Radical Cystectomy Program Redeployed

A hospital team, led by Dr. Damian Sorce and Dr. Geoff Ledgerwood, convened over the past several months to coordinate a comprehensive care program repatriating radical cystectomy patients back to The Medical Center of Aurora’s main campus. An interdisciplinary team representing nursing (inpatient and ICU), operating room staff, Wound Ostomy nurses, case management and marketing developed patient education materials, an Out-of-Towner’s guide, patient process flow diagrams, physician order sets and guidelines to coordinate the care of these very complex patients. The team also produced an educational video for healthcare providers (primarily nurses and support staff), which reviewed surgical procedures and how to care for the neobladder or ileal-conduit patients.

"We are both excited to be able to offer comprehensive bladder cancer care for the patients here in Aurora, Denver and the entire state of Colorado,” states Dr. Geoff Ledgerwood, M.D.

The team worked to stream-line the process for the coordination of preoperative visits to Oncology, Pre-Admission Testing, Wound Ostomy clinic, surgeon’s office and Admission.

“The radical cystectomy patients may need up to seven or eight preoperative visits to the campus in order to prepare them for this life-changing surgery, so it was imperative that we coordinate among all of the offices and departments to ensure patient satisfaction and maximize the patient’s time,” stated Julie Martin, AVP Surgical Services.

Dr. Sorce and Ledgerwood have performed three surgeries in the first three weeks of initiating the program and have additional surgeries scheduled.

For more information on the radical cystectomy program, please contact Dr. Sorce and Dr. Ledgerwood at (303) 695-6106, or Julie Martin at (303) 695-2775.