The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDS) announced its Patient Safety Hero Award recipients during the recent 2015 ASDS Annual Meeting in Chicago to recognize leaders who have taken an active role in the promotion and protection of patient safety in dermatologic procedures.

“This year’s honorees made a real difference in enhancing patient safety,” said ASDSA President Naomi Lawrence, MD. “ASDSA is proud to salute their efforts in this critically important advocacy role.”

The Nebraska Dermatology Society was honored with the State Dermatological Society Patient Safety Hero award for its work to pass Legislative Bill 452 containing amendments to the Uniform Credentialing Act that set new truth in advertising standards.

The new legislation requires those advertising healthcare services to clearly state their credentials and to refrain from false and misleading advertising. ASDSA considers the measure to be an important step in helping patients make informed decisions about who should provide their medical care.

“Patients weighing decisions that affect their medical care deserve access to accurate and straightforward information,” Dr. Lawrence said. “The Nebraska Dermatology Society did a great service for residents of its state by making this measure a priority.”

Two ASDSA members – Lawrence J. Green, MD, and David J. Watts, MD – were presented with Physician Patient Safety Hero awards.

Dr. Green worked diligently in Maryland on several patient safety issues, assisted the Resident State Advocacy Work Group with educational videos and testified before the FDA on behalf of ASDSA regarding Kybella, which was approved in April as an injectable drug to treat submental fullness (double-chin fat). He also is Chair of the ASDSA Research and Policy Priorities Work Group.

Watts, a member of the ASDSA State Affairs Work Group, was active in the successful effort to pass the truth in advertising bill in Nebraska.

Nebraska State Sen. Robert Hilkemann, who sponsored the truth in advertising bill, was recognized as the State Legislative Patient Safety Hero. Hilkemann was given his award at the Nebraska Medical Association Annual Membership Meeting this fall.