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Dr. David Beck |
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President’s Message:
As concerns about cost structure drive health care reform, ASCRS works for excellent patient care, fair reimbursement |
The American health care system can provide excellent care. However, many feel that the present cost structure is not sustainable. Hence, health care reform is being pursued. |
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Operative Competency Evaluation Committee
to develop tool for technical skills assessment |
The Society’s Operative Competency Evaluation Committee has received Executive Council approval to develop and evaluate a method of technical skills assessment for colorectal fellows.
The new technical skills assessment tool, known as Colorectal Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (COSATS), will be developed and tested by a team at the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, headed by Drs. Helen M. MacRae and Sandra de Montbrun. They will first develop a series of stations on which skills can be tested, using either models constructed from synthetic materials, animal tissue, cadaveric tissue, or simulators.
Read more . . . |
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Dr. Patricia Roberts |
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| Why the Society is developing a case log system for MOC |
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Dr. Conor Delaney |
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By Dr. Conor P. Delaney
The Society is developing its own case log system for Maintenance of Certification (MOC), and we plan to have working models ready for review at the Vancouver Annual Meeting, May 14-18. The ASCRS case log system needs to be sufficiently complex to be a valid tool for certification, without being overly burdensome for the membership.
The current American College of Surgeons (ACS) case log is a very complete system that enables ASCRS members to track their own cases, but it is generic...
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Member Profile:
Dr. Scott Steele leads medical team in Afghanistan |
Colorectal surgeons do not normally remove infected gallbladders, repair hernias, amputate crushed fingers and treat burn victims, but for Dr. Scott Steele, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps stationed at a forward operating base (FOB) in the mountains of Afghanistan’s Paktika Province, the rules of the game are a bit different.
Read more . . . |
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Nominate journalists for National Media Awards |
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2010 National Media Award recipients |
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Help ASCRS recognize excellence in colorectal disease reporting by nominating journalists for the Society’s 2011 National Media Awards. March 1, 2011 is the deadline for submitting entries.
ASCRS will present $1,000 awards honoring the best work in three major media categories . . .
Read more . . . |
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Washington Update:
Congress acts before November 30 deadline to halt 23 percent Medicare reimbursement cut
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Just a day in advance of the November 30 deadline, the House of Representatives passed the Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act of 2010, which halted the 23 percent reduction in Medicare physician reimbursement scheduled to take effect on December 1. The legislation preserves current Medicare payment levels through the end of 2010. The Senate had approved the bill before the Thanksgiving week recess.
Back in June, for the third time in 2010, a scheduled 21.2 percent reduction in Medicare physician reimbursement took effect. Read more . . . |
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Four granted Great Comebacks® Awards, as ASCRS becomes program partner |
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The Great Comebacks® Program has granted four regional awards to recognize inspirational achievements of people who have overcome serious intestinal diseases, colorectal cancer, and other conditions that can lead to ostomy surgery. ASCRS this year became a partner in the awards program.
Read more . . . |
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Society posts Webcast of 2010 Annual Meeting |
Scientific sessions and presentations from the Society’s 2010 Annual Meeting in Minneapolis are accessible via Webcast and Podcast on the ASCRS Website, www.fascrs.org. |
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Dr. Guy Orangio |
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Member News:
Dr. Guy Orangio named Director, American Cardiovascular Research Institute
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Dr. Guy R. Orangio, Atlanta, GA, has been named a Director of the American Cardiovascular Research Institute. |
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Smart phone users can now connect with ASCRS through QR codes |
Users of smart phones will have an opportunity to link directly to the ASCRS Annual Meeting Website from their phones, using QR codes.
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ASCRS seeks nominations for 2011 Community Impact Award |
ASCRS is accepting nominations for its Community Impact Award, which recognizes important volunteer work by Society members in their communities, ASCRS President Dr. David Beck, New Orleans, LA, announced. Nominations must be submitted by March 1.
Instructions for submitting nominations, and additional information on the award, are available on the ASCRS Website, www.fascrs.org.
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Christopher Springmann Shows how Dr. Mehmet Oz gets our message out |
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Editor’s Note: Author Christopher Springmann is executive producer of Life, Love & Health, the daily health, medicine and wellness feature program – and the winner of the 2010 ASCRS Media Award in the Internet category. Springmann also produces custom Podcasts for hospitals and medical centers, including Scott & White Healthcare; and has done extensive media training, notably at the AMA Media Communications Conference. This is his first contribution for ASCRS News.
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Vancouver to host Society's 2011 Annual Meeting, May 14 - 18 |
Expert panel discussions, scientific symposia covering topics such as early rectal cancer treatment and health information technology, hands-on workshops and distinguished guest lecturers are key highlights of ASCRS’ 2011 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC, Canada, May 14 – 18, at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Read more . . . |
 Photo courtesy Tourism Vancouver
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Dr. J. Byron Gathright |
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In Memoriam:
John Byron Gathright, Jr. MD
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ASCRS Past President Dr. J. Byron Gathright, Jr., 76, died August 28, in the Ochsner Clinic Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, LA., two weeks after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. An In Memoriam tribute may be found on the ASCRS website. |
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