Abbreviation ACP Membership 148,000 Website acponline.org | Formation January 8, 1915 Budget 25-50,000,000 Founded 8 January 1915 | |
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Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Similar American Board of Internal M, American Board of Medical S, American College of Gastroenterology, Society of Hospital Medicine, American Academy of Pediatr Profiles | ||
The American College of Physicians (ACP) is a national organization of internal medicine physicians (internists)—specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. With 148,000 members, ACP is the largest medical-specialty organization and second-largest physician group in the United States.
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Mission and History
ACP's mission is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine. It was founded in 1915 to promote the science and practice of medicine. In 1998, ACP merged with the American Society of Internal Medicine (ASIM), which was established in 1956 to study economic aspects of medicine. Known as ACP-ASIM from 1998 to 2003, the organization then re-adopted American College of Physicians as its corporate name.
Structure
ACP is governed by a Board of Regents, the main policy-making body that oversees the business and affairs of the College. 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. 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. ACP sponsors the Council of Subspecialty Societies, which is composed of representatives of internal medicine subspecialty societies and related organizations.
ACP is represented in the American Medical Association, the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, and other organizations.
Membership
Levels of ACP membership are Medical Student, Associate, Member, Fellow (FACP), and Master (MACP). Fellowship and Mastership in ACP are the organization's way of noting outstanding achievement in internal medicine. Fellows are recommended by their peers, endorsed by their local chapter leadership, and reviewed by a national credentials subcommittee. Masters are nominated from among the Fellows of ACP for annual election to this group. Board certification in internal medicine is not required. However, potential members must be "board eligible."
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.
Publications and Products
The American College of Physicians distributes numerous publications and products to members. They include:
Activities
ACP’s Washington, D.C., office monitors and responds to public policy issues that affect public health and the practice of medicine. Activities include development of policy statements and communication with legislative and administrative sectors of government.
ACP's 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. The sixth edition of the ACP Ethics Manual was published in 2012.
ACP’s High Value Care initiative 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. For patients, ACP offers resources about the benefits, harms, costs and treatments options for common clinical issues.