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Review
. 2020 Oct;231(4):490-496.
doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.06.020. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

The American College of Surgeons Responds to COVID-19

Valerie W Rusch  1 , Steven D Wexner  2 ; American College of Surgeons COVID-19 Communications Committee, Board of Regents, and Officers
Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

The American College of Surgeons Responds to COVID-19

Valerie W Rusch et al. J Am Coll Surg. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly, and perhaps irrevocably, changed the way we live, conduct our business affairs, and practice medicine and surgery. In mid-March 2020, as COVID-19 infections escalated exponentially across many areas of the US, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Surgeon General, and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) recommended that hospitals and surgeons postpone non-urgent operations in order to provide care to COVID-19 patients.1-3 It quickly became obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented medical challenges. ACS leadership, including the Board of Regents and Officers (Appendix), worked with the ACS Executive Director (Dr David Hoyt) and staff to rapidly organize a response to the COVID-19 crisis. The aim of this effort was to support ACS members and Fellows, as well as the broader medical community, in continuing to provide optimal patient care. Because other similar public health crises could arise in the future, we report the measures taken by the ACS to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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References

    1. American Medical Association Factsheet: State action related to delay and resumption of "elective" procedures during COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-05/state-elective-procedure-c... Available at:
    1. American College of Surgeons COVID-19: Recommendations for management of elective surgical procedures. https://www.facs.org/covid-19/clinical-guidance/elective-surgery Available at:
    1. American College of Surgeons COVID-19: Guidance for triage of non-emergent surgical procedures. https://www.facs.org/covid-19/clinical-guidance/triage Available at:
    1. American Hospital Association Coronavirus updated: New information on elective surgery, PPE conservation and additional COVID-19 issues. https://www.aha.org/advisory/2020-03-19-coronavirus-update-new-informati... Available at:
    1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services CMS releases recommendations on adult elective surgeries, non-essential medical, surgical, and dental procedures during COVID-19 response. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-releases-recommendations... Available at:

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