title: A multidisciplinary cancer center maximizes surgeons' impact.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer patients require care across different disciplines. Integration of multidisciplinary care is critical to accomplish excellent oncologic results. We hypothesized that the establishment of a dedicated colorectal cancer center (CRCC) around specialty-trained surgeons will lead to increased multidisciplinary management and improved outcomes in colorectal cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from three periods: a baseline group, a period after the recruitment of specialty-trained surgeons, and a period after the creation of a dedicated multidisciplinary cancer center. Data analyzed included surrogate markers of surgical oncologic care, multidisciplinary integration, and oncologic outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recruitment of specialized surgeons led to improvements in surgical oncologic care; the establishment of the CRCC resulted in further improvements in surgical oncologic care and multidisciplinary integration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that although the recruitment of specialty-trained surgeons in a high volume center leads to improvement in surgical oncologic care, it is the establishment of a multidisciplinary center around the surgeons that leads to integrated care and improvements in oncologic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Christy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Courtney J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Balentine
authors.forename: Celia N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilks
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anaya
authors.forename: Avo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Artinyan
authors.forename: Samir S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D000078329:Workforce