SCOAP hospitals are working to make colon and rectal surgery safer and of the highest quality across Washington State. When surgeons remove a part of the colon or rectum, the two remaining sides are often reconnected so that patients can have normal bowel function. These reconnections occasionally develop leaks that cause serious infections inside the patient's abdomen. Sometimes serious infections occur deep in the abdomen or wound even when there is no leak of the reconnection. These infections often require additional emergency operations and SCOAP surgeons and hospitals are working to reduce how often this occurs by making sure patients get the highest quality care.
Every three months SCOAP hospitals track their progress on this and other measures. In the past year SCOAP hospitals have dropped the rate of re-operation by more than half. SCOAP has already made this type of surgery safer and will work in the future to make it safer still.
What can you do about this?
Ask them about their rate of re-operation after colon/rectal surgery. Also, ask your surgeon if they and their hospital are part of SCOAP; and, if not, why they aren't participating in this effort to improve quality care.