Hospitals that provide high-quality surgical care for older adults may now earn the Recognized Leader in Geriatric Surgery designation, a new program announced today by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and The Leapfrog Group. The designation is awarded through a collaboration between the ACS, an organization dedicated to improving the care of surgical patients and safeguarding standards of care, and The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization focused on patient safety, quality, and transparency in health care.
As the U.S. population ages and more older adults undergo surgical procedures, it is important to have reliable indicators to identify hospitals equipped to meet the unique needs of this population.
Understanding the Role of the American College of Surgeons in Geriatric Surgery
The new designation relies on evidence-based standards from the ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification Program (GSV) with patient safety measures from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade to help patients, caregivers, employers, health plans, and health care purchasers identify hospitals committed to safe, effective, patient-centered surgical care for older adults.
To earn the Recognized Leader in Geriatric Surgery designation, hospitals must participate in the ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) program, achieve an A or B Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade and demonstrate strong performance on key patient safety measures from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. These include medication safety practices such as computerized prescriber order entry, bar code medication administration, medication reconciliation, and the use of a safe surgery checklist.
The ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program helps hospitals improve surgical care for older adults by implementing evidence-based practices that address the medical, functional, and social needs of aging patients. Hospitals participating in the program adopt approaches such as geriatric assessments, medication reviews, mobility programs, and discharge planning to help reduce complications and support recovery after surgery. The Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade complement these standards by evaluating hospitals on nationally recognized measures of patient safety and quality.
“Older adults face higher risks when undergoing surgery, and factors like frailty can significantly increase the likelihood of complications. They benefit greatly from shared decision-making and care designed specifically for their goals,” said Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, Senior Vice President, Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, American College of Surgeons. “By working with The Leapfrog Group, we can recognize hospitals that are meeting rigorous standards and advancing surgical care for older patients.”
“The Recognized Leader program highlights hospitals that are going the extra mile to protect older patients facing higher surgical risks—and that’s reassuring to us at any age, because it’s extremely worrisome when your parent or grandparent or other loved one goes in for surgery,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “There are few organizations Leapfrog would trust more than the American College of Surgeons. Together we will help guide patients and families, as well as employers and health plans, toward the best care.”
Hospitals will be eligible to earn the designation beginning in 2027. This designation builds on Leapfrog’s Recognized Leader program, first launched to identify hospitals providing high-quality care for patients living with diabetes.
The American College of Surgeons and The Leapfrog Group will host a free webinar on August 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the Recognized Leader in Geriatric Surgery program.
Learn more about the Recognized Leader in Geriatric Surgery program.