This is one of the first studies of U.S. hospital costs associated with an enhanced recovery pathway for colorectal patients. It found that a standardized protocol - already in use throughout Europe - for managing patients before, during, and after colorectal operations improved clinical outcomes and significantly reduced overall hospital costs. The approach is gaining momentum in the U.S. and a similar program is under way through the American College of Surgeons to enroll and support hospitals in implementing evidence-based pathways. Researchers studied outcomes and costs for patients who underwent colorectal procedures one year before an enhanced recovery program and patients who had procedures in the year following adoption of the program. They found that the hospital length of stay was two days shorter for patients in the enhanced recovery group. Total hospital costs were $1,717 lower per patient in the enhanced recovery group, which translates into an annual savings of over $250,000.
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