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Principles and Practice of Geriatric Surgery pp 1–11Cite as

Defining Quality of Care

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Abstract

The aging of the US population will place significant stress on the current health-care system. The impact of the aging population on the surgical disciplines is especially apparent given the inherent risks of undergoing surgery. It is essential that we develop strategies to deliver high quality and patient-centered care for this vulnerable population. Quality of care in surgery dates back to the early 1900s when Ernest Amory Codman was among the first to systematically measure, analyze, and compare patient care and outcomes. However, only recently has quality of care in geriatric surgery received systematic attention. For example, there have been efforts from the Institute of Medicine, American College of Surgeons, and American Geriatrics Society to improve the quality of care in this population. Using the Donabedian model of quality evaluation (e.g., structure, process, and outcomes), it is clear that there have been marked improvements within five domains important in the perioperative care of geriatric patients: cognitive impairment, functional status, frailty, medication management, and patient goals and preferences. Quality improvement in the relatively young field of geriatric surgery is progressing at a rapid rate and beginning to gain the national attention needed to optimize care for this unique patient population.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Jill Klausner & Marcia McGory Russell

Authors
  1. Jill Klausner
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  2. Marcia McGory Russell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jill Klausner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Surgical Service, Yale University School of Medicine VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Ronnie A. Rosenthal

  2. SUNY Downstate School of Public Health, National Capital Region Johns Hopkins Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Michael E. Zenilman

  3. Center for Geriatric Surgery, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Mark R. Katlic

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Surgery, Center for Geriatric Surgery, Sinai Hospital and Northwest Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Mark R. Katlic

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Klausner, J., Russell, M.M. (2017). Defining Quality of Care. In: Rosenthal, R., Zenilman, M., Katlic, M. (eds) Principles and Practice of Geriatric Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20317-1_2-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20317-1_2-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20317-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20317-1

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