New national surgical safety program begins with colorectal surgery

Editor's Note

Researchers have released a surgical technical evidence review for colorectal surgery (published online August 7 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons) as the first step in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery, a nationwide program to enhance the recovery of surgical patients, the American College of Surgeons reports.

In the review, the researchers identified their first set of evidence-based recommendations−a care plan for colon and rectal surgical procedures that comprises a 12-component clinical pathway.

The program is divided into five cohorts of surgical specialties, including colon and rectal, orthopedic, gynecologic, bariatric, and emergency general surgery. Hospitals throughout the US are being recruited to participate, with a goal of 750 hospitals. 

Journal of the American College of Surgeons study authors review the scientific evidence and develop a standardized care plan for U.S. hospitals participating in the initial phase of a federally funded program to improve surgical patients' recovery CHICAGO (August 8, 2017): Collaborators in a new nationwide program for hospitals designed to improve the recovery of surgical patients have identified their first set of evidence-based recommendations: a care plan for colon and rectal surgical procedures.