Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Colorectal Surgery: A Review of the Economic Implications

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs are transdisciplinary, evidence-based perioperative protocols that aim to standardize best practices and increase the value of delivered healthcare. Quality improvement programs such as ERAS for colorectal surgery have been linked to a reduction in rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) including surgical site infection as well as a reduction in overall length of stay. Importantly, to achieve these results, hospitals must commit to fostering transdisciplinary collaboration across surgery, anesthesiology, and nursing, as well as alignment between frontline providers and hospital executives. This requires upfront investment as well as ongoing resource allocation to sustain the program but given the magnitude of the potential impact of a successful ERAS program on multiple domains of quality and safety, the investment will easily reap ongoing rewards. The purpose of this manuscript is to outline implementation and sustainability costs of an ERAS program as well as discuss the potential cost savings related to the program to further inform hospitals considering adoption of this approach to care.