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American College of Physicians

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American College of Physicians
AbbreviationACP
FormationJanuary 8, 1915
Headquarters190 North Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Membership
161,000
Websiteacponline.org

The American College of Physicians (ACP) is a Philadelphia-based national organization of internal medicine physicians, who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of adults.[1] With 161,000 members, ACP is the largest medical-specialty organization and second-largest physician group in the United States.[2][3][4] Its flagship journal, the Annals of Internal Medicine, is considered one of the five top medical journals in the United States and Britain.[5]

History[edit]

ACP was founded in 1915.[6] In 1998, it merged with the American Society of Internal Medicine (ASIM).[7][8] ASIM's focus on the economic, political, and social aspects of medical care[9] both enlarged and complemented its mission.

Known as ACP-ASIM from 1998 to 2003, the organization re-adopted "American College of Physicians" as its corporate name from 2003 on.[10]

Structure[edit]

ACP is governed by a board of regents, the main policy-making body that oversees its business and affairs.[11] The board of regents is made up of elected officers. The board of governors serves as an advisory board to the board of regents, along with a various councils and committees.[12] The board of governors is composed of elected governors who implement projects and initiatives at a chapter level and represent member concerns at the national level. The board of governors is composed of elected governors in chapters and regions of the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.[citation needed]

Membership and recognition[edit]

Levels of ACP membership are Medical Student, Associate, Member, Fellow (FACP), Honorary Fellow, and those elected to receive Mastership (MACP).[1] Fellowship and Mastership in ACP recognize outstanding achievement in internal medicine. Fellows are recommended by their peers, endorsed by their local chapter leadership, and reviewed by a national credentials subcommittee. Those who are elected to receive Mastership are nominated from among the Fellows of ACP for annual election to this group. Board certification in internal medicine is not required,[13] though potential members must be "board eligible."[14]

Non-Physician Affiliate membership is available to licensed non-physician health care professionals, or a physician holding an internationally equivalent degree and who maintain their professional credentials to practice.

  • Membership diploma of the American College of Physicians
    Membership diploma of the American College of Physicians
  • FACP, Fellowship diploma of the American College of Physicians
    FACP, Fellowship diploma of the American College of Physicians

Publications and products[edit]

ACP publishes a range of publications which provide in-depth analysis of issues affecting internal medicine. They include:

  • Annals of Internal Medicine,[15] the weekly peer-reviewed medical journal, in print twice per month and alternately online.
  • I.M. Matters from ACP,[16] and its companion e-newsletter, I.M. Matters Weekly from ACP, provide news and information about the practice of medicine and report on the policies, products, and activities of ACP.
  • ACP Hospitalist,[17] a weekly online magazine exclusive to ACP members, covers the latest news in hospital medicine, including feature articles, Q&As, and summaries of recent research.  

ACP distributes several e-newsletters. They include:

  • ACP Diabetes Monthly and ACP Gastroenterology Monthly, which summarize news about diabetes and gastroenterology/hepatology.
  • ACP Advocate, a bi-weekly newsletter featuring news about public policy issues affecting internal medicine and patient care.
  • ACP IMpower, a monthly newsletter offering tools, resources, and information to help ACP Resident/Fellow Members during training and prepare them for their professional futures.
  • IMconnection, a monthly newsletter exclusively for early career physicians that highlights benefits and resources targeted at their career stage.
  • ACP IMpact, a newsletter for medical students featuring information about internal medicine as a career.
  • I.M. a Chief Resident, a monthly newsletter offering information and resources for chief residents.
  • ACP Global, a bi-monthly newsletter offering a global perspective on news in internal medicine and highlighting ACP's international activities.

Activities[edit]

ACP’s Advocacy and Regulatory efforts work to improve the health care system and daily experiences for internal medicine doctors and their patients using our evidence-based policy papers, grass roots activities, work with congressional leaders, key agencies, regulators, and through collaborations with other organizations. ACP advocates to make regulatory and payment systems work better for internal medicine physicians, reduce burnout, and improve patient care. The organization seeks to promote policy reforms on the federal level through legislative, regulatory, and executive actions that benefit the overall health and well-being of patients, physicians, and the practice of internal medicine.[citation needed][18]

The Center for Ethics & Professionalism seeks to advance physician and public understanding of ethics and professionalism issues in the practice of medicine in order to enhance patient care by promoting the highest ethical standards.[19] The seventh edition of the ACP Ethics Manual was published in 2019.[20]

The High Value Care initiative[21] aims to help patients receive the best possible care from physicians while reducing unnecessary costs to the healthcare system. The initiative includes clinical and public policy recommendations, curriculum, and resources for physicians.[22] For patients, ACP offers resources about the benefits, harms, costs and treatments options for common clinical issues.

Education and information resources[edit]

ACP develops several types of clinical recommendations, including Clinical Practice Guidelines, Guidance Statements, and Best Practice Advice papers.[23] The different types of guidance are meant to be read differently. Guidelines are seen as the strongest recommendation, while guidance statements review existing guidance and best practice advice reviews available evidence.[23]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "ACP Facts". ACP Online.
  2. ^ "Physicians group declares its opposition to assisted suicide". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. August 2, 2001.
  3. ^ Osmosis - "Prep for the Medicine Shelf" Archived August 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 20, 2014
  4. ^ "Doctors fear physician shortage". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 15, 2009.
  5. ^ Fernandez, Bob (August 20, 2008). "Journal vs. the bad seed". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  6. ^ "Medical Men Will Meet Here Feb 6". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. October 4, 1932.
  7. ^ "Society elects internist to serve as governor". Iowa City Press-Citizen. May 13, 1999.
  8. ^ Khan, Faroque Ahmad (2017). Serving Faith, Profession, and Community: Fifty Years of Imana (1967–2017). Partridge Publishing. ISBN 9781482889819.
  9. ^ "Dr. Collins to head medical group". The Daily Item. May 12, 1978.
  10. ^ Philadelphia Business Journal - "Health Care". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  11. ^ ACP - "Board of Regents". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  12. ^ KevinMD.com - "How grassroots input shapes ACP policies". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  13. ^ ABIM - "Certification Guide". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  14. ^ ABMS - "Board Eligibility". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  15. ^ Annals of Internal Medicine - "Annals of Internal Medicine". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  16. ^ I.M. Matters - "ACP Internist". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  17. ^ ACP Hospitalist - "ACP Hospitalist". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  18. ^ "ACP Facts". ACP Online.
  19. ^ "Medical Ethics and Professionalism". American College of Physicians. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  20. ^ Snyder Sulmasy, Lois; Bledsoe, Thomas (January 15, 2019). "American College of Physicians Ethics Manual: Seventh Edition". Annals of Internal Medicine. 170 (2). doi:10.7326/M18-2160.
  21. ^ Medpage Today - "'High Value' Care Goal of New ACP Partnership". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  22. ^ Choosing Wisely - "Free Online Cases Teach Physicians About Choosing Wisely and High Value Care". Retrieved October 20, 2014
  23. ^ a b Vander Schaaf, Emily B. (September 2015). "Translating Clinical Guidelines Into Practice". North Carolina Medical Journal. 76 (4): 230–234. doi:10.18043/ncm.76.4.230. PMID 26509513.

External links[edit]

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