http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. A new study published online today in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons finds hospitals participating in a regional collaborative of the American College of Surgeon's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®), achieved substantial improvements in surgical outcomes, such as reducing the rates of acute renal failure and surgical site infections. The collaborative also saved $2,197,543 per 10,000 general and vascular surgery cases when comparing results from 2010 with results from 2009. ACS NSQIP is the leading nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care in the private sector. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-regional-surgical-quality-collaborative-significantly.html Other Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:25:02 EST news246547493 According to the results of a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, African-Americans, Hispanics and uninsured patients use fewer post-hospitalization services after traumatic injury, including home health care, skilled nursing care, and rehabilitation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-racial-ethnic-disparities-revealed-post-hospital.html Health Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:25:00 EST news242483087 According to the results of a new study published in the November 2011 Journal of the American College of Surgeons, malpractice lawsuits against U.S. surgeons occur often and can take a profound personal toll on the surgeon, resulting in emotional exhaustion, stress, and professional dissatisfaction. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-malpractice-psychological-distress-career-burnout.html Other Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:01:50 EST news240508893 According to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, phyllodes tumors – rare breast malignancies accounting for 0.5 to one percent of all breast tumors – tend to be more prevalent in Hispanic patients. Population-based estimates indicate that the incidence of malignant phyllodes tumors is 2.1 cases per million women, with the highest frequencies in Hispanic women. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-hispanic-women-higher-incidence-rare.html Cancer Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:12:01 EST news237553914 More part-time employment for surgeons, particularly retiring older male or young female surgeons taking time off for their families, may considerably reduce the surgeon shortage in the United States by 2030, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-part-time-surgeons-workforce-shortage.html Other Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:10:18 EST news235048177 The use of Acute Care Emergency Surgical Service (ACCESS) in emergency departments (EDs) can lead to significant reductions in key patient measures, such as length of stay, surgical decision-making time and "time-to-stretcher" (one measure of overall ED overcrowding), according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Emergency departments are a crucial point of access to the health care system for patients with a broad spectrum of injuries and illnesses, and overcrowding has been identified as a widespread and serious problem with adverse consequences, both in the United States and Canada. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-urgent-emergency-departments-surgical-decision.html Other Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:40:02 EST news232034790 According to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, there was an increase in the number of laparoscopic bariatric procedures, an increase in the number of bariatric surgeons and a decrease of inhospital mortality rates between 2003 and 2008. During the past decade, the field of bariatric surgery has changed dramatically and the authors concluded that these trends are due, in part, to an increase in the use of laparoscopic techniques and a greater acceptance of bariatric surgery by patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-laparoscopic-bariatric-procedures-.html Other Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:30:01 EST news232034737 The type of primary insurance patients carry affects outcomes of cardiac valve operations in the United States according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. As a result, the type of primary insurance should be considered as an independent risk factor during preoperative risk stratification and planning, the researchers reported. They found that uninsured and Medicaid patients incur worse unadjusted and risk-adjusted outcomes following cardiac valve operations compared with those who carry private insurance. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-outcomes-cardiac-valve-procedure-patients.html Health Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:06:58 EST news229190793 One consequence of the expanded access to health care facilitated by health care reform will be a shortfall in the necessary numbers of physicians and other advanced medical professionals. According to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the United States will face serious shortages in the combined workforce of physicians, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants over the next two decades. The study concluded that, without an adequate supply of advanced medical professionals, the U.S. won't meet the goals of health care reform. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-future-labor-shortfalls-medical-professionals.html Other Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:06:12 EST news229190763 A shave biopsy is a reasonably safe and accurate method for the initial diagnosis of melanoma, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. In the past, some physicians have criticized shave biopsies for not providing accurate T (tumor) stage information, thereby complicating treatment planning. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-biopsy-safe-method-melanoma.html Cancer Mon, 23 May 2011 12:00:04 EST news225369422 It is well known that rising medical malpractice premiums have reached a crisis point in many areas of the United States, and the economic and emotional costs of these claims are driving physicians and surgeons away from high-risk specialties. However, according to the authors of a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, implementation of comprehensive tort reform has been associated with a nearly 80 percent decrease in the prevalence of surgical malpractice lawsuits at one academic medical center. This decrease in lawsuits also resulted in a significant decrease in malpractice-associated costs. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-tort-reform-lawsuit-framework-quality.html Other Mon, 23 May 2011 11:50:01 EST news225369452