Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center has become the first hospital in New Jersey to receive verification under the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) program — a national distinction recognizing hospitals that meet rigorous standards in the care of older adults undergoing surgery.
The GSV program is designed to improve surgical outcomes for older patients by promoting individualized, patient- and family-centered care. It emphasizes thorough preoperative evaluations, interdisciplinary collaboration, and robust discharge and postoperative plans to ensure continuity of care throughout the surgical journey.
“Older adults have unique needs that require a thoughtful, comprehensive approach,” said Vito Buccellato, MPA, LNHA, president and chief hospital executive at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “I’m extremely proud of the exemplary care our surgical teams provide across every age group, including this increasingly important population.”
To achieve verification, JSUMC met the ACS standards outlined in the Optimal Resources for Geriatric Surgery manual. These standards define the resources and processes hospitals must implement to ensure effective, efficient, and safe surgeries for older adults. Verified hospitals are also required to prioritize what matters most to each patient — including personal treatment goals and quality-of-life outcomes.
Research has shown that adherence to these standards reduces incidents of postoperative delirium and can shorten hospital stays following surgery.
JSUMC’s commitment to aging-focused care doesn’t stop at the operating room. Its emergency department is accredited as a Geriatric Emergency Department by the American College of Emergency Physicians — a designation also held by Hackensack Meridian’s flagship hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center.
“Providing focused healthcare services for older adults is taking on an increasing importance as our population ages,” said Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, regional president, Southern Market, Hackensack Meridian Health. “According to the 2020 Census, the U.S. population aged 65 and older grew nearly five times faster than the total population from 1920 to 2020.”
JSUMC’s verification also contributes to its broader status as a multi-ACS verified facility and an ACS Surgical Quality Partner — a designation that reflects an institution’s dedication to continual surgical improvement, transparency, and best-in-class patient care. The ACS Surgical Quality Partner badge signals to patients that the hospital has met the highest national standards in surgical care.
“ACS quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience,” said ACS Executive Director and CEO Patricia L. Turner, M.D., MBA, FACS. “Participation is a meaningful marker of a hospital’s commitment to evaluating and continuously improving the care they provide.”
JSUMC participates in numerous ACS programs, including the National Surgery Quality Improvement Programs for both adult and pediatric patients, the Trauma Quality Improvement Program, and the ACS Commission on Cancer. It is also a verified Level 1 Adult Trauma Center and New Jersey’s only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. Its bariatric surgery program is designated a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent and Obesity Medicine Qualifications by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program — a joint initiative of the ACS and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Hackensack Meridian Health is continuing to expand geriatric-focused surgical care across the state. Hackensack University Medical Center is currently working toward its own ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification.
