Incorporating Enhanced Care Pathways into Colorectal Practice

Although significant evidence exists detailing the benefits of enhanced recovery pathways, adoption rates have been slow for most surgeons and hospitals. Creating and implementing an enhanced recovery pathway is a significant undertaking with notable obstacles. Copious and sometimes conflicting data make determining which elements to incorporate into a care pathway difficult. The assessment of preimplementation complication and readmission rates is important to evaluate potential benefits or risks of the program to a patient population. A multidisciplinary team must be educated and committed to ensure the success of the program. Finally, both practitioners and patients must be reeducated, and preconceptions about postoperative recovery must be overcome to create a successful program.