Study links surgical verification to improved patient outcomes in emergency departments

A study published in JAMA Surgery has linked the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Emergency General Surgery Verification program to improved patient outcomes. The analysis of more than 20,000 patients across 55 hospitals found that facilities achieving verification experienced a 28.8% reduction in 30-day postoperative mortality rates compared to those that did not.

The research examined the impact of the verification program, established in 2022 by the ACS and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. To gain verification, hospitals must meet 43 standards focused on clinical team coordination and standardized care pathways for urgent conditions such as bowel obstructions and appendicitis.

"Emergency surgery patients arrive with a wide range of conditions and levels of illness, often with little time to plan their care," said Dr. Michael Wandling, study co-author. The study notes that beyond mortality rates, verified hospitals demonstrated a decrease in serious complications, including acute kidney injuries, and improved speed from admission to surgery.

The findings were based on a difference-in-differences analysis of data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. By observing the shifts at five hospitals that became verified during the study period and comparing them to 50 non-verified hospitals, researchers aimed to isolate the effect of the organizational standards on patient care quality.