CHICAGO: The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has announced the publication of its new manual Surgical Patient Safety: Essential Information for Surgeons in Today's Environment. Edited by Barry M. Manuel, MD, FACS, and Paul F. Nora, MD, FACS, the manual is intended to provide guidance and leadership in evolving areas of patient safety in the surgical profession.

The 200-page publication describes a variety of practical resources and provides a broad overview of key issues, such as the scientific basis of surgical patient safety-specifically human factors and systems analyses-and the processes affecting surgical patient safety such as decision support; electronic prescribing; and error detection, analysis, and reporting. Legal challenges for surgeon participation in patient safety activities are also reviewed. Furthermore, strategies for preventing wrong-site surgery, safe implementation of blood and blood components, and patient safety in trauma care are addressed, as are broader error prevention methods such as the use of surgical simulation, educational interventions, and quality improvement initiatives.

The manual is available to members of the College and to anyone interested in the topic of patient safety. Orders may be placed online through the College's Publications and Services Catalog at http://www.facs.org/commerce/2004/catsplash.html.

The American College of Surgeons considers patient safety to be of the highest priority and is committed to improving surgical patient safety, as illustrated in the College's endorsement of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2003. The surgical profession has never lost sight of its fundamental responsibility to be the patient's quality care advocate and provider

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 66,000 members and it is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

NOTE: A complimentary copy of the Surgical Patient Safety is available to reporters (limit: one copy per publication). Send requests to: pressinquiry@facs.org.

Online Month , 2005

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