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High-Risk/Low-Volume Procedures

Certain procedures require specified infrastructure and physician expertise to provide optimal outcomes for patients.

Moving high-risk procedures to hospitals and facilities that meet rigorous criteria based on national benchmarks for each procedure is being implemented in phases, evaluating different procedures and treatments.

By aggregating surgeries and procedures that have high risk, yet few in annual volume, we can ensure that essential resources are available at the treating hospital and, as important, institutional volumes are at a level to provide the expertise resulting in fewer complications and improved outcomes.

Phase 1 Procedures

Specialized workgroups evaluated the three procedures against national standards and outcomes, and identified facilities where they perform esophagectomy for cancer, mitral valve procedures and pancreaticoduodenectomy/Whipple.

Facilities established as high-volume centers of excellence after the review are:

Esophagectomy for Cancer

  • Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health
  • Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano
  • Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple

Mitral Valve Procedures

  • Baylor University Medical Center
  • Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano
  • Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple
  • Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Round Rock

Pancreaticoduodenectomy/Whipple

  • Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth
  • Baylor University Medical Center
  • Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano
  • Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple

Criteria

In our due diligence, we answered the following questions regarding each procedure:

  • What are the resource needs (infrastructure and physician expertise)?
  • What are the minimum volume requirements?
  • What are the unique quality outcome metrics required?
  • Which are the currently "appropriate" and "possible" hospitals for each procedure?
  • What should be the timeframe for the "possible" hospitals to qualify as "appropriate" facilities?
  • What system resources exist to help "possible" hospitals move to the "appropriate" category and what will this process entail?

Refer a Patient

To refer a patient for one of the procedures above, call 844.74.BSWMD or use our online tool to refer your patient to a surgeon at Baylor Scott & White.

Refer now