Inova is First Health System in U.S. to Participate in American College of Surgeons System Quality Verification Program

Falls Church, VA – Inova is the first health system in the nation to participate in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) System Quality Verification Program (QVP). Currently in pilot phase, this new program verifies a health system’s comprehensive and detailed approach to surgical quality and safety across all care sites, disciplines and the continuum of care. 

“At Inova, we are proud to be nationally recognized for our continued commitment to clinical excellence and patient safety,” said John Moynihan, MD, FACS, President, Inova Surgery Service Line. “To be the first health system in the U.S. to successfully participate in the ACS system quality verification program fortifies our commitment to our patients, our team members and our mission to provide world-class healthcare. Participating in the ACS QVP further helps us to unify the delivery of surgical care and consistently achieve the best outcomes.”

Twelve core elements of surgical quality adapted from Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality and Safety – also known as the “Red Book” – form the foundation of this ACS program. The Red Book manual provides healthcare institutions with the framework to ensure quality resources and the infrastructure for a safe and efficient surgical program. Institutions that participate in the system quality verification program seek to establish, measure and continuously improve their comprehensive surgical quality program.

Participation in this ACS program required extensive engagement and support from clinical and administrative leaders at both the system and care site level. Clinical questionnaires were completed by surgical care teams at each Inova hospital. In April, ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS and ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care Director Clifford Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS conducted a four day virtual visit across all Inova care sites.

“Inova is a trailblazer and national leader in surgical excellence and patient safety,” said Dr. Hoyt. “The organization’s participation in this ACS program allowed us to see how Inova’s unique service line operating model and organizational culture affords maximum collaboration, efficiency and accountability. We hope to be able to offer participation to all health systems interested in becoming verified later this year.”

About Inova

Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova’s 18,000 team members serve more than 2 million individuals annually through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes.  

Inova’s five hospitals are consistently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades for excellence in healthcare.

Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,936 licensed beds. More information and statistics about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.