ACS launches hospital search tool to spotlight surgical quality

Editor's Note

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has launched a new online tool that helps patients and families locate hospitals recognized for delivering high-quality surgical care, according to an August 26 ACS announcement. The “Find a Hospital” tool highlights facilities that have earned ACS accreditation or verification through an independent review process. Each year, about 15 million surgical procedures take place in the US, and the tool aims to give patients greater confidence in selecting hospitals that have demonstrated measurable excellence in surgical standards, staffing, resources, and outcomes.

Users can search by location and filter results to identify hospitals participating in specific ACS Quality Programs, such as trauma, cancer, vascular, bariatric, pediatric, or geriatric surgery. The tool’s design includes a map-based search, specialty program filters, and plain-language explanations of what each designation means for patient care.

ACS frames the initiative as a complement to its existing “Find a Surgeon” tool, which connects patients to Fellows of the ACS (FACS). Those surgeons are board certified and have met requirements for education, training, and ethical practice.

Hospitals listed through the new platform may also carry the ACS Surgical Quality Partner designation. This label signals that a facility has committed to ongoing performance improvement and rigorous quality checks beyond baseline regulatory requirements. According to the ACS, participating hospitals benefit from national quality improvement programs that help reduce complications, support recovery, and improve survival rates.

The organization, which includes more than 90,000 surgeons, describes ACS accreditation or verification as a marker of sustained commitment to surgical excellence. The review process examines everything from staffing qualifications to patient safety protocols and clinical outcomes.