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Durham , NC — The Durham VA Health Care System today announced that they have received verification under the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification program Older adults

have distinct physical and social vulnerabilities, as well as unique goals for their care, that warrant a more thorough and individualized approach to surgery. The GSV program improves

surgical care and outcomes for older adults by promoting comprehensive patient- and family-centered care, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and communication, and facilitating

evidence-based practices. The program focuses on the overall health and treatment goals of older adults, emphasizing the importance of thorough evaluations before surgery, improved treatment

plans, and highlights the significance of discharge and postoperative care plans to ensure continuous care throughout the surgical journey.  "It thrills me, as chief of the medical

staff, to witness the engagement of our Surgery Service and other health system partners across departments and disciplines in embracing the work required to earn this recognition,"

said Dr. Kenneth Goldberg, Chief of Staff for DVAHCS. "The Geriatric Surgery Verification Program provides an excellent framework and template to guide us in optimizing our health

system so that we may best meet the needs of our frailest patients. In addition to benefiting the patients we serve directly; our health system’s approach serves as a model for other

Veterans Health Administration systems within our state and across the nation. It is a privilege to support this team and this work." "I am extremely proud of our Surgical Services

Team and all our team members throughout the organization for the time, effort, and dedication invested in obtaining this recognition," said Dr. Kimberly Bronson, Associate Director,

Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive for DVAHCS. "Our Veterans will greatly benefit from the Geriatric Surgery Verification Program and its emphasis on ensuring that the

Durham VA Health Care System provides the very best care for one of our most vulnerable populations. This recognition continues the legacy of innovation and out-of-the-box thinking that the

Durham VA Health Care System is known for." “The GSV Program helps us deliver excellent surgical care to our older Veterans; our leadership and our village of committed members from all

disciplines have made it possible,” says Dr. Sandhya Lagoo-Deenadayalan, Associate Chief of Staff, Surgical Services.  Her colleagues, Dan “Trey” Blazer III, the Surgical Director of the

GSV Program and a Surgical Oncologist, Dr. Mamata Yanamadala, the Medical Director of the Program, and Dr. Shelley McDonald, Director of the Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health

(POSH) Program agree. Other team members include Dr. Atilio Barbeito, Chief of Anesthesiology, Dr. Letha Joseph and Ms. Deni Kois, Program managers of the POSH Program and Ms. Susan

Korucubasi, the VASQIP lead. The VA-POSH Clinic is a robust program that provides the infrastructure and foundation for the interdisciplinary team of the Durham VA Health Care System GSV

Program. The effort and strength of this dedicated team has fostered a culture change and shows how buy-in for optimal care of older surgical patents ensures geriatric vulnerabilities are

assessed and interventions offered to improve outcomes after surgery. As a verified geriatric surgery facility, DVAHCS has met the standards as defined in the Optimal Resources for Geriatric

Surgery manual, which help ensure the most effective use of surgical care for a vulnerable aging population. These standards are evidence-based and define resources and processes that

hospitals must have in place to perform operations effectively, efficiently, and safely for older adults. The standards are also patient-centered so hospitals can always prioritize what

matters most to individual patients regarding their needs and treatment goals. The GSV program has been shown to reduce incidents of delirium and shorten the average length of stay in the

hospital after an operation. Durham VAHCS also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. Being a Surgical Quality Partner signifies a hospital’s dedication to consistently improving

procedures and approaches, while maintaining a critical eye on process at every step. The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know that Durham VA HCS is dedicated to quality

and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most

rigorous standards in surgical quality. "ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical

quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, the Durham VA Health Care System has shown a commitment providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion, and

dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS. Hospitals interested in becoming

verified by the GSV program can find more information on the ACS website.