Surgical health policy research built for real-world decisions
The American College of Surgeons Health Policy Research Institute was established in 2008 to strengthen the evidence available to researchers, surgical leaders, educators, and policymakers studying access to surgical care in the United States.
Turning surgical workforce data into useful policy evidence
ACS HPRI supports the scholarly assessment of surgery and surgical services within a changing health care environment. Its work brings together workforce measurement, geographic analysis, health services research, and policy interpretation so that questions about surgical access can be discussed with clearer evidence.
Measure access
Examine where surgeons and surgical services are available, how supply changes over time, and which communities may face geographic barriers.
Explain variation
Study differences in utilization, outcomes, workforce composition, and service patterns without reducing complex policy questions to a single number.
Support decisions
Organize maps, publications, project summaries, and policy reporting so researchers and decision-makers can trace evidence to its source.
From a workforce research initiative to a public evidence archive
The American College of Surgeons created the Institute in March 2008 in response to growing demand for high-quality information about the health care system, the economy, and the communities that shape surgical practice and patient access.
Early work was developed in collaboration with the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That foundation produced research projects, national workforce reports, fact sheets, and specialty maps that remain available on this site.
This website contains historically important workforce resources alongside newer policy reporting. Dates are displayed prominently because a historical dataset should not be interpreted as a current workforce estimate.
What ACS HPRI covers
Use the institute’s research library
Projects
Review the questions and methods behind major ACS HPRI research initiatives.
Publications
Browse fact sheets, reports, and journal citations from the institute’s research archive.
Maps and Atlas
Explore interactive state data and downloadable surgical workforce map collections.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ACS Health Policy Research Institute?
ACS HPRI is a surgical health policy research initiative established by the American College of Surgeons in 2008. Its public resources focus on surgical workforce supply, geographic access, utilization, outcomes, and evidence that can inform research and policy discussions.
Are all datasets on this site current?
No. Many publications and downloadable maps document historical workforce conditions and clearly show their publication or data years. Readers should use them as dated research evidence and consult the methodology and source notes before applying findings to current decisions.
Where should researchers begin?
Start with the Projects page for research questions, Publications for reports and citations, Maps for geographic resources, and the Newsroom for newer policy reporting. The Contact page provides the institute’s listed contact information.
Questions about an ACS HPRI resource?
Use the contact page for the institute’s listed address, telephone number, and research inquiry channel.