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Nominations for the 2018 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards due February 28
The American College of Surgeons (ACS), in association with Pfizer, Inc., is accepting nominations for the 2018 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards. These annual awards recognize surgeons who have made significant contributions to communities in need of surgical aid, be that through organized volunteer activities or through the dedication of a significant portion of their surgical career to the underserved or a retirement characterized by surgical outreach.
Submit nominations today at www.facs.org/ogb/award-winners/nominations. All nominations must be received by February 28, 2018. For more information, contact ogb@facs.org or visit the awards web page.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS), in association with Pfizer, Inc., is accepting nominations for the 2018 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards. These annual awards recognize surgeons who have made significant contributions to communities in need of surgical aid, be that through organized volunteer activities or through the dedication of a significant portion of their surgical career to the underserved or a retirement characterized by surgical outreach.
Submit nominations today at www.facs.org/ogb/award-winners/nominations. All nominations must be received by February 28, 2018. For more information, contact ogb@facs.org or visit the awards web page.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS), in association with Pfizer, Inc., is accepting nominations for the 2018 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards. These annual awards recognize surgeons who have made significant contributions to communities in need of surgical aid, be that through organized volunteer activities or through the dedication of a significant portion of their surgical career to the underserved or a retirement characterized by surgical outreach.
Submit nominations today at www.facs.org/ogb/award-winners/nominations. All nominations must be received by February 28, 2018. For more information, contact ogb@facs.org or visit the awards web page.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS), in association with Pfizer, Inc., is accepting nominations for the 2018 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards. These annual awards recognize surgeons who have made significant contributions to communities in need of surgical aid, be that through organized volunteer activities or through the dedication of a significant portion of their surgical career to the underserved or a retirement characterized by surgical outreach.
Submit nominations today at www.facs.org/ogb/award-winners/nominations. All nominations must be received by February 28, 2018. For more information, contact ogb@facs.org or visit the awards web page.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS), in association with Pfizer, Inc., is accepting nominations for the 2018 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards. These annual awards recognize surgeons who have made significant contributions to communities in need of surgical aid, be that through organized volunteer activities or through the dedication of a significant portion of their surgical career to the underserved or a retirement characterized by surgical outreach.
Submit nominations today at www.facs.org/ogb/award-winners/nominations. All nominations must be received by February 28, 2018. For more information, contact ogb@facs.org or visit the awards web page.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS), in association with Pfizer, Inc., is accepting nominations for the 2018 Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards. These annual awards recognize surgeons who have made significant contributions to communities in need of surgical aid, be that through organized volunteer activities or through the dedication of a significant portion of their surgical career to the underserved or a retirement characterized by surgical outreach.
Submit nominations today at www.facs.org/ogb/award-winners/nominations. All nominations must be received by February 28, 2018. For more information, contact ogb@facs.org or visit the awards web page.
Nominations for Board of Regents, Officers-Elect due February 23
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) 2018 Nominating Committee of the Fellows (NCF) and the Nominating Committee of the Board of Governors (NCBG) will be selecting nominees for leadership positions in the College.
The 2018 NCF will select nominees for the three Officer-Elect positions of the ACS:
• President-Elect
• First Vice-President-Elect
• Second Vice-President-Elect
The 2018 NCBG will select nominees for pending vacancies on the Board of Regents to be filled at Clinical Congress 2018. Nominations are open to surgeons of all specialties, but particular consideration will be given this nomination cycle to those in the following specialties:
• Burn and critical care surgery
• Gastrointestinal surgery
• General surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Transplantation
• Trauma
• Vascular surgery
For information only, the members of the Board of Regents who will be considered for reelection in 2018 are (all MD, FACS) John L. D. Atkinson, James C. Denneny III, Timothy J. Eberlein, Henri R. Ford, Enrique Hernandez, L. Scott Levin, Linda Phillips, Anton A. Sidawy, Beth H. Sutton, and Steven D. Wexner.
Visit the Bulletin website at http://bit.ly/2l69j2Y for a list of criteria for each nominating committee, as well as further details on how to submit a nomination and the nomination process. The deadline for submitting nominations is February 23, 2018.
Nominations may be submitted to officerandbrnominations@facs.org. If you have any questions, contact Emily Kalata, Staff Liaison for the NCF and NCBG, at 312-202-5360 or ekalata@facs.org.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) 2018 Nominating Committee of the Fellows (NCF) and the Nominating Committee of the Board of Governors (NCBG) will be selecting nominees for leadership positions in the College.
The 2018 NCF will select nominees for the three Officer-Elect positions of the ACS:
• President-Elect
• First Vice-President-Elect
• Second Vice-President-Elect
The 2018 NCBG will select nominees for pending vacancies on the Board of Regents to be filled at Clinical Congress 2018. Nominations are open to surgeons of all specialties, but particular consideration will be given this nomination cycle to those in the following specialties:
• Burn and critical care surgery
• Gastrointestinal surgery
• General surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Transplantation
• Trauma
• Vascular surgery
For information only, the members of the Board of Regents who will be considered for reelection in 2018 are (all MD, FACS) John L. D. Atkinson, James C. Denneny III, Timothy J. Eberlein, Henri R. Ford, Enrique Hernandez, L. Scott Levin, Linda Phillips, Anton A. Sidawy, Beth H. Sutton, and Steven D. Wexner.
Visit the Bulletin website at http://bit.ly/2l69j2Y for a list of criteria for each nominating committee, as well as further details on how to submit a nomination and the nomination process. The deadline for submitting nominations is February 23, 2018.
Nominations may be submitted to officerandbrnominations@facs.org. If you have any questions, contact Emily Kalata, Staff Liaison for the NCF and NCBG, at 312-202-5360 or ekalata@facs.org.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) 2018 Nominating Committee of the Fellows (NCF) and the Nominating Committee of the Board of Governors (NCBG) will be selecting nominees for leadership positions in the College.
The 2018 NCF will select nominees for the three Officer-Elect positions of the ACS:
• President-Elect
• First Vice-President-Elect
• Second Vice-President-Elect
The 2018 NCBG will select nominees for pending vacancies on the Board of Regents to be filled at Clinical Congress 2018. Nominations are open to surgeons of all specialties, but particular consideration will be given this nomination cycle to those in the following specialties:
• Burn and critical care surgery
• Gastrointestinal surgery
• General surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Transplantation
• Trauma
• Vascular surgery
For information only, the members of the Board of Regents who will be considered for reelection in 2018 are (all MD, FACS) John L. D. Atkinson, James C. Denneny III, Timothy J. Eberlein, Henri R. Ford, Enrique Hernandez, L. Scott Levin, Linda Phillips, Anton A. Sidawy, Beth H. Sutton, and Steven D. Wexner.
Visit the Bulletin website at http://bit.ly/2l69j2Y for a list of criteria for each nominating committee, as well as further details on how to submit a nomination and the nomination process. The deadline for submitting nominations is February 23, 2018.
Nominations may be submitted to officerandbrnominations@facs.org. If you have any questions, contact Emily Kalata, Staff Liaison for the NCF and NCBG, at 312-202-5360 or ekalata@facs.org.
Register now to participate in 2018 Leadership & Advocacy Summit
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) will host the seventh annual Leadership & Advocacy Summit May 19–22 at the Renaissance Washington, DC, Downtown Hotel. The summit is a dual meeting offering comprehensive and specialized sessions that provide volunteer leaders and advocates with the skills and tools necessary to be effective in those roles. Registration for the event is now open at facs.org/summit.
Leadership Summit
The Leadership Summit provides a venue for members to network with ACS leaders, attend professional development sessions, and engage with colleagues to determine new and innovative ways to face challenges and enhance their leadership skills. It begins Saturday evening, May 19, with a Welcome Reception open to all registrants, followed by a full day of programming on Sunday, May 20.
For more information about the Leadership Summit, contact Brian Frankel, ACS Manager, International Chapter Services and Special Initiatives, at bfrankel@facs.org or 312-202-5361.
Advocacy Summit
The Advocacy Summit provides a unique opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to become a surgeon advocate. With several legislative priorities for Congress to consider before the 2018 midterm elections, surgeons are encouraged to travel to Washington to learn about and participate in this unique political climate.
Since last year’s summit, the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy (DAHP) has been focused on an extensive list of federal legislative priorities, including reducing administrative practice burdens; modifying and implementing new physician payment reforms; improving electronic health record and health information technology interoperability; increasing funding for trauma systems; enhancing cancer care and accreditation; and addressing surgical workforce and graduate medical education issues. ACS staff also will help members and attendees navigate the many additional legislative changes that lie ahead.
The Advocacy Summit will begin after the Leadership Summit on Sunday, May 20, with a dinner and keynote address. Past speakers have included television journalist Chuck Todd, political commentator Chris Matthews, U.S. Army Gen. (Retired) Stanley A. McChrystal, author Thomas Goetz, and journalists Bob Woodward and George Will. Sessions planned for the following day will focus on the political environment in Washington, and speakers will provide updates on important health care policies and issues that detract from surgeons’ ability to provide quality patient care. Attendees will then apply this knowledge in face-to-face meetings with their senators and representatives and congressional staff. This portion of the program provides an opportunity to demonstrate surgery’s strength on Capitol Hill regarding issues of importance to surgeons and the surgical patient.
During this three-day conference, participants can expect to receive comprehensive advocacy training and learn how to use these skills throughout the year, not just in Washington. The Advocacy Summit is a great place to interact and share ideas with other surgeon advocates; meet face-to-face with key health care policymakers and legislators; and, perhaps most importantly, become the constituents their legislators know and trust to offer advice on surgical issues.
The ACS Professional Association political action committee (ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC) sponsors various events for members and SurgeonsPAC contributors. These events provide contributors with unique networking opportunities and advanced educational sessions aimed at providing an insider’s perspective on how College members can remain active participants in the political process.
In addition to raising funds to elect or re-elect congressional candidates who support a pro-surgeon, pro-patient agenda, SurgeonsPAC will host a reception at which PAC contributors will be recognized for their commitment to the surgical profession. Other SurgeonsPAC-sponsored events include an annual drawing with a grand prize valued at $3,000, a political luncheon featuring a renowned guest speaker, and presentation of the 2017 PAC awards. Resident engagement opportunities will be provided as well. In addition, the SurgeonsPAC information booth will provide attendees with a venue to meet DAHP staff to learn more about the College’s advocacy and political efforts.
For more information about the Advocacy Summit, contact Michael Carmody, ACS Congressional Affairs Coordinator, at mcarmody@facs.org or 202-672-1511. For more information about SurgeonsPAC activities, e-mail surgeonspac@facs.org or call 202-672-1520.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) will host the seventh annual Leadership & Advocacy Summit May 19–22 at the Renaissance Washington, DC, Downtown Hotel. The summit is a dual meeting offering comprehensive and specialized sessions that provide volunteer leaders and advocates with the skills and tools necessary to be effective in those roles. Registration for the event is now open at facs.org/summit.
Leadership Summit
The Leadership Summit provides a venue for members to network with ACS leaders, attend professional development sessions, and engage with colleagues to determine new and innovative ways to face challenges and enhance their leadership skills. It begins Saturday evening, May 19, with a Welcome Reception open to all registrants, followed by a full day of programming on Sunday, May 20.
For more information about the Leadership Summit, contact Brian Frankel, ACS Manager, International Chapter Services and Special Initiatives, at bfrankel@facs.org or 312-202-5361.
Advocacy Summit
The Advocacy Summit provides a unique opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to become a surgeon advocate. With several legislative priorities for Congress to consider before the 2018 midterm elections, surgeons are encouraged to travel to Washington to learn about and participate in this unique political climate.
Since last year’s summit, the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy (DAHP) has been focused on an extensive list of federal legislative priorities, including reducing administrative practice burdens; modifying and implementing new physician payment reforms; improving electronic health record and health information technology interoperability; increasing funding for trauma systems; enhancing cancer care and accreditation; and addressing surgical workforce and graduate medical education issues. ACS staff also will help members and attendees navigate the many additional legislative changes that lie ahead.
The Advocacy Summit will begin after the Leadership Summit on Sunday, May 20, with a dinner and keynote address. Past speakers have included television journalist Chuck Todd, political commentator Chris Matthews, U.S. Army Gen. (Retired) Stanley A. McChrystal, author Thomas Goetz, and journalists Bob Woodward and George Will. Sessions planned for the following day will focus on the political environment in Washington, and speakers will provide updates on important health care policies and issues that detract from surgeons’ ability to provide quality patient care. Attendees will then apply this knowledge in face-to-face meetings with their senators and representatives and congressional staff. This portion of the program provides an opportunity to demonstrate surgery’s strength on Capitol Hill regarding issues of importance to surgeons and the surgical patient.
During this three-day conference, participants can expect to receive comprehensive advocacy training and learn how to use these skills throughout the year, not just in Washington. The Advocacy Summit is a great place to interact and share ideas with other surgeon advocates; meet face-to-face with key health care policymakers and legislators; and, perhaps most importantly, become the constituents their legislators know and trust to offer advice on surgical issues.
The ACS Professional Association political action committee (ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC) sponsors various events for members and SurgeonsPAC contributors. These events provide contributors with unique networking opportunities and advanced educational sessions aimed at providing an insider’s perspective on how College members can remain active participants in the political process.
In addition to raising funds to elect or re-elect congressional candidates who support a pro-surgeon, pro-patient agenda, SurgeonsPAC will host a reception at which PAC contributors will be recognized for their commitment to the surgical profession. Other SurgeonsPAC-sponsored events include an annual drawing with a grand prize valued at $3,000, a political luncheon featuring a renowned guest speaker, and presentation of the 2017 PAC awards. Resident engagement opportunities will be provided as well. In addition, the SurgeonsPAC information booth will provide attendees with a venue to meet DAHP staff to learn more about the College’s advocacy and political efforts.
For more information about the Advocacy Summit, contact Michael Carmody, ACS Congressional Affairs Coordinator, at mcarmody@facs.org or 202-672-1511. For more information about SurgeonsPAC activities, e-mail surgeonspac@facs.org or call 202-672-1520.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) will host the seventh annual Leadership & Advocacy Summit May 19–22 at the Renaissance Washington, DC, Downtown Hotel. The summit is a dual meeting offering comprehensive and specialized sessions that provide volunteer leaders and advocates with the skills and tools necessary to be effective in those roles. Registration for the event is now open at facs.org/summit.
Leadership Summit
The Leadership Summit provides a venue for members to network with ACS leaders, attend professional development sessions, and engage with colleagues to determine new and innovative ways to face challenges and enhance their leadership skills. It begins Saturday evening, May 19, with a Welcome Reception open to all registrants, followed by a full day of programming on Sunday, May 20.
For more information about the Leadership Summit, contact Brian Frankel, ACS Manager, International Chapter Services and Special Initiatives, at bfrankel@facs.org or 312-202-5361.
Advocacy Summit
The Advocacy Summit provides a unique opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to become a surgeon advocate. With several legislative priorities for Congress to consider before the 2018 midterm elections, surgeons are encouraged to travel to Washington to learn about and participate in this unique political climate.
Since last year’s summit, the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy (DAHP) has been focused on an extensive list of federal legislative priorities, including reducing administrative practice burdens; modifying and implementing new physician payment reforms; improving electronic health record and health information technology interoperability; increasing funding for trauma systems; enhancing cancer care and accreditation; and addressing surgical workforce and graduate medical education issues. ACS staff also will help members and attendees navigate the many additional legislative changes that lie ahead.
The Advocacy Summit will begin after the Leadership Summit on Sunday, May 20, with a dinner and keynote address. Past speakers have included television journalist Chuck Todd, political commentator Chris Matthews, U.S. Army Gen. (Retired) Stanley A. McChrystal, author Thomas Goetz, and journalists Bob Woodward and George Will. Sessions planned for the following day will focus on the political environment in Washington, and speakers will provide updates on important health care policies and issues that detract from surgeons’ ability to provide quality patient care. Attendees will then apply this knowledge in face-to-face meetings with their senators and representatives and congressional staff. This portion of the program provides an opportunity to demonstrate surgery’s strength on Capitol Hill regarding issues of importance to surgeons and the surgical patient.
During this three-day conference, participants can expect to receive comprehensive advocacy training and learn how to use these skills throughout the year, not just in Washington. The Advocacy Summit is a great place to interact and share ideas with other surgeon advocates; meet face-to-face with key health care policymakers and legislators; and, perhaps most importantly, become the constituents their legislators know and trust to offer advice on surgical issues.
The ACS Professional Association political action committee (ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC) sponsors various events for members and SurgeonsPAC contributors. These events provide contributors with unique networking opportunities and advanced educational sessions aimed at providing an insider’s perspective on how College members can remain active participants in the political process.
In addition to raising funds to elect or re-elect congressional candidates who support a pro-surgeon, pro-patient agenda, SurgeonsPAC will host a reception at which PAC contributors will be recognized for their commitment to the surgical profession. Other SurgeonsPAC-sponsored events include an annual drawing with a grand prize valued at $3,000, a political luncheon featuring a renowned guest speaker, and presentation of the 2017 PAC awards. Resident engagement opportunities will be provided as well. In addition, the SurgeonsPAC information booth will provide attendees with a venue to meet DAHP staff to learn more about the College’s advocacy and political efforts.
For more information about the Advocacy Summit, contact Michael Carmody, ACS Congressional Affairs Coordinator, at mcarmody@facs.org or 202-672-1511. For more information about SurgeonsPAC activities, e-mail surgeonspac@facs.org or call 202-672-1520.
Register for the Annual ACS Surgical Simulation Summit by March 2
The annual American College of Surgeons (ACS) Accredited Education Institutes (AEI) Surgical Simulation Summit will take place March 16−17 at the Swissôtel Chicago, IL.
Retired Army Lieutenant General James B. Peake, MD, FACS, senior vice-president, CGI Federal, and immediate past-president, American Telemedicine Association, will deliver the keynote address, which will focus on advances in technology that would affect simulation-based surgical education and training and areas for research and development to advance the field. A special panel on advances in technology will follow. Meeting sessions will include an interactive debate about industry’s role in training and credentialing of new technology, and participants will have access to interactive workshops, scientific paper presentations, posters, and networking opportunities.
New this year is a pre-meeting Simulation Research Summit on March 15, the goal of which is development of a research agenda for the future that focuses on three core areas: impact of simulation training on patient safety and outcomes, the value proposition of simulation, and simulation use for physician credentialing. David M. Gaba, MD, associate dean for immersive and simulation-based learning and professor of anesthesiology, perioperative, and pain medicine at Stanford School of Medicine, CA, will kick off the inaugural Simulation Research Summit with a keynote address. A separate registration fee applies for the pre-meeting.
Visit the ACS website at www.facs.org/education/accreditation/aei/surgical-simulation-summit to view the Surgical Simulation Summit program, register for the meeting, and reserve a hotel room. The deadline to register for the summit is March 2.
For more information about the meeting or the AEI program, contact Cathy Wojcik, Manager, Program for Accreditation of Education Institutes, at cwojcik@facs.org.
The annual American College of Surgeons (ACS) Accredited Education Institutes (AEI) Surgical Simulation Summit will take place March 16−17 at the Swissôtel Chicago, IL.
Retired Army Lieutenant General James B. Peake, MD, FACS, senior vice-president, CGI Federal, and immediate past-president, American Telemedicine Association, will deliver the keynote address, which will focus on advances in technology that would affect simulation-based surgical education and training and areas for research and development to advance the field. A special panel on advances in technology will follow. Meeting sessions will include an interactive debate about industry’s role in training and credentialing of new technology, and participants will have access to interactive workshops, scientific paper presentations, posters, and networking opportunities.
New this year is a pre-meeting Simulation Research Summit on March 15, the goal of which is development of a research agenda for the future that focuses on three core areas: impact of simulation training on patient safety and outcomes, the value proposition of simulation, and simulation use for physician credentialing. David M. Gaba, MD, associate dean for immersive and simulation-based learning and professor of anesthesiology, perioperative, and pain medicine at Stanford School of Medicine, CA, will kick off the inaugural Simulation Research Summit with a keynote address. A separate registration fee applies for the pre-meeting.
Visit the ACS website at www.facs.org/education/accreditation/aei/surgical-simulation-summit to view the Surgical Simulation Summit program, register for the meeting, and reserve a hotel room. The deadline to register for the summit is March 2.
For more information about the meeting or the AEI program, contact Cathy Wojcik, Manager, Program for Accreditation of Education Institutes, at cwojcik@facs.org.
The annual American College of Surgeons (ACS) Accredited Education Institutes (AEI) Surgical Simulation Summit will take place March 16−17 at the Swissôtel Chicago, IL.
Retired Army Lieutenant General James B. Peake, MD, FACS, senior vice-president, CGI Federal, and immediate past-president, American Telemedicine Association, will deliver the keynote address, which will focus on advances in technology that would affect simulation-based surgical education and training and areas for research and development to advance the field. A special panel on advances in technology will follow. Meeting sessions will include an interactive debate about industry’s role in training and credentialing of new technology, and participants will have access to interactive workshops, scientific paper presentations, posters, and networking opportunities.
New this year is a pre-meeting Simulation Research Summit on March 15, the goal of which is development of a research agenda for the future that focuses on three core areas: impact of simulation training on patient safety and outcomes, the value proposition of simulation, and simulation use for physician credentialing. David M. Gaba, MD, associate dean for immersive and simulation-based learning and professor of anesthesiology, perioperative, and pain medicine at Stanford School of Medicine, CA, will kick off the inaugural Simulation Research Summit with a keynote address. A separate registration fee applies for the pre-meeting.
Visit the ACS website at www.facs.org/education/accreditation/aei/surgical-simulation-summit to view the Surgical Simulation Summit program, register for the meeting, and reserve a hotel room. The deadline to register for the summit is March 2.
For more information about the meeting or the AEI program, contact Cathy Wojcik, Manager, Program for Accreditation of Education Institutes, at cwojcik@facs.org.
Register for 2018 ACS General Surgery Coding Workshops
Registration is now open to attend American College of Surgeons (ACS) 2018 General Surgery Coding Workshops. With Medicare and third-party payor policy and coding changes taking effect this year, it is imperative that surgeons have accurate and up-to-date information to protect reimbursement from Medicare and other payors and to optimize efficiency.
During the coding workshop, you will learn how to report surgical procedures and medical services and will have access to the tools necessary to succeed, including a coding workbook to keep for future reference with checklists, resource guides, templates, and examples. Physicians receive up to 6.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for each day of participation. In addition, each day of the workshop meets AAPC guidelines for 6.5 continuing education units.
The ACS will offer the following seven coding workshops in 2018:
• Southlake, TX, January 25¬–26
• Las Vegas, NV, February 8–10
• Orlando, FL, February 22–23
• Chicago, IL, April 12–13
• New York, NY, May 17–19
• Nashville, TN, August 9–10
• Chicago, IL, November 1–3
For the first time, the ACS also will offer a three-day course, including a day devoted to trauma and critical care coding at the Las Vegas, New York City, and (November) Chicago workshops.
To register, visit www.karenzupko.com/workshops2/gensurg-workshops. For more details, visit the ACS website at www.facs.org/advocacy/practmanagement/workshops or e-mail practicemanagement@facs.org.
Registration is now open to attend American College of Surgeons (ACS) 2018 General Surgery Coding Workshops. With Medicare and third-party payor policy and coding changes taking effect this year, it is imperative that surgeons have accurate and up-to-date information to protect reimbursement from Medicare and other payors and to optimize efficiency.
During the coding workshop, you will learn how to report surgical procedures and medical services and will have access to the tools necessary to succeed, including a coding workbook to keep for future reference with checklists, resource guides, templates, and examples. Physicians receive up to 6.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for each day of participation. In addition, each day of the workshop meets AAPC guidelines for 6.5 continuing education units.
The ACS will offer the following seven coding workshops in 2018:
• Southlake, TX, January 25¬–26
• Las Vegas, NV, February 8–10
• Orlando, FL, February 22–23
• Chicago, IL, April 12–13
• New York, NY, May 17–19
• Nashville, TN, August 9–10
• Chicago, IL, November 1–3
For the first time, the ACS also will offer a three-day course, including a day devoted to trauma and critical care coding at the Las Vegas, New York City, and (November) Chicago workshops.
To register, visit www.karenzupko.com/workshops2/gensurg-workshops. For more details, visit the ACS website at www.facs.org/advocacy/practmanagement/workshops or e-mail practicemanagement@facs.org.
Registration is now open to attend American College of Surgeons (ACS) 2018 General Surgery Coding Workshops. With Medicare and third-party payor policy and coding changes taking effect this year, it is imperative that surgeons have accurate and up-to-date information to protect reimbursement from Medicare and other payors and to optimize efficiency.
During the coding workshop, you will learn how to report surgical procedures and medical services and will have access to the tools necessary to succeed, including a coding workbook to keep for future reference with checklists, resource guides, templates, and examples. Physicians receive up to 6.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for each day of participation. In addition, each day of the workshop meets AAPC guidelines for 6.5 continuing education units.
The ACS will offer the following seven coding workshops in 2018:
• Southlake, TX, January 25¬–26
• Las Vegas, NV, February 8–10
• Orlando, FL, February 22–23
• Chicago, IL, April 12–13
• New York, NY, May 17–19
• Nashville, TN, August 9–10
• Chicago, IL, November 1–3
For the first time, the ACS also will offer a three-day course, including a day devoted to trauma and critical care coding at the Las Vegas, New York City, and (November) Chicago workshops.
To register, visit www.karenzupko.com/workshops2/gensurg-workshops. For more details, visit the ACS website at www.facs.org/advocacy/practmanagement/workshops or e-mail practicemanagement@facs.org.
Opioids a focus as HHS Secretary Azar defends White House budget proposal
The opioid abuse epidemic took center stage during a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee, during which Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services, defended the White House budget proposal for fiscal year 2019.
The president’s budget, released Feb. 13, allocates $5 billion in new resources over the next 5 years to combat the opioid abuse epidemic
During his Feb. 14 testimony, Mr. Azar said that the budget proposal “brings a new level of commitment to fighting the crisis of opioid addiction and overdose that is stealing more than 100 American lives from us every single day.”
He noted that part of the funding request includes spending $500 million to launch public-private partnership with the National Institutes of Health “to development new addiction treatments, new overdose-reversing drugs, and nonaddictive approaches to pain.”
Mr. Azar called for greater use of nonopioid pain management techniques and better communication between the HHS and the Drug Enforcement Agency to identify doctors who overprescribe opioids.
“I really want to focus on that entry point to working with DEA on ways that we can control pill mills and even just bad practice that has become part of our culture of medicine of giving people excessive numbers of pills when they do not need them,” Mr. Azar said.
The administration’s proposals for addressing the opioid crisis revealed partisan divisions among members of the Ways and Means Committee, as Republican members of the committee hailed the White House proposals while Democrats argued that the budget proposal could make it more difficult for people to fight the crisis.
Noting that many who have opioid use disorders rely on Medicaid for health insurance, Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the ranking member on the committee, noted that the proposed budget cuts $1.4 trillion from Medicaid and $500 billion from Medicare.
Physician groups were quick to point out that the budget proposal calls for addressing health care issues while simultaneously cutting the necessary funding.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America said in a statement that “while we appreciate continued funding for antimicrobial resistance research and development through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the current investment is insufficient, as evidenced by an antibiotic pipeline that falls far short of projected needs, while pharmaceutical company investments in antibiotic research continue to diminish. Also, the plan would limit CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] efforts to address and prevent growing resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs with a nearly $25 million cut.”
The White House budget proposal also tackles drug pricing and payment, including a new Medicaid demonstration program that would allow up to five participating states to test the use of drug formularies in the Medicaid program, speed the access to generic medications, and modify the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Mr. Azar also reiterated his openness to government price negotiation for drugs administered in the physician office under Medicare Part B.
The proposal on drug discounts was praised by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA).
“The White House budget proposal for sharing manufacturer rebates and discounts with seniors in Medicare Part D is also a great idea,” COA said in a statement. “Pharmacy benefit managers have been enriching themselves with these rebates for too long, and their growing scale has resulted in higher drug costs for everyone. COA believes that the proposed Part D change to share rebates and discounts proposed will lower costs for patients, taxpayers, and the government.”
The budget proposal reflects President Trump’s desire to see the Affordable Care Act repealed and is built on that premise, but questions linger as to whether Congress will take up health care legislation again this year.
The opioid abuse epidemic took center stage during a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee, during which Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services, defended the White House budget proposal for fiscal year 2019.
The president’s budget, released Feb. 13, allocates $5 billion in new resources over the next 5 years to combat the opioid abuse epidemic
During his Feb. 14 testimony, Mr. Azar said that the budget proposal “brings a new level of commitment to fighting the crisis of opioid addiction and overdose that is stealing more than 100 American lives from us every single day.”
He noted that part of the funding request includes spending $500 million to launch public-private partnership with the National Institutes of Health “to development new addiction treatments, new overdose-reversing drugs, and nonaddictive approaches to pain.”
Mr. Azar called for greater use of nonopioid pain management techniques and better communication between the HHS and the Drug Enforcement Agency to identify doctors who overprescribe opioids.
“I really want to focus on that entry point to working with DEA on ways that we can control pill mills and even just bad practice that has become part of our culture of medicine of giving people excessive numbers of pills when they do not need them,” Mr. Azar said.
The administration’s proposals for addressing the opioid crisis revealed partisan divisions among members of the Ways and Means Committee, as Republican members of the committee hailed the White House proposals while Democrats argued that the budget proposal could make it more difficult for people to fight the crisis.
Noting that many who have opioid use disorders rely on Medicaid for health insurance, Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the ranking member on the committee, noted that the proposed budget cuts $1.4 trillion from Medicaid and $500 billion from Medicare.
Physician groups were quick to point out that the budget proposal calls for addressing health care issues while simultaneously cutting the necessary funding.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America said in a statement that “while we appreciate continued funding for antimicrobial resistance research and development through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the current investment is insufficient, as evidenced by an antibiotic pipeline that falls far short of projected needs, while pharmaceutical company investments in antibiotic research continue to diminish. Also, the plan would limit CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] efforts to address and prevent growing resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs with a nearly $25 million cut.”
The White House budget proposal also tackles drug pricing and payment, including a new Medicaid demonstration program that would allow up to five participating states to test the use of drug formularies in the Medicaid program, speed the access to generic medications, and modify the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Mr. Azar also reiterated his openness to government price negotiation for drugs administered in the physician office under Medicare Part B.
The proposal on drug discounts was praised by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA).
“The White House budget proposal for sharing manufacturer rebates and discounts with seniors in Medicare Part D is also a great idea,” COA said in a statement. “Pharmacy benefit managers have been enriching themselves with these rebates for too long, and their growing scale has resulted in higher drug costs for everyone. COA believes that the proposed Part D change to share rebates and discounts proposed will lower costs for patients, taxpayers, and the government.”
The budget proposal reflects President Trump’s desire to see the Affordable Care Act repealed and is built on that premise, but questions linger as to whether Congress will take up health care legislation again this year.
The opioid abuse epidemic took center stage during a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee, during which Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services, defended the White House budget proposal for fiscal year 2019.
The president’s budget, released Feb. 13, allocates $5 billion in new resources over the next 5 years to combat the opioid abuse epidemic
During his Feb. 14 testimony, Mr. Azar said that the budget proposal “brings a new level of commitment to fighting the crisis of opioid addiction and overdose that is stealing more than 100 American lives from us every single day.”
He noted that part of the funding request includes spending $500 million to launch public-private partnership with the National Institutes of Health “to development new addiction treatments, new overdose-reversing drugs, and nonaddictive approaches to pain.”
Mr. Azar called for greater use of nonopioid pain management techniques and better communication between the HHS and the Drug Enforcement Agency to identify doctors who overprescribe opioids.
“I really want to focus on that entry point to working with DEA on ways that we can control pill mills and even just bad practice that has become part of our culture of medicine of giving people excessive numbers of pills when they do not need them,” Mr. Azar said.
The administration’s proposals for addressing the opioid crisis revealed partisan divisions among members of the Ways and Means Committee, as Republican members of the committee hailed the White House proposals while Democrats argued that the budget proposal could make it more difficult for people to fight the crisis.
Noting that many who have opioid use disorders rely on Medicaid for health insurance, Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the ranking member on the committee, noted that the proposed budget cuts $1.4 trillion from Medicaid and $500 billion from Medicare.
Physician groups were quick to point out that the budget proposal calls for addressing health care issues while simultaneously cutting the necessary funding.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America said in a statement that “while we appreciate continued funding for antimicrobial resistance research and development through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the current investment is insufficient, as evidenced by an antibiotic pipeline that falls far short of projected needs, while pharmaceutical company investments in antibiotic research continue to diminish. Also, the plan would limit CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] efforts to address and prevent growing resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs with a nearly $25 million cut.”
The White House budget proposal also tackles drug pricing and payment, including a new Medicaid demonstration program that would allow up to five participating states to test the use of drug formularies in the Medicaid program, speed the access to generic medications, and modify the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Mr. Azar also reiterated his openness to government price negotiation for drugs administered in the physician office under Medicare Part B.
The proposal on drug discounts was praised by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA).
“The White House budget proposal for sharing manufacturer rebates and discounts with seniors in Medicare Part D is also a great idea,” COA said in a statement. “Pharmacy benefit managers have been enriching themselves with these rebates for too long, and their growing scale has resulted in higher drug costs for everyone. COA believes that the proposed Part D change to share rebates and discounts proposed will lower costs for patients, taxpayers, and the government.”
The budget proposal reflects President Trump’s desire to see the Affordable Care Act repealed and is built on that premise, but questions linger as to whether Congress will take up health care legislation again this year.
REPORTING FROM a HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS HEARING
FDA approves apalutamide for castration-resistant nonmetastatic prostate cancer
The Food and Drug Administration has approved apalutamide for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant nonmetastatic prostate cancer.
Approval was based on a median metastasis-free survival for patients taking apalutamide of 40.5 months, compared with 16.2 months for patients taking a placebo in a randomized clinical trial of 1,207 patients with nonmetastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. All patients also received hormone therapy, either with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue therapy or with surgical castration.
Common side effects of apalutamide include fatigue, hypertension, rash, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, arthralgia, falls, hot flush, decreased appetite, fractures, and peripheral edema.
Severe side effects of apalutamide include falls, fractures. and seizures, the FDA said.
Apalutamide is marketed as Erleada by Janssen Biotech.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved apalutamide for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant nonmetastatic prostate cancer.
Approval was based on a median metastasis-free survival for patients taking apalutamide of 40.5 months, compared with 16.2 months for patients taking a placebo in a randomized clinical trial of 1,207 patients with nonmetastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. All patients also received hormone therapy, either with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue therapy or with surgical castration.
Common side effects of apalutamide include fatigue, hypertension, rash, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, arthralgia, falls, hot flush, decreased appetite, fractures, and peripheral edema.
Severe side effects of apalutamide include falls, fractures. and seizures, the FDA said.
Apalutamide is marketed as Erleada by Janssen Biotech.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved apalutamide for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant nonmetastatic prostate cancer.
Approval was based on a median metastasis-free survival for patients taking apalutamide of 40.5 months, compared with 16.2 months for patients taking a placebo in a randomized clinical trial of 1,207 patients with nonmetastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. All patients also received hormone therapy, either with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue therapy or with surgical castration.
Common side effects of apalutamide include fatigue, hypertension, rash, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, arthralgia, falls, hot flush, decreased appetite, fractures, and peripheral edema.
Severe side effects of apalutamide include falls, fractures. and seizures, the FDA said.
Apalutamide is marketed as Erleada by Janssen Biotech.
Poor health literacy raises readmission risk
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Low health literacy is a common problem in Veterans Affairs health systems, and patients with low health literacy scores are 50% more likely to return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge after surgery than patients with high health literacy, investigators found in a study of surgery patients at VA medical centers.
“Low health literacy is prevalent among VA surgery patients and is associated with surgical readmissions,” said Samantha Baker, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the VA Birmingham Healthcare System. She presented the findings at the Association for Academic Surgery/Society of University Surgeons Academic Surgical Congress.
This study used an instrument developed by Lisa Chew, MD, at the University of Washington to determine health literacy scores (Fam Med. 2004;36:588-94). The instrument uses three questions: how often patients have someone else help them read hospital materials; whether they have problems learning about a medical condition because they have difficulty understanding written information; and how confident they are in filling out their own medical forms. Answers are given on a scale of 0-4, with 12 points being the highest score for poor health literacy. This study considered adequate health literacy to be a score of 0-3, and 4-12 as “possibly inadequate health literacy.”
“Of the 722 patients who took the survey, 39.2% had a score of 0; 33.2% had a score of 4 or more,” Dr. Baker said.
The adequate health literacy group had significantly lower rates of unplanned readmissions and a trend toward lower emergency department visits than the possibly inadequate health literacy group, 11.7% vs. 22.5% (P = .003) for the former and 18.7% vs. 24.2% (P = .08) for the latter, Dr. Baker said.
She noted that the ethnic makeup of the groups was similar and the differences in health literacy among the ethnic groups were not statistically significant.
She also mentioned that those with adequate health literacy tended to be younger – 64 vs. 66.9 years – and more likely to be women (“but our number is low for females in the VA,” Dr. Baker said). She added that married patients tended to have lower heath literacy than did single patients.”
The 30-day surgical readmission rate was 13.7% for patients with high health literacy and 22.5% for those with low health literacy. Patients with inadequate health literacy were 53% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of their index operation, she said. Each one-unit increase in health literacy scores – meaning an increase in inadequate health literacy – increased an individual’s risk of readmission by about 6% on an adjusted basis, Dr. Baker said.
“Future work is going to be focused on identifying these patients and developing the interventions to educate and empower this vulnerable population before they are discharged,” Dr. Baker said.
Dr. Baker and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures.
SOURCE: Baker S et al. Academic Surgical Congress.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Low health literacy is a common problem in Veterans Affairs health systems, and patients with low health literacy scores are 50% more likely to return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge after surgery than patients with high health literacy, investigators found in a study of surgery patients at VA medical centers.
“Low health literacy is prevalent among VA surgery patients and is associated with surgical readmissions,” said Samantha Baker, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the VA Birmingham Healthcare System. She presented the findings at the Association for Academic Surgery/Society of University Surgeons Academic Surgical Congress.
This study used an instrument developed by Lisa Chew, MD, at the University of Washington to determine health literacy scores (Fam Med. 2004;36:588-94). The instrument uses three questions: how often patients have someone else help them read hospital materials; whether they have problems learning about a medical condition because they have difficulty understanding written information; and how confident they are in filling out their own medical forms. Answers are given on a scale of 0-4, with 12 points being the highest score for poor health literacy. This study considered adequate health literacy to be a score of 0-3, and 4-12 as “possibly inadequate health literacy.”
“Of the 722 patients who took the survey, 39.2% had a score of 0; 33.2% had a score of 4 or more,” Dr. Baker said.
The adequate health literacy group had significantly lower rates of unplanned readmissions and a trend toward lower emergency department visits than the possibly inadequate health literacy group, 11.7% vs. 22.5% (P = .003) for the former and 18.7% vs. 24.2% (P = .08) for the latter, Dr. Baker said.
She noted that the ethnic makeup of the groups was similar and the differences in health literacy among the ethnic groups were not statistically significant.
She also mentioned that those with adequate health literacy tended to be younger – 64 vs. 66.9 years – and more likely to be women (“but our number is low for females in the VA,” Dr. Baker said). She added that married patients tended to have lower heath literacy than did single patients.”
The 30-day surgical readmission rate was 13.7% for patients with high health literacy and 22.5% for those with low health literacy. Patients with inadequate health literacy were 53% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of their index operation, she said. Each one-unit increase in health literacy scores – meaning an increase in inadequate health literacy – increased an individual’s risk of readmission by about 6% on an adjusted basis, Dr. Baker said.
“Future work is going to be focused on identifying these patients and developing the interventions to educate and empower this vulnerable population before they are discharged,” Dr. Baker said.
Dr. Baker and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures.
SOURCE: Baker S et al. Academic Surgical Congress.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Low health literacy is a common problem in Veterans Affairs health systems, and patients with low health literacy scores are 50% more likely to return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge after surgery than patients with high health literacy, investigators found in a study of surgery patients at VA medical centers.
“Low health literacy is prevalent among VA surgery patients and is associated with surgical readmissions,” said Samantha Baker, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the VA Birmingham Healthcare System. She presented the findings at the Association for Academic Surgery/Society of University Surgeons Academic Surgical Congress.
This study used an instrument developed by Lisa Chew, MD, at the University of Washington to determine health literacy scores (Fam Med. 2004;36:588-94). The instrument uses three questions: how often patients have someone else help them read hospital materials; whether they have problems learning about a medical condition because they have difficulty understanding written information; and how confident they are in filling out their own medical forms. Answers are given on a scale of 0-4, with 12 points being the highest score for poor health literacy. This study considered adequate health literacy to be a score of 0-3, and 4-12 as “possibly inadequate health literacy.”
“Of the 722 patients who took the survey, 39.2% had a score of 0; 33.2% had a score of 4 or more,” Dr. Baker said.
The adequate health literacy group had significantly lower rates of unplanned readmissions and a trend toward lower emergency department visits than the possibly inadequate health literacy group, 11.7% vs. 22.5% (P = .003) for the former and 18.7% vs. 24.2% (P = .08) for the latter, Dr. Baker said.
She noted that the ethnic makeup of the groups was similar and the differences in health literacy among the ethnic groups were not statistically significant.
She also mentioned that those with adequate health literacy tended to be younger – 64 vs. 66.9 years – and more likely to be women (“but our number is low for females in the VA,” Dr. Baker said). She added that married patients tended to have lower heath literacy than did single patients.”
The 30-day surgical readmission rate was 13.7% for patients with high health literacy and 22.5% for those with low health literacy. Patients with inadequate health literacy were 53% more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of their index operation, she said. Each one-unit increase in health literacy scores – meaning an increase in inadequate health literacy – increased an individual’s risk of readmission by about 6% on an adjusted basis, Dr. Baker said.
“Future work is going to be focused on identifying these patients and developing the interventions to educate and empower this vulnerable population before they are discharged,” Dr. Baker said.
Dr. Baker and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures.
SOURCE: Baker S et al. Academic Surgical Congress.
REPORTING FROM THE ACADEMIC SURGICAL CONGRESS
Key clinical point:
Major finding: The 30-day surgical readmission rate was 13.7% for patients with high health literacy and 22.5% for those with low health literacy.
Data source: Analysis of 722 patients who had general, vascular, or thoracic surgery at four VA Medical Centers from August 2015 to June 2017.
Disclosures: Dr. Baker and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures.
Source: Baker S et al. Academic Surgical Congress.
Laparoscopic procedure safer for SBO in elderly patients
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Octogenarians with small-bowel obstruction are about seven times more likely to have open than laparoscopic surgery, but the minimally invasive approach in these patients has been found to reduce their hospital stays and risk of pneumonia afterward, according to results of an observational study of data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.
Dr. Chang said, “Our study was able to show that age and the presence of preoperative sepsis are associated with mortality rather than procedure type, and that there are procedure-type risks associated with open procedures.”
The observational study analyzed 103 laparoscopic and 692 open operations for small-bowel obstruction (SBO) in patients 80 and older from 2006 to 2014. Characteristics of the open and laparoscopic group – age, gender, body mass index, and race – were similar, although the open group had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists classification and incidence of preoperative sepsis, Dr. Chang said.
“Unadjusted outcomes showed longer length of stay [and] higher postoperative mortality and rates of postoperative pneumonia in the open cases vs. laparoscopic,” she said. “But after we made adjustments for preoperative risk variables, age and the presence of preoperative sepsis were associated with mortality, not the operative approach.” Length of stay was 4 days for the laparoscopic patients vs. 8 days for open (P less than .0001).
The researchers performed logistical regression analysis and found that mortality risk rose slightly with age (odds ratio, 1.11; P = .0311) but almost quadrupled with preoperative sepsis (OR, 3.77; P = .0287) regardless of open or laparoscopic approach. For postoperative pneumonia, risk factors were male gender (OR, 2.68; P = .0003) and open procedure (OR, 5.03; P = .0282).
“Our study elucidates that the octogenarian with small-bowel obstruction due to adhesive disease may benefit from an initial laparoscopic approach,” Dr. Change said. “Further prospective studies are warranted.”
Dr. Chang and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures.
acssurgerynews@frontlinemedcom.com
SOURCE: Chang E et al. Academic Surgical Congress.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Octogenarians with small-bowel obstruction are about seven times more likely to have open than laparoscopic surgery, but the minimally invasive approach in these patients has been found to reduce their hospital stays and risk of pneumonia afterward, according to results of an observational study of data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.
Dr. Chang said, “Our study was able to show that age and the presence of preoperative sepsis are associated with mortality rather than procedure type, and that there are procedure-type risks associated with open procedures.”
The observational study analyzed 103 laparoscopic and 692 open operations for small-bowel obstruction (SBO) in patients 80 and older from 2006 to 2014. Characteristics of the open and laparoscopic group – age, gender, body mass index, and race – were similar, although the open group had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists classification and incidence of preoperative sepsis, Dr. Chang said.
“Unadjusted outcomes showed longer length of stay [and] higher postoperative mortality and rates of postoperative pneumonia in the open cases vs. laparoscopic,” she said. “But after we made adjustments for preoperative risk variables, age and the presence of preoperative sepsis were associated with mortality, not the operative approach.” Length of stay was 4 days for the laparoscopic patients vs. 8 days for open (P less than .0001).
The researchers performed logistical regression analysis and found that mortality risk rose slightly with age (odds ratio, 1.11; P = .0311) but almost quadrupled with preoperative sepsis (OR, 3.77; P = .0287) regardless of open or laparoscopic approach. For postoperative pneumonia, risk factors were male gender (OR, 2.68; P = .0003) and open procedure (OR, 5.03; P = .0282).
“Our study elucidates that the octogenarian with small-bowel obstruction due to adhesive disease may benefit from an initial laparoscopic approach,” Dr. Change said. “Further prospective studies are warranted.”
Dr. Chang and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures.
acssurgerynews@frontlinemedcom.com
SOURCE: Chang E et al. Academic Surgical Congress.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Octogenarians with small-bowel obstruction are about seven times more likely to have open than laparoscopic surgery, but the minimally invasive approach in these patients has been found to reduce their hospital stays and risk of pneumonia afterward, according to results of an observational study of data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.
Dr. Chang said, “Our study was able to show that age and the presence of preoperative sepsis are associated with mortality rather than procedure type, and that there are procedure-type risks associated with open procedures.”
The observational study analyzed 103 laparoscopic and 692 open operations for small-bowel obstruction (SBO) in patients 80 and older from 2006 to 2014. Characteristics of the open and laparoscopic group – age, gender, body mass index, and race – were similar, although the open group had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists classification and incidence of preoperative sepsis, Dr. Chang said.
“Unadjusted outcomes showed longer length of stay [and] higher postoperative mortality and rates of postoperative pneumonia in the open cases vs. laparoscopic,” she said. “But after we made adjustments for preoperative risk variables, age and the presence of preoperative sepsis were associated with mortality, not the operative approach.” Length of stay was 4 days for the laparoscopic patients vs. 8 days for open (P less than .0001).
The researchers performed logistical regression analysis and found that mortality risk rose slightly with age (odds ratio, 1.11; P = .0311) but almost quadrupled with preoperative sepsis (OR, 3.77; P = .0287) regardless of open or laparoscopic approach. For postoperative pneumonia, risk factors were male gender (OR, 2.68; P = .0003) and open procedure (OR, 5.03; P = .0282).
“Our study elucidates that the octogenarian with small-bowel obstruction due to adhesive disease may benefit from an initial laparoscopic approach,” Dr. Change said. “Further prospective studies are warranted.”
Dr. Chang and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures.
acssurgerynews@frontlinemedcom.com
SOURCE: Chang E et al. Academic Surgical Congress.
REPORTING FROM THE ACADEMIC SURGICAL CONGRESS
Key clinical point: and older.
Major finding: The open procedure had an odds ratio five times greater than laparoscopic surgery for risk of pneumonia after the operation in this age group (OR, 5.03; P =.0282).
Data source: Observational study of 103 laparoscopic and 692 open cases of surgery for SBO in the ACS NSQIP database from 2006 to 2014.
Disclosures: Dr. Chang and coauthors reported having no financial disclosures.
Source: Chang E et al. Academic Surgical Congress.
Major depression identified in almost 21% of U.S. adults
Major depressive disorder (MDD) was identified in 21% of adults in the United States during their lifetimes and 10% over 12 months, according to data published Feb. 14 from the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III).
Research shows that the prevalence of depression in adolescents and adults in the United States has increased over the last 25 years. However, epidemiologic data on MDD prevalence since the 2013 publication of the DSM-5 have been limited, wrote Deborah S. Hasin, PhD, of Columbia University, New York, and her colleagues.
In a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, Dr. Hasin and her colleagues reviewed data from 36,309 adult participants in the NESARC-III who reflected DSM-5 criteria. Major depressive disorder was defined as at least 2 weeks of persistent depressed mood, anhedonia, or hopelessness reported by the individual or others observing the individual.
Overall, the 12-month and lifetime prevalences of MDD were 10.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Factors associated with a more likely 12-month diagnosis of MDD included younger age (18-29 years) and lower income (less than $19,999 per year). In addition, MDD was significantly less likely in men than it was in women (odds ratio, 0.5). Compared with the likelihood among white adults, MDD was less likely among adults who were African American (OR, 0.6), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR, 0.6), and Hispanic (OR, 0.7).
Generalized anxiety disorder was the most common comorbidity associated with MDD (adjusted OR, 5.7). Any drug disorder was three times more likely in MDD patients (aOR, 3.0), and alcohol use disorder was nearly twice as likely (aOR, 1.8). Approximately 70% of patients with lifetime MDD received some treatment. But patients with substance use disorders and depression are less likely to receive treatment for major depression disorder. “Therefore, clinician education and training in dual-disorder screening and treatment should be prioritized,” Dr. Hasin and her colleagues wrote.
The study is the first to include data on two new major depression specifiers from the DSM-5, the researchers noted. “That almost three-quarters of those with MDD had the anxious/distressed specifier confirms clinical observation and research,” they said. “In patient samples, the anxious/distressed specifier predicts a poor course of MDD.”
The study was limited by several factors, including its cross-sectional design and the potentially inconsistent differentiation of MDD from normal bereavement in patients who had been diagnosed with MDD shortly after the death of a loved one, the researchers said. However, the findings provide the first nationally representative information on MDD since the advent of the DSM-5 and highlight the high prevalence of MDD in the U.S. population and the need for further intervention, they said.
The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. The NESARC-III was supported by several entities, including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
SOURCE: Hasin D et al. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018 Feb 14. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4602.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) was identified in 21% of adults in the United States during their lifetimes and 10% over 12 months, according to data published Feb. 14 from the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III).
Research shows that the prevalence of depression in adolescents and adults in the United States has increased over the last 25 years. However, epidemiologic data on MDD prevalence since the 2013 publication of the DSM-5 have been limited, wrote Deborah S. Hasin, PhD, of Columbia University, New York, and her colleagues.
In a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, Dr. Hasin and her colleagues reviewed data from 36,309 adult participants in the NESARC-III who reflected DSM-5 criteria. Major depressive disorder was defined as at least 2 weeks of persistent depressed mood, anhedonia, or hopelessness reported by the individual or others observing the individual.
Overall, the 12-month and lifetime prevalences of MDD were 10.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Factors associated with a more likely 12-month diagnosis of MDD included younger age (18-29 years) and lower income (less than $19,999 per year). In addition, MDD was significantly less likely in men than it was in women (odds ratio, 0.5). Compared with the likelihood among white adults, MDD was less likely among adults who were African American (OR, 0.6), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR, 0.6), and Hispanic (OR, 0.7).
Generalized anxiety disorder was the most common comorbidity associated with MDD (adjusted OR, 5.7). Any drug disorder was three times more likely in MDD patients (aOR, 3.0), and alcohol use disorder was nearly twice as likely (aOR, 1.8). Approximately 70% of patients with lifetime MDD received some treatment. But patients with substance use disorders and depression are less likely to receive treatment for major depression disorder. “Therefore, clinician education and training in dual-disorder screening and treatment should be prioritized,” Dr. Hasin and her colleagues wrote.
The study is the first to include data on two new major depression specifiers from the DSM-5, the researchers noted. “That almost three-quarters of those with MDD had the anxious/distressed specifier confirms clinical observation and research,” they said. “In patient samples, the anxious/distressed specifier predicts a poor course of MDD.”
The study was limited by several factors, including its cross-sectional design and the potentially inconsistent differentiation of MDD from normal bereavement in patients who had been diagnosed with MDD shortly after the death of a loved one, the researchers said. However, the findings provide the first nationally representative information on MDD since the advent of the DSM-5 and highlight the high prevalence of MDD in the U.S. population and the need for further intervention, they said.
The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. The NESARC-III was supported by several entities, including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
SOURCE: Hasin D et al. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018 Feb 14. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4602.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) was identified in 21% of adults in the United States during their lifetimes and 10% over 12 months, according to data published Feb. 14 from the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III).
Research shows that the prevalence of depression in adolescents and adults in the United States has increased over the last 25 years. However, epidemiologic data on MDD prevalence since the 2013 publication of the DSM-5 have been limited, wrote Deborah S. Hasin, PhD, of Columbia University, New York, and her colleagues.
In a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, Dr. Hasin and her colleagues reviewed data from 36,309 adult participants in the NESARC-III who reflected DSM-5 criteria. Major depressive disorder was defined as at least 2 weeks of persistent depressed mood, anhedonia, or hopelessness reported by the individual or others observing the individual.
Overall, the 12-month and lifetime prevalences of MDD were 10.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Factors associated with a more likely 12-month diagnosis of MDD included younger age (18-29 years) and lower income (less than $19,999 per year). In addition, MDD was significantly less likely in men than it was in women (odds ratio, 0.5). Compared with the likelihood among white adults, MDD was less likely among adults who were African American (OR, 0.6), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR, 0.6), and Hispanic (OR, 0.7).
Generalized anxiety disorder was the most common comorbidity associated with MDD (adjusted OR, 5.7). Any drug disorder was three times more likely in MDD patients (aOR, 3.0), and alcohol use disorder was nearly twice as likely (aOR, 1.8). Approximately 70% of patients with lifetime MDD received some treatment. But patients with substance use disorders and depression are less likely to receive treatment for major depression disorder. “Therefore, clinician education and training in dual-disorder screening and treatment should be prioritized,” Dr. Hasin and her colleagues wrote.
The study is the first to include data on two new major depression specifiers from the DSM-5, the researchers noted. “That almost three-quarters of those with MDD had the anxious/distressed specifier confirms clinical observation and research,” they said. “In patient samples, the anxious/distressed specifier predicts a poor course of MDD.”
The study was limited by several factors, including its cross-sectional design and the potentially inconsistent differentiation of MDD from normal bereavement in patients who had been diagnosed with MDD shortly after the death of a loved one, the researchers said. However, the findings provide the first nationally representative information on MDD since the advent of the DSM-5 and highlight the high prevalence of MDD in the U.S. population and the need for further intervention, they said.
The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. The NESARC-III was supported by several entities, including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
SOURCE: Hasin D et al. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018 Feb 14. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4602.
FROM JAMA PSYCHIATRY
Key clinical point: Clinicians should prioritize education and training in treating patients with comorbid MDD and substance use disorders.
Major finding: Among adults in the United States, the 12-month and lifetime prevalences of MDD were 10.4% and 20.6%, respectively.
Data source: The data come from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III) for 2012-2013 and includes 36,309 adults.
Disclosures: The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III) was supported by several entities, including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Source: Hasin D et al. JAMA Psychiatry. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4602.