Dear ASMBS Membership,

Several of you have inquired about access to the BOLD database and have wanted to query it for research purposes. Therefore I wanted to provide you with an update.

After receiving raw data from the Surgical Review Corporation, the ASMBS has started to convert the data into a format that can be used to analyze it using statistical software. Due to the size of the database, we anticipate this process will take several months to complete. Until the data conversion is completed, we are unable to provide data to members. However, once the data  conversion is complete, we will provide reports back to surgeons and institutions that originally input the data. We will also develop a de-identified participant user file that could be used for research purposes. The ASMBS Research Committee will develop guidelines that will be disseminated to the membership regarding access to this participant file. Please look for updates on this process in the near future.

Ranjan Sudan, MD, FASMBS

Chair, Research Committee