SORCE
The SORCE Mission
SORCE assesses the impact of surgical procedures on patients, society, and the healthcare system and improves the practice of surgery through education, training, and policy initiatives.
SORCE is:
- a multidisciplinary research center established by the Department of Surgery at the University of Washington.
- an active supporter of the use of outcomes research to improve the quality of surgical care at the local, regional and national level.
- available for surgical investigators and other healthcare stakeholders interested in evaluating surgical effectiveness, emerging technology, patient-centered outcomes, surgical epidemiology and quality improvement interventions.
- a valuable resource, offering expertise in research design and study methodology including the full “toolbox” of outcomes research techniques, including:
- Use of secondary data sources.
- Meta-analysis.
- Modeled cost/decision analyses.
- Quality of life/functional outcomes.
- Survey design/qualitative research.
- Patient-centered outcomes study development.
- involved in the promotion of “translational outcomes research” by linking quality improvement initiatives with emerging evidence regarding processes. The result is optimal surgical outcomes.
Why do we need SORCE?
The outcomes research movement is transforming surgical care and the surgical community. Outcomes researchers help identify the best evidence to guide patient care. They determine the processes of care resulting in optimal outcomes, by critically appraising the results of a procedure, its global impact on patient health and well-being, satisfaction, functional status, lifespan and the healthcare system. Outcomes researchers “translate” this research into practice and policy by working with surgeons, payers and purchasers of healthcare.