A focus on age-friendly surgery: Phelps Hospital recognized

Northwell's Phelps Hospital has earned Age-Friendly Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), making it the first in the nation to earn this Age-Friendly distinction. The ACS recognized Phelps’s pioneering commitment to delivering specialized, high-quality, patient-centered surgical care designed specifically for older adults.

When undergoing surgery, older adults often face a higher risk of complications, prolonged recovery times, cognitive changes like delirium and loss of independence. The GSV program, launched in late 2025, recognizes hospitals that address these unique challenges through tailored evidence-based care across the surgical experience. Implementing the evidence-based standards outlined by the GSV program has been shown to reduce incidents of delirium and shorten the average length of stay in the hospital after an operation.

"Care goes beyond just a successful surgery; it's about ensuring the outcome aligns with the patient’s personal aspirations for quality of life, independence and ability to continue cherished activities,” said Parul Shukla, MD, chief of colon and rectal surgery for Northwell’s Westchester region and director for the Age-Friendly GSV Program at Phelps Hospital. "Understanding their personal wishes and life goals is a cornerstone of the age-friendly approach, and every step of our program at Phelps was designed with their unique needs at heart.”

The ACS conducted a rigorous on-site visit at Phelps, evaluating performance across six critical domains: age-friendly care leadership; alignment of treatment with patient goals; geriatric vulnerability screening; management of identified risks; age specific postoperative care; and ongoing data review.

The evaluation found that Phelps consistently integrates geriatric-focused practices across the surgical continuum. Patients are screened for risks such as falls, cognitive impairment and nutritional concerns, with findings used to guide individualized care plans. Preoperative preparation includes targeted interventions like nutrition and functional assessments, while postoperative protocols focus on reducing complications through approaches such as early mobility, opioid-sparing pain management and structured daily routines. The program also includes ongoing analysis of patient outcomes to refine care and improve recovery.

The GSV represents Northwell Health’s broader strategy to enhance geriatric care overall. A prime example is Phelps’ new, robust prehabilitation (prehab) program, which offers referrals for physical therapy, nutrition counseling and other resources that better prepare patients for surgery before they arrive at the hospital and further enhance surgical outcomes. While initially focused on older adults, this program will ultimately be available to all patients.

"The Geriatric Surgery Verification program aligns perfectly with our vision at Phelps and across Northwell Health to advance care models that enhance the well-being and outcomes for our aging population, ensuring they receive personalized, high-quality and compassionate care," said Tobe Banc, MD, medical director for the Northwell Aging Institute.

By participating in the GSV program, Phelps has also earned designation as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, signifying its dedication to continuously improving procedures and maintaining the highest standards in surgical quality.

"ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience, and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, Northwell's Phelps Hospital has shown a commitment to providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion and dedicating itself to continuous self-improvement," said Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, executive director and chief executive officer of ACS.

About Northwell’s Phelps Hospital

Northwell’s Phelps Hospital is a full-service 218-bed acute care community hospital in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. With more than 1,700 employees and 1,400-plus medical staff members representing 60 medical specialties, Phelps offers one of the broadest ranges of community hospital services in Westchester County. Caring for the community is at the heart of what Phelps does. Patients benefit from distinguished physicians, many of whom are pioneers in their field, offering the most advanced procedures using the latest technology. Phelps is one of approximately 570 hospitals nationwide to achieve Magnet Recognition® status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for its commitment to nursing excellence and compassionate patient care. The hospital is supported by Northwell Health Physician Partners, a primary and specialty care medical group, with practices located on the hospital campus and in the surrounding communities.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 88,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.