A simple method to secure data-driven improvement of perioperative care.

Area of Science:

• Surgical quality improvement
• Healthcare management
• Patient outcomes

Background:

• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs are widely adopted globally.
• Varied implementation levels exist across surgical departments.
• Tertiary university hospitals face unique challenges in widespread ERAS adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the process of a local ERAS unit in a tertiary university hospital.
• To demonstrate how to accelerate ERAS program implementation across all surgical specialties.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a centralized unit in standardizing ERAS protocols.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing twice-yearly, procedure-specific data on length of stay (LOS), readmission rates, and 30-day mortality.
• Leveraging the Danish National Patient Register for data collection.
• Conducting data reviews by the ERAS unit and clinical experts, with appropriate clinical audits.

Main Results:

• Data presentation to clinical and nurse leaders effectively documented ERAS implementation progress.
• The combination of outcome data and audits proved essential for driving change.
• The local ERAS unit facilitated measurable improvements in ERAS adoption.

Conclusions:

• A dedicated local ERAS unit can significantly accelerate the implementation of ERAS programs.
• Procedure-specific data on LOS and re-admission, coupled with audit findings, are key facilitators.
• This model supports widespread adoption of ERAS across diverse surgical specialties.