Surgical Quality Consortium

This activity is designed for surgical team members. The objectives of this course are to:

• Orient all personnel to NSQIP and its utilization
• Meet service leads and collaborate on role-specific issues
• Discuss the link between participation in surgical quality programs and excellence in clinical practice
• Discuss the creation of novel surgical quality verification programs
• Demonstrate leadership approaches toward quality issues
• Discuss the impetus for the DHA NSQIP Improvement Project
• Discuss the personnel and process involved in the project
• Review and discuss the state of surgical quality in the MHS
• Discuss the link between MHS strategy and local leadership
• Discuss extending the quality umbrella to the deployed environment
• Share process of the NSQIP in-depth, intense analysis of SARs to identify improvement opportunities
• Discuss range of activities navigating Semi-annual Reports. Share problems/ideas and brainstorm.
• Highlight the role of the MTF NSQIP Team (SC/SCR) in helping initiate improvements.
• Highlight the process for the use of the PUF to conduct research
• Training in fundamentals of improvement science and learning how to tackle a quality issue
• Discuss innovation and continuous improvement in surgical practice and process
• Discuss opportunities for military-civilian collaboration in Surgical Quality

In accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all financial relationships with any commercial interest (termed by the ACCME as “ineligible companies”, defined below) held in the last 24 months (see below for definitions). Please note that first authors were required to collect and submit disclosure information on behalf all other authors/contributors, if applicable.

• Ineligible Company: The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition
• Financial Relationships: Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit.  Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected.
• Conflict of Interest: Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of an ineligible company with which he/she has a financial relationship.

The ACCME also requires that ACS manage any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity. Any conflicts noted below have been managed to our satisfaction. The disclosure information is intended to identify any commercial relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during the educational activity, please report it on the evaluation.

Speakers/Moderators/Discussants/Authors

Nothing to Disclose:

• Eric Twerdahl
• Mary J. Mullen
• Brian Eastridge
• Benjamin Allis
• Stephanie Bedzis
• Mark Cohen
• Paul Cordts
• Peter Learn
• Alaina Matthews
• Melanie McGarvey
• Jyotirmay Sharma
• Anton Sidawy
• Edward Southern
• Matthew Tadlock
• Vanessa Thompson

Planning Committee

Nothing to Disclose:

• Eric Twerdahl
• Mary J. Mullen
• Brian Eastridge