Q. What is ACS Surgery: Principles & Practice?

A. ACS Surgery is designed to support surgeons in their daily practice of general surgery. Thus, our focus is on information essential to the practicing surgeon, particularly diagnosis and treatment of surgical disease and care of critically ill surgical patients. Accordingly, we address basic perioperative considerations (e.g., bleeding, infection prevention); surgery of the head and neck; surgery of the breast, skin, and soft tissue; surgery of the alimentary tract and abdominal organs; and surgery of the vascular system. Trauma and thermal injury are covered in detail, as is critical care. We also include areas not commonly addressed in surgical textbooks (e.g., patient safety, elements of cost-effective surgery, and strategies for protecting against malpractice claims). [Click here to see our Table of Contents.]

ACS Surgery is available as a bound book, a CD-ROM, and an online resource. Updating is monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the format. A free monthly e-newsletter, What's New in ACS Surgery, helps readers stay abreast of key developments. To help reduce the amount of time and money spent on expensive CME courses, ACS Surgery Self-Assessment Questions provides doctors with up to 60 Category 1 credits. (Click http://support.acpmedicine.com/cme_accreditation.htm to see our accreditation information.)

Q. How does ACS Surgery Online compare with other electronic
     databases?

A. ACS Surgery is different from other electronic databases in two ways. First, when ACS Surgery updates its chapters in its electronic database, it integrates new information in context with what has been proven. In some other electronic medical databases, new information and findings are tacked on to the end of chapters; this new information sometimes contradicts older information in the chapter. Second, searches in ACS Surgery are designed to produce the most relevant results, not scores of results that need to be sorted through to find the pertinent information.

Q. How does ACS Surgery compare with other textbooks?

A. Although ACS Surgery has always been different from standard textbooks. It is current and timely, with replacement chapters appearing with a frequency similar to that of journal articles. This aspect is especially evident in the Web version, where we publish first and where readers can get information most rapidly. (Some publishers of professional references publish their print version first and only publish on the Web later.) Now, as before, such frequent updating has made it possible for our authors and editors to respond readily to queries from readers and to present new developments pertinent to surgical practice.

In print, we publish a new bound edition each year-a frequency that surpasses that of any other comparable surgical textbooks.

Q. How can ACS Surgery help me practice better medicine?

A. ACS Surgery Whether you are a general surgeon or a specialist, you are certain to find key information that relates to your day-to-day practice in several important ways. ACS Surgery is the College's only official reference of general surgery, offering step-by-step recommendations on surgical techniques and decision-making guidelines for common medical conditions.

Chapters that discuss operative procedures break down each operation into key steps, highlighting potential problem areas and providing strategies for prevention or management. Chapters often also include a discussion section, exploring scientific background and new theories as they apply to the field.

Q. Can ACS Surgery serve as a teaching tool or help me prepare for
     recertification?

A. Yes. And ACS Surgery is used as a teaching tool by many surgery program directors. Our chapters are typically written by leading authorities in their fields and are organized with the practicing surgeon's need for decision-making in mind. Thus, diagnostic and treatment recommendations are easily found and clearly stated, and technical issues are lucidly addressed.

To help readers keep on top of the latest findings and recommendations published in our chapters, we have created the newsletter What's New in ACS Surgery. The newsletter provides not only key highlights from each chapter but also columns from our editorial board and guest contributors. Our CME program follows this same principle by basing CME questions on each month's new or updated chapters.

Q. How current is ACS Surgery?

A. ACS Surgery, in its various formats, is the most current reference of surgery on the market. ACS Surgery has always been different from standard textbooks. It is current and timely, with replacement chapters appearing with a frequency similar to that of journal articles. This aspect is especially evident in the Web version, where we publish first so that readers can get information most rapidly. (Some publishers of professional references publish their print version first and only publish on the Web later.) Such frequent updating has made it possible for our authors and editors to respond readily to queries from readers and to present new developments pertinent to the practice of surgery. We also publish quarterly and annual CD-ROMs.

In print, we publish a new bound edition each year-a frequency that surpasses that of any other comparable surgical textbooks.

Q. Is the content the same in the electronic versions as in the bound volume?

A. All of our chapters are first published on ACS Surgery Online and in the CD-ROM formats. Every 12 months, all of these chapters are then published in the bound-book format.

Q. How does your 30-day free trial work?

A. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase of ACS Surgery in any of its formats, it is easy to cancel your subscription. If you chose ACS Surgery in the bound-book or CD-ROM format, you can simply mark "cancel" on your invoice and return your product to us. If you chose ACS Surgery Online, you can call our Customer Service department at 1- 800-568-7281 to terminate your subscription. Either way, you will owe nothing.

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Q. How do you decide which topics to update and when?

A. Our Editorial Board and authors continually monitor developments in their fields. The expert ACS Surgery Editorial Board calls upon the leading authorities in their fields (many of them department chairs and other thought leaders) to write chapters for their sections. [Click here to see our Contributors List.] Upon submission, each chapter is carefully reviewed by the appropriate Editorial Board member for currency, accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness before being approved for publication. Each chapter must reflect the state of the surgical art at the time of submission. When an existing chapter is updated some time after its original publication, it is again reviewed with equal attention to detail and currency. Whether a submitted chapter is updated or completely new, the questions asked in the course of review are the same:

• Is all important new material included?
• Has the evidence base been rigorously evaluated?
• Are the indications for diagnosis and management highlighted?
• Are the technical descriptions accurate and useful?
• Are the illustrations appropriate and well chosen?
• Is the presentation clear?

Q. What is What's New in ACS Surgery?

A. To help readers keep on top of the latest findings and recommendations published in our chapters, we have created the newsletter What's New in ACS Surgery. The newsletter provides not only key highlights from each chapter but also columns from our Editorial Board and guest contributors. We distribute What's New via e-mail for subscribers and nonsubscribers alike. Anyone can sign up for free at http://acpmedicine.com/wnis/wnis_sign.htm.
[Click here to see this month's newsletter.]

Q. How long has ACS Surgery been published?

A. ACS Surgery was first published as a loose-leaf reference in 1989 under the name Care of the Surgical Patient. In 1995, the publication was renamed Scientific American^® Surgery, and in 2002, the long-standing partnership with the American College of Surgeons was explicitly recognized and highlighted by renaming the publication ACS Surgery. In its original loose-leaf form, "COSP"-and later "SAS"-was the most up-to-date reference in general surgery. The extensive citations from peer-reviewed literature allowed our sophisticated readers to examine primary sources for themselves, and the textual and illustrative coverage of developing procedures allowed them to stay on top of technical advances. Our early commitment to electronic publication, first via CD-ROM then via the Internet, made possible the expansion from what began as primarily a perioperative care manual into what is now a modern and practical general surgical textbook. Throughout the evolution of the publication, our constant search for best evidence made-and continues to make-ACS Surgery the most soundly based source in the field.

Q. What is the relationship between ACS Surgery and the American
     College of Surgeons?

A. The earliest incarnation of what is now ACS Surgery was Care of the Surgical Patient, first published as a loose-leaf reference in 1989 under the sponsorship of the ACS. In 1995, the publication was renamed Scientific American® Surgery, and in 2002, the long-standing partnership with the College was explicitly recognized and highlighted by renaming the publication ACS Surgery. Since the inception of the publication in 1989, this relationship reflects a shared and long-standing commitment to helping surgeons achieve excellence in clinical practice.

Q. How does ACS Surgery select its authors?

A. As has been true since its inception in 1989, the first step in quality assurance for ACS Surgery rests in the selection of its editorial chair-currently, Wiley W. Souba, MD, ScD, FACS-and the associate editors. [Click here to see our Editorial Board.] The expert ACS Surgery Editorial Board then calls upon the leading authorities in their fields (many of whom are department chairs and other thought leaders) to write chapters for their sections. [Click here to see our Contributors List.]

 

Q. Can I get a license for more than one user for ACS Surgery Online?

A. Yes. Whether you have a handful of users at one site or dozens of users in several facilities, we have site-licensing programs tailored to suit your needs.

You will get continually updated content; fast answers to clinical questions; links to resources, including abstracts, references, guidelines, and patient information; and thesaurus and abbreviations searches. Users can access by username and password or IP authentication. We offer economical concurrent-user pricing. To learn more about site licensing or our other subscription options, please call BC Decker Customer Care at 800-568-7281 (US and Canada), or 905-522-7017 (Internationally).

Q. How can I get a demo password to evaluate ACS Surgery site
     licensing?

A. Evaluate ACS Surgery Online for your institution with our free 30-day account trial. We can set your trial access by username and password or IP authentication. Contact acssurgery@bcdecker.com now to request your 30-day trial or for more information.

Q. How many credits are available with the ACS Surgery CME program?

A. Our online CME program makes 60 Category 1 credits available at any time during the year, as long as 12 tests are completed within 12 months of enrollment. Your registration is valid for the term of your subscription to ACS Surgery. Once your subscription to ACS Surgery expires, you will need to renew your subscription in order to access additional online CME tests or to gain access to your Logbook. Please be sure to print out all your certificates before expiration of your ACS Surgery subscription.

Over the course of the 12 months, you may submit the tests at your convenience, from one per month to all 12 at the end of the subscription period.

Q. How long does it take to get my CME certificate?

A. When you complete each test online, a certificate of credit will be generated automatically, which you may print out and submit directly to your board or other organization. You may access your certificates at any time from the CME Logbook, as long as you remain an active subscriber to the CME program.

Q. What if I am interrupted while I am taking an online CME test?

A. To stop a test and restart it at a later time, click on the "Set Bookmark and Quit" button in the upper right corner. You can later return to the test where you left off by selecting Bookmark in your CME Logbook.

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Q. What happens if I lose my password to ACS Surgery Online?

A. Just access the site using your subscription account number, and you will be able to reset your password from "Your Account" page. Your account number appears on any mailing from us, such as the mailing label from your print or CD edition or on correspondence you receive from us (i.e., invoices, renewal notices, or order acknowledgments). On the mailing, the account number appears above your name and has 8 to 10 digits. If you do not have your label or account number, call BC Decker Customer Care at 800-568-7281 (US and Canada), or 905-522-7017 (Internationally), from 8:30 AM to 5 PM EST Monday through Friday. You may also send your inquiry by fax to Fax: 905-522-7839 or by e-mail to acssurgery@bcdecker.com.

Q. What do I do if I am asked for a user name and password but haven't created them yet?

A. You will need to log on using your online account number, which appears on mailing labels or correspondence from us. The account number appears above your name and has 8 to 10 digits. The first time you log on using your account number, you will be asked to create a user name and password for accessing the site. Once you choose a user name and password, you may log on to the site using either your account number or your user name and password. If you don't have your account number, please call BC Decker Customer Care at 800-568-7281 (US and Canada), or 905-522-7017 (Internationally), from 8:30 AM to 5 PM EST Monday through Friday. You may also send your inquiry by fax to Fax: 905-522-7839 or by e-mail to acssurgery@bcdecker.com.

Q.How do I renew my subscription to ACS Surgery?

A. You may renew your subscription online, by fax, by mail, or over the phone-whichever is most convenient for you.

Renewing Online
You can renew your subscription to ACS Surgery instantly and securely online at www.acssurgery.com. Enter your account number under the link "Sign in for Current Subscribers." You will see your subscription items and the expiration dates. An option to renew will appear under the category of the product you currently receive.

Renewing by Phone
BC Decker Customer Care at 800-568-7281 (US and Canada), or 905-522-7017 (Internationally), from 8:30 AM to 5 PM EST Monday through Friday.

Renewing by Fax or Mail
You can renew your subscription by faxing the renewal form you received in the mail to You may also send your inquiry by fax to 905-522-7839. Your order will be processed immediately upon receipt. Please include your account number on the renewal order.

OR Mail the renewal form to the following address:

Mail:
BC Decker Inc
PO Box 620, LCD1
Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7
Canada

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Q. How does the ACS Surgery search engine work?

A. Our search engine offers both Quick Search and Advanced Search options, which can be found at the top of the ACS Surgery search page. Use the Quick Search choice if you want to do a quick, simple search for a single word or concept: simply type in a word, and then click on the Search button to start your search. If you want to narrow your search results, you may use the Advanced Search Tool. There are additional recommendations on using our search features in Advanced Search in the paid area of the site.

Q. What are the system requirements for use of the ACS Surgery
     CD-ROM?

A. Windows:

• Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT v3.51 or later, Windows ME, or Windows XP and Windows Vista
• 32 MB RAM
• Netscape 7 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later
• A Java-enabled browser is required
• Internet connection is optional but useful to access links to full-text references

   Macintosh:

• Macintosh Power PC
• 32 MB RAM recommended
• System 7.5.3 or later
• Netscape 7.02 is required and provided on the CD
• Internet connection is optional but useful to access links to full-text references

Q. What are the system requirements for use of ACS Surgery Online?

A. You must use Netscape 7 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. Your browser must be Java enabled.

Q. Is technical support included in my subscription to ACS Surgery
     Online?

A. Yes. Technical support is free to all subscribers of ACS Surgery.

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Q. How can I get permission to reprint a chapter, table, or illustration that
     appears in ACS Surgery?

A. For Permissions, please go to BC Decker Permissions Page.

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^* Scientific American^® and Scientific American^® Surgery are trademarks of Scientific American, Inc., and are used by BC Decker Inc. under license from Scientific American, Inc.