The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Jul 2020
Current Trends of Women Surgeon Speakers at National Trauma Surgery Conferences: The Trauma House Is Improving.
An invitation to speak at a national meeting represents the advancement of one's career and indicates acceptance and the attention of the scientific community. Studies have revealed gender disparities across medical and surgical society meetings. The purpose of our study was to assess the current trend of women surgeon speakers at major national trauma surgery conferences during the last 4 years (ie, 2016-2019). ⋯ The number of women surgeon speakers at national trauma surgery conferences significantly increased from 2016 to 2019. The increase in women trauma surgeon speakers is encouraging and should be celebrated, but organizational leadership should take this information into account while extending invitations to surgeons for speaking opportunities and continue to promote diversity and inclusivity.
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The American surgeon · Jun 2020
Observational StudyAssessment of Unused Opioids Following Ambulatory Surgery.
Surgery is a risk factor for opioid initiation and subsequent abuse. Discharge opioid prescription patterns after surgery are often varied and not evidence based, which may lead to unnecessary prescription of opioids. We aimed to assess opioid prescribing and unused opioid prescriptions in ambulatory surgery patients at our academic hospital. ⋯ Opioid prescribing and unused opioid prescriptions are prevalent in our hospital's ambulatory surgical population. Patients undergoing selected ambulatory surgical procedures may not require as much opioid as is currently being prescribed.
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The American surgeon · Jun 2020
US Rural Surgeon Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Leadership in a Time of Crisis.
Nine surgeons from rural and remote communities in the United States share early experiences preparing for the COVID-19 pandemic. Relating experiences remarkably different from health care providers in urban areas in America most affected by the first stages of the outbreak, they tell the challenges of organizing resources in facilities already struggling with poverty-stricken communities far from established health care resources and supplies. From Alaska to Appalachia and the Navajo Nation to the rural midwest, they show the leadership and professionalism that exemplify rural surgery.