Advocacy
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) advocacy activities at the federal and state level represent the interests of you, the practicing surgeon, and your patients.
Socioeconomic, legislative, and regulatory issues affecting surgery are of paramount concern to us. We develop and advocate health care policy that is in the best interest of patients and physicians through our Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, in Washington, DC, and in state capitols.
We also maintain liaison with the Washington office of other medical and surgical societies. Primarily, we liaise with Congress and federal agencies—including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Health and Human Services—on important matters to the surgical profession.
We help you navigate through complicated changes that affect surgical practice today through our coding hotline and workshops on practice management/coding issues.
We encourage all surgeons to get involved in advocacy matters. Take action. Protect your patients and your profession. Visit our advocacy web pages often and stay in touch with us.
Arkansas Legislators Visit ATLS Course in Pine Bluff
The ATLS Course in Pine Bluff, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, had some special guests from the Arkansas Legislature that visited with key Arkansas Trauma System leaders. The class, attended by physicians, many of which were from southeast Arkansas (SEARK), brings the latest education in trauma life support techniques to practicing physicians in SEARK.
The legislators were briefed on the latest in trauma care, the state of Arkansas’ trauma system, it’s future challenges, and how we all can work together to improve Arkansas patient outcomes. Legislators pictured are (clockwise): Rep. Ken Bragg, Reps. Mike Holcomb and Kenneth B. Ferguson, and Senator Stephanie Flowers, shown with Drs. Ron Robertson, Charles Mabry, and Lon Bitzer.
