postsurgical complications and serious adverse events, such as "cardiac arrest, sepsis, readmission, or reoperation," according to the study."

April 2020

Surgeons Often Warp Tumor Boards, Says Study
Medscape, April 21, 2020

"Approached for comment, Heidi Nelson, MD, medical director of cancer programs, American College of Surgeons, called the findings 'provocative.' But she wondered 'how representative' the new data were. The medical literature 'shows many advantages of tumor boards for improving care of patients,' she said."

March 2020

50 patient safety experts to know | 2020
Becker's Hospital Review, March 11, 2020

"Clifford Ko, MD. Director of the American College of Surgeons' Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care. As director of the division of research and optimal patient care at the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Ko oversees all the organization's quality improvement programs, including the cancer accreditation program and the trauma verification program. He is also director of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, an outcomes-based program that measures surgical care quality with the goal of improving it. Dr. Ko is the Robert and Kelly Day Professor of Surgery at University of California Los Angeles and has received millions of dollars in grant funding to study quality of care from several sources, including the National Institutes of Health and the CDC."

What it's like to specialize in general surgery: Shadowing Dr. Welsh
American Medical Association, March 4, 2020

"The online resource students interested in general surgery should follow: I recommend Up to Date, YouTube and the American College of Surgeons general surgery community as online resources."

February 2020

U.S. Medical Panel Thinks Twice About Pushing Cognitive Screening For Dementia
Kaiser Health News, February 25, 2020

"In a statement published last fall, the American Academy of Neurology recommended that all patients 65 and older seen by neurologists get yearly cognitive health assessments. Also, the American Diabetes Association  recommends that all adults with diabetes age 65 and older be screened for cognitive impairment at an initial visit and annually thereafter 'as appropriate.' And the American College of Surgeons now recommends screening older adults for cognitive impairment before surgery."

Pass bills to reduce firearm violence through research, limiting magazine capacity
The Seattle Times, February 19, 2020

"Rather, the approach is in alignment with the American College of Surgeons' recommendations to tackle firearm injury, death and disability as a public-health crisis rather than a divisive political problem. It would yield valuable information to help policymakers and the public find common ground."

'Every five minutes there's a road accident fatality in Pakistan'
Samaa News, February 15, 2020

"There are different levels of trauma centres and a good emergency care system consists of the proper balance of these.

Dr [Bulger] elaborated on the different levels of trauma centres required to deal with injuries and how research by the American College of Surgeons had shown the right balance lowered mortality by 23%."

Tourniquet Saved Life Of Baltimore Police Officer Shot Yesterday, Says Dr. Thomas Scalea Physician-In-Chief At Maryland Shock Trauma Center
Forbes, February 13, 2020

"The use of medical grade tourniquets, when applied correctly to a limb, are also an integral part of a campaign known as 'Stop the Bleed'. The goal of the campaign, developed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma in 2012 after the Sandy Hook tragedy, is to teach bleeding control techniques to those in the community, including application of tourniquets."

Virtual Cross-Matching May Speed Kidney Transplant Process
Physician's Weekly, February 11, 2020

"Virtual cross-matching may reduce cold ischemia time (CIT) for donor organs in kidney transplants, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons."

January 2020

What It Could Take To Cure Statewide Surgeon Shortage, Hawaii Doctors Weigh In
Hawaii Public Radio, January 28, 2020

"Hawaii is facing a major shortage of surgeons in the state, but it is especially acute in rural areas on Maui and Hawaii Island.

Dr. Whitney Limm, the governor of the Hawaii Chapter of American College of Surgeons, described the factors that are contributing to the shortage."

America can't afford billions in surprise medical bills
The Washington Post, January 17, 2020

"We support efforts to prevent patients from receiving surprise medical bills. Patients should be kept out of disputes between insurers and physicians. And we continue to encourage legislation that protects patients from surprise medical bills, promotes access to appropriate medical care, and encourages insurers to negotiate in good faith with physicians to establish adequate provider networks and fair remuneration."

U.S. Cancer Mortality Rate Declines, But Disparities In Treatment Point To Access Problems
Forbes, January 9, 2020

"In "Disparities in Receiving Guideline-Concordant Treatment for Lung Cancer in the U.S." Dr. Erik Blom and colleagues report that the probability of receiving the guideline-recommended treatments is even lower than 62% for African American patients and the elderly.

The findings are based on a review of nearly 442,000 lung cancer cases diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 in the U.S. National Cancer Database."

The 25 best jobs of 2020
U.S. News & World Report, January 7, 2020

"Surgeons may spend hours a day on their feet, operating on patients to treat injuries, diseases and deformities. In these high-stress jobs, working irregular hours isn't uncommon, and you may be constantly on call. But the work you do could save someone's life.

Surgeons must attend medical school and then complete a residency. According to the American College of Surgeons, surgical residencies last a minimum of five years."

Older People Need Geriatricians. Where Will They Come From?
The New York Times, January 3, 2020

"To some extent, this is already happening. Medical associations representing cardiologists and oncologists have begun focusing on older patients, Ms. Lundebjerg pointed out.

Health systems are adopting age-friendly approaches, like specialized emergency rooms. The American College of Surgeons' new verification program sets standards hospitals should meet to improve results for older patients."

COVID-19 News Coverage

Amid Surge, Hospitals Hesitate To Cancel Nonemergency Surgeries
Kaiser Health News, July 9, 2020

"The U.S. surgeon general, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Surgeons also recommended health care facilities suspend nonemergency surgeries.

The suspension was always intended to be temporary, said Dr. David Hoyt, executive director of the American College of Surgeons. "When this all started, it was simply a matter of overwhelming the system," he said."

Rescheduling That Elective Surgery? Here's What to Know
Next Avenue, June 9, 2020

"In a joint statement, the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses and the American Hospital Association released guidance on the resumption of elective surgery. In addition, state departments of health have issued specific guidance on when their state health care providers are allowed to resume elective procedures."

54% of US counties lack testing site; new guidance out on resuming surgeries — 7 COVID-19 updates 
Becker's Hospital Review, May 20, 2020

"Industry groups shared additional guidance for resuming elective surgeries May 19. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, American Hospital Association and AdvaMed developed the guidance on how to ensure the safe reentry of device representatives into hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The guidance builds on the existing roadmap on resuming elective surgeries that AHA rolled out April 17 with AORN, the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Anesthesiologists."

When will hospitals and doctors' offices be open for normal business again? Here's what health experts think
CNBC, May 7, 2020

"'If you delay these procedures, that itself can lead to problems and complications,' noted the American College of Surgeons in a recent statement. 'If cancer surgery is postponed indefinitely, for example, there is the potential risk that the disease will become more advanced.'"

COVID-19 Reduces Surgeons' Business, but Relief Is Available
General Surgery News, April 27, 2020

"The curtailment of elective surgery 'is causing a significant amount of distress and concern' for surgeons, said Patrick Bailey, MD, MLS, FACS, the medical director of advocacy for the American College of Surgeons (ACS)."

Elective surgeries set to resume, with complications and concerns
NBC News, April 25, 2020

"'Coronavirus is highly infectious, and if there's a procedure that would bring people together, just like in a restaurant or an airplane, then avoiding it if it can be avoided is the best practice,' Dr. David Hoyt, executive director of the American College of Surgeons, told NBC News. 'You have to balance that with patients that need surgery, but the urgency of it can be triaged, and that's what was done.'"

As California Hospitals Return To Normal, Patients Wonder When They Can Seek Care
Capitol Public Radio, April 23, 2020

"The American College of Surgeons issued the initial guidance on canceling elective surgeries, and created a scoring system with 21 considerations for hospitals trying to manage their resources.

'But there's no cut-and-dry list for which surgeries to bring back,' said Dr. Clifford Ko, who works with the group and serves as vice chair of the UCLA Department of Surgery."

Coronavirus: 10 Considerations for Resuming Elective Surgery
HealthLeaders, April 20, 2020

"The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has released recommendations to guide healthcare providers when they resume elective surgery that has been put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic."

Will the Coronavirus Delay My Cancer Surgery?
The New York Times, April 15, 2020

"To weigh risks and benefits during the outbreak, the American College of Surgeons, the Commission on Cancer, other national and international organizations as well as hospitals and medical practices have created triage guidelines to determine whether to delay surgery and other medical procedures."

As Coronavirus Strains Hospitals, Cancer Patients Face Treatment Delays, Uncertainty
NPR, April 2, 2020

"The American College of Surgeons has published guidance on how to triage surgical care for cancer patients. But Lichtenfeld says every decision ultimately depends on the availability of resources at the hospital and the pressures of COVID-19. In Washington state, which has been hit hard, hospitals are shifting surgical space and beds away from other kinds of treatment."

Medical workers concerned some elective surgeries are still ongoing amid the coronavirus outbreak
USA Today, April 1, 2020

"The American College of Surgeons cited the financial pressure in 'ethical guidelines' it released recently.  

'Health systems, and federal and state governments should begin developing comprehensive solutions to address the financial impact on hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers that result from canceled operations, so that these perceived financial risks do not influence some surgeons to continue to perform elective operations,' read the guidelines."

Hospitals Cancel Elective Surgeries Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
WBUR, March 31, 2020

"Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson talks with Dr. David Hoyt, executive director of the American College of Surgeons, about qualifies as an elective surgery and why he thinks it's important to cancel them."

These Doctors Have Specialties. Fighting Coronavirus Wasn't One of Them.
The New York Times, March 23, 2020

"For specialists who treat high-risk demographics, the best medical advice for the coronavirus outbreak can feel contradictory: To stay safe, try to avoid the doctor's office. Both the Surgeon General and the American College of Surgeons have advised that hospitals cancel elective procedures in the coming weeks, and some states have ordered postponements."

Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing
The White House, March 18, 2020

"And I want to thank the medical societies, such as the American College of Surgeons and the American Dental Association, that took a proactive approach and already posted these recommendations.  And we've also talked to the American Medical Association, and they have fully indicated their support for this recommendation.  We now invite the entire healthcare community to join us in this effort."

White House Coronavirus Task Force Press Conference
The White House, March 18, 2020

In her remarks during this March 18 COVID-19 press briefing from the White House, CMS Administrator Seema Verma thanks the American College of Surgeons for its advocacy work on the non-emergent operations issue as it relates to preserving resources for critically ill patients.

Your elective surgery will be canceled. It's for everyone's good.
The Washington Post, March 16, 2020

"To aid in deciding urgent vs. non-urgent, hospitals should be developing a triage algorithm, says David Hoyt, executive director of the American College of Surgeons, whose organization plans to release a triage primer as a guide for hospitals. Algorithms can help hospitals assign patients into tiers based on low, intermediate and high acuity. An orthopedic surgery in a patient who has minimal symptoms probably can be delayed. A surgery for a low-risk cancer also could be delayed. But certain cancers have a time window and surgeries probably should not be postponed, Hoyt says. Each hospital has different resource capacities that also must be considered."

Hospitals Push Off Surgeries to Make Room for Coronavirus Patients
The Wall Street Journal, March 16, 2020

"The American College of Surgeons Friday recommended hospitals be prepared to call off elective surgeries. 'That doesn't mean that everyone should cancel surgery tomorrow,' said David Hoyt, the executive director. 'Start thinking about it.'"

Surgeon General advises hospitals to cancel elective surgeries
POLITICO, March 14, 2020

"Adams was responding to new recommendations from the American College of Surgeons issued Friday. The group said hospitals, health systems and surgeons should 'thoughtfully review' all their scheduled operations and consider canceling or postponing them 'until we have passed the predicted inflection point' in the disease spread and 'can be confident that our health care infrastructure can support a potentially rapid and overwhelming uptick in critical patient care needs.'"