title: Standards for thoracic surgical oncology in a single-payer healthcare system.
abstract: Through systematic literature review and a consensus-based approach from an expert panel, standards on the organization for delivering thoracic cancer surgery in a single-payer healthcare environment were developed. Thirty-two studies and six organizational reports were identified. Results from 32 studies showed a trend toward higher volumes and improved patient outcomes, and six consensus reports provided recommendations on thoracic care standards. Thoracic surgical oncology standards in a single-payer healthcare system were developed. The benefits associated with the implementation of thoracic cancer surgery standards should result in increased regionalization of care, improved processes of care, and better patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. olivert@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundaresan
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Farrah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: Hartley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000592:standards*; D018855:Single-Payer System / Q000592:standards*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome