W. L. Gore & Associates has announced the results of what it’s calling a two-year clinical quality improvement (CQI) study, with Surgical Momentum, examining an improved methodology in evaluating GORE® DUALMESH® Biomaterial in laparoscopic repair for ventral hernia patients.
Background
Why does this matter? Well, hernia repair is the most common surgery performed worldwide, with ventral hernia repairs in the US estimated to cost at least $3.2 billion annually. A previous study found every reduction in hernia recurrence resulted in substantial cost savings – each one percent reduction would save around $32 million annually. Getting clinical research right means getting surgical output right, based on meaningful criteria.
Traditional clinical research relies on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to establish a patient population that is controlled and strives to reduce variability and complexity in the protocol. CQI consists of systematic and continuous actions that lead to measurable improvement in health care services and the health status of targeted patient groups. Gore and Healthcare Data Analytics firm Surgical Momentum LLC launched the CQI study in 2012, focusing on the use of GORE DUALMESH Biomaterial and its potential to improve physician experiences and patient outcomes.
The presentation of findings, titled, “The Real World Doesn’t Have A Protocol: Challenging the Paradigm of Clinical Research,” took place at the Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference 2015 in Washington, D.C.
Company comments
“Gore Medical’s commitment to patients led them to perform this clinical quality improvement study, which was applied at a local level allowing us to understand how to measure value across the patient’s entire cycle of care,” said Dr. Bruce Ramshaw, Director of Advanced Hernia Solutions. “Using the principles of CQI, the local clinical team has the ability to include the patient and family in a shared decision process without limiting patient options and process improvement ideas while studying real-world clinical outcomes.”
“Enhancing patient outcomes is at the core of everything we do,” said Ron Anderson, General Medical Products, Business Leader for Gore.
He added; “Examining GORE DUALMESH Biomaterial for hernia repair in real world applications shows the value this new methodology brings in demonstrating how technologies such as GORE DUALMESH Biomaterial improves lives and saves the healthcare system significant costs.”
Source: Business Wire
published: June 8, 2015 in: Clinical Studies/Trials, General Surgery