Hackensack University Medical Center Colorectal Surgery “Dream Team” Achieves Top-Decile Rankings from NSQIP

Colorectal surgeons nationally recognized for excellence in length of stay, surgical site infections and readmission rates

When considering where to go for colorectal surgery, outcomes matter—to patients as well as referring physicians. But in order to achieve those outstanding outcomes, a center needs to create a program staffed by experienced, nationally recognized surgeons with a proven track record of excellence.

Hackensack University Medical Center has created just that—a colorectal surgery “dream team” comprised of colorectal surgeons Howard Ross, M.D., Chair of Surgery/Surgeon-in-Chief; Steven Lee-Kong, M.D., Chief of Colorectal Surgery; and Ryan Moore, M.D.

Drs. Ross, Lee-Kong and Moore, as well as their support staff, are among the most experienced colorectal surgery teams in New Jersey, and Hackensack University Medical Center is one of the highest-volume colorectal surgery centers in the region.

The hospital’s surgeons are also at the forefront of robotic colorectal surgical care and have developed one of the region’s most robust and long-standing robotic colorectal surgery programs.

As part of their commitment to delivering comprehensive, multidisciplinary care, the team participates in Colorectal Cancer Tumor Board meetings where surgeons, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists and other medical experts discuss each patient’s case and develop a personalized treatment plan.

In addition to the Colorectal Cancer Tumor Board, the team is in the process of creating an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Board to offer the same level of multidisciplinary care to patients with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

With this level of experience, collaboration and access to technology, it’s easy to see why Hackensack University Medical Center ranked in the top decile in the U.S. for colorectal surgery length of stay, surgical site infection and readmission rates, according to the hospital’s 2021 report from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP).

“Patients are concerned with having the safest possible surgery with the best possible outcome,” said Dr. Ross. “What our outcome data means is that when a patient chooses us for colorectal surgery, they are more likely to spend less time in the hospital, and recover without developing an infection or being readmitted.”

Learn more about colorectal surgery innovations at Hackensack University Medical Center.