News Items

ASCRS is seeking volunteers to serve on ASCRS committees for the 2019-2020 year beginning in June 2019. In nearly all cases, Committee volunteers serve 3-year terms. Serving on a committee is one of the best ways to get involved and to make an impact in the field of colon and rectal surgery.

We invite you to indicate your interest in up to three ASCRS committees by taking a few minutes to complete the Call for Volunteers Survey. Your response is due March 1, 2019.

We will make every attempt to accommodate your appointment preferences, but committee vacancies and size constraints may limit our ability to meet all requested appointments. We anticipate notifying member volunteers of their committee appointments in May, prior to the Annual Meeting. New this year, this change will allow for a smooth transition between incoming and outgoing committee members at committee meetings held during the Annual Meeting.

Detailed information for each committee is provided on the ASCRS Leadership and Committees webpage that includes: committee charges, current committee rosters and the Policy for Committee Membership for the ASCRS.

Help shape the future of our Society by volunteering today!

The ASCRS Clinical Practice Guideline Committee's newest guideline, Clinical Practice Guideline for Ambulatory Anorectal Surgery, has been published in the October 2015 issue of Diseases of the Colon and Rectum.

Ambulatory surgery has been defined as any surgical procedure performed on the same day a patient presents to and is released from a facility. It encompasses those surgical procedures that need to be performed for safety reasons in an operating room on anesthetized patients. Ambulatory surgery services may be provided in a free-standing ambulatory surgery center or a hospital-based ambulatory surgery center either on site or off site. The potential benefits for the patient include more rapid return to the comforts of a home environment, diminished opportunities for nosocomial complications, and reduced disruption of work and home life. From a system standpoint, benefits include diminished cost and freeing up resources for other major procedures.

It is estimated that 90% of anorectal cases are suitable for ambulatory surgery. These procedures are considered low-risk surgery, and patients can expect to be discharged home safely and comfortably the same day. However, the surgeon must consider the expectations of the individual patient, comfort level, and potentially complicating comorbidities or other extenuating circumstances before deciding on an ambulatory setting.

View all ASCRS Clinical Practice Guidelines.

The newest CREST® curriculum, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) of the Colon and Rectum, is now available! The curriculum provides a focused, in-depth discussion regarding topics that span the breadth of colorectal disease. Included in the STD module are full-text articles from Diseases of the Colon & Rectum and a brief five-question posttest.

Members have complimentary access to the content; CME is available for a small fee. Upon completion, the module is eligible for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. To access the CREST® site, please log in at the top of the website. Once logged in, click on MY ACCOUNT in the top right-hand corner and then choose the CREST® Online Learning Center link located at the top of your account information.

New Weekly Curriculum Available!

Office-Based Hemorrhoid Treatment is now available for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(s)TM

This module reviews the office-based therapy including the non-operative and medical management of internal and external hemorrhoids. Included topics range from dietary and lifestyle changes to rubber band ligation for internal hemorrhoids and excision of thrombosed external hemorrhoids.

To access the CREST® site please login to your member account on the ASCRS website. Once logged in, click on MY ACCOUNT in the top right-hand corner and then choose the CREST® Online Learning Center link located at the top of your account information. This link will take you directly to the CREST® Online Learning Center.

Test your knowledge or earn CME today!

The ASCRS is pleased to share two new inspirational videos telling the story of Pat Spain, a marine biologist, TV host, and cancer survivor who received the 2015 ASCRS Local Hero Award in recognition of his efforts to improve colon cancer awareness.

Mr. Spain saw his physician upon experiencing unusual symptoms but was initially told that he was fine. He pursued the issue and a colonoscopy later revealed that he had colon cancer. In his 7-minute video he uses candor and humor to describe his experience from diagnosis through treatment and relay his message that there is life after cancer.

In a shorter, 2-minute video, Mr. Spain stresses the importance of paying attention to changes in your body and seeking prompt medical attention when unusual symptoms are experienced.

Both videos are available in the Patient Education Library and are posted on ASCRS's Facebook page so you can share it with your patients.