Study Shows Improved Surgical Outcomes for Patients Treated at Hospitals Accredited for Rectal Cancer Surgery

The American College of Surgeons recently published a research article detailing the results of a study analyzing the surgical outcomes of patients treated at hospitals accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) versus those treated at non-accredited hospitals. Their findings indicated that patients treated at NAPRC-accredited hospitals experienced significantly better outcomes, with better one-year survival rates and lower in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality and 30-day complication rates, when compared to their non-accredited counterparts.

Despite the reported benefits for patients treated at hospitals certified by the NAPRC for rectal cancer care, only about 3.3% of eligible hospitals are accredited.

Winchester Medical Center has been NAPRC-accredited since 2021 when it became the first hospital in the tri-state area to attain this accreditation. It remains one of only four centers in the state to hold this accreditation, and the only hospital in the northern Virginia area. Importantly, Valley Health successfully re-accredited with the NAPRC in 2023 (three year cycle).

NAPRC accreditation focuses on processes demonstrated to improve patient outcomes. The NAPRC Standards evaluate the following elements of a rectal cancer program:

• Program Management: Ensures the program and multidisciplinary team is overseen by a qualified Rectal Cancer Program Director
• Clinical Services: Confirms rectal cancer patients receive appropriate and timely care based on the stage of the cancer
• Quality Improvement: Utilizes data to improve efficiency, standardize care, and improve outcomes

Valley Health’s Rectal Cancer Program is designed to provide comprehensive care to patients with rectal cancer by using a multidisciplinary, coordinated team approach.

Winchester Medical Center, where the Valley Health Cancer Center is located, participates in The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and the Virginia Surgical Quality Collaborative (VSQC). These organizations help hospital teams improve surgical outcomes and quality of care while reducing complications and costs. Colorectal surgery at Winchester Medical Center is assessed by NSQIP across multiple quality indicators, including mortality, surgical site occurrences and other complications, unplanned readmissions and length of hospital stay.

The latest NSQIP Report identified Winchester Medical Center’s colorectal surgery Length of Stay (LOS) as “Exemplary,” being in the first quartile in the nation among all NSQIP participating hospitals as well as the Virginia Surgical Quality Collaborative.

At the Valley Health Cancer Center, the Valley Health Surgical Oncology and Colorectal Surgery team is utilizing robotic-assisted surgical technology and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols to both improve outcomes for patients and minimize recovery times.

Per Dr. Flaherty, “taken together, minimally invasive surgery and enhanced recovery protocols have helped us successfully reduce our patient’s length of stay in the hospital after surgery.”

In addition, Valley Health Surgical Oncologists engage in clinical research trials with the aim to enhance the overall patient care experience.

Recently, Valley Health participated in a SWOG clinical trial for rectal cancer survivors. These Valley Health patients were enrolled in this trial, and the results published in Cancer, An International Interdisciplinary Journal of the American Cancer Society (A pilot randomized trial of the Altering Intake, Managing Bowel Symptoms Intervention in Survivors of Rectal Cancer (AIMS-RC)). Trial recruitment data and baseline characteristics were also published separately in Supportive Care in Cancer (Baseline characteristics and recruitment for SWOG 1820: altering intake, managing bowel symptoms in survivors of rectal cancer (AIMS-RC)).

Dr. Flaherty states, “it is a privilege to offer clinical trials to our patients as research can help with a patient’s long-term recovery, and allows Valley Health to contribute to the overall funds of clinical knowledge that benefit all cancer patients. Specifically, this trial helped tailor treatments for bowel function variability after rectal cancer surgery with the aim to improve overall quality of life.”

For more information about Valley Health’s colorectal cancer services, visit: Virginia Colorectal Cancer Treatment | Valley Health (valleyhealthlink.com)