Optimizing Surgical Care for Older Adults: An Inside Look at the ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification Program

In this episode, we explore practical tips for caring for older adults in the clinical setting through a case-based discussion highlighting common perioperative challenges and strategies for success. We also take a deeper dive into the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program, including its goals, impact, and how clinicians can get involved in advancing surgical care for the aging patient population.

Take Home Points:

• The older adult population is the fastest growing patient population and it is important we focus on patient-centered care for this population, as this is a population that almost all of us will engage with.
• If you or your hospital isn’t prepared to get verified yet, there are still small processes that can be implemented that can make an impactful difference on your patients.
• Geriatric Surgery Verification is at the cutting edge of quality improvement. Like other verification programs (trauma, bariatric) patients will soon seek out these centers that can best address their personal needs.

Hosts:

• Agnes Premkumar, MD - General Surgery Resident at Creighton University, @agnespremkumar
• Nicole L. Petcka, MD – General Surgery Resident at Emory University, @npetcka2022

Guests:

• Marcia M. Russell, MD - Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair for Quality and Safety at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
• Caroline Smolkin, MD - General Surgery Resident at Northwell and American College of Surgeons Clinical Scholar

Resources:

American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/accreditation-and-verification/geriatric-surgery-verification/

Katlic MR, Wolf J, Demos SJ, Rosenthal RA. Making a Financial Case for the Geriatric Surgery Verification Program. Ann Surg Open. 2024 May 13;5(2):e439. doi: 10.1097/AS9.0000000000000439. PMID: 38911623; PMCID: PMC11191881.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38911623/

Remer SL, Zhou L, Cohen ME, Russell MM, Rosenthal R, Ko CY. Discharge to Post-Acute Care as a Benchmarking Metric for Elderly Surgical Patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2025 Aug 14. doi: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000001495. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40810404.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40810404/

Jones TS, Jones EL, Richardson V, Finley JB, Franklin JL, Gore DL, Horney CP, Kovar A, Morin TL, Robinson TN. Preliminary data demonstrate the Geriatric Surgery Verification program reduces postoperative length of stay. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 Jul;69(7):1993-1999. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17154. Epub 2021 Apr 7. PMID: 33826150.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33826150/

*** UNC Surgery is inviting you to participate in a national survey designed to understand general surgery residents’ perspectives on core curriculum content, structure, & delivery. The results of this survey will inform the development of a standardized general surgery education curriculum.
SURVEY LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJztQwgB1rJXpCtvboHprGB_gmHGG4UzY1HITAHRmMx9FcRQ/viewform

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