Effect of dedicated OR teams on clinical outcomes in a colorectal ERAS program

Editor's Note

Dedicated OR teams for a colorectal Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) program at Johns Hopkins Hospital led to anesthesia providers becoming more central to the ERAS network, which increased process measure compliance and improved clinical outcomes in this study. Before the dedicated OR teams were instituted, surgeons were more central to the network.

High compliance with process measures was independently associated with reduced length of stay, surgical site infections, and morbidity.

The findings suggest that one approach to improving process measure compliance, and therefore outcomes, is to build designated teams of providers for ERAS programs, particularly those at the forefront of administering care, the authors say.

Our aim was to determine whether the establishment of a dedicated operating room team
leads to improved process measure compliance and clinical outcomes in an Enhanced
Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) program. Enhanced Recovery after Surgery programs involve
the application of bundled best practices to improve the value of perioperative care.
Successful implementation and sustainment of ERAS programs has been linked to compliance
with protocol elements.

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