Advancing care of older adult patients
Across the US, the senior population are the fastest-growing segment of patients. These cases bring added complexities that make the delivery of optimal care more challenging for hospitals.
To address these challenges, the American College of Surgeons developed the Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program, which aims to optimize surgical care for patients aged 75 and older. Through a program that includes 32 comprehensive, evidence-based standards, hospitals can confidently address the most important aspects of care and create plans to help patients achieve their care goals and hospitals to use their limited resources more effectively and efficiently.
Hospitals that participate in one of our Quality Programs, including the GSV Program, earn the distinction as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner (SQP).
Specialized care through a dedicated program means elderly patients can maintain independence and quality of life after surgery. The GSV Program can preserve patient wellness and function and sets patients up for success following major surgery.
Hospitals that implement the GSV Program experience proven success and improvement of common problems for elderly surgical patients. The GSV Program helps hospitals prioritize:
Why this matters: The average cumulative cost per patient for treating postoperative delirium is $40,000 to $45,000. The risk of delirium can be significantly reduced if the proper protocols are followed.
Why this matters: Constant communication between the patient, caregivers and the care team help ensure the patient’s needs are addressed at every step of the surgical process.
Why this matters: Fewer complications mean better use of resources. Implementation of the GSV Program can help prevent specific injuries, like falls, in elderly patients. A reduction in common complications means decreased hospital resource use. With the GSV Program, participating hospitals have decreased the length of stay by 1-3 days, based on an average 5-day stay.
Why this matters: Dedicated team management means a return to function is prioritized for geriatric patients. GSV hospitals use multidisciplinary nursing rounding teams who focus on reducing length of stay through strategies like discharge plans and decision-making conferences.