The value of patient-reported outcomes in colon and rectal surgery

Quality in surgery is often assessed in terms of perioperative complications, such as surgical site infections and readmissions. Although patients are the ultimate end-users of surgical care, the impact of surgical care on aspects of health that are most important to them, such as functional status, is rarely assessed. Value is in the eye of the beholder. Patient-reported outcomes provide patients a voice in the assessment of their care quality, and brings greater accountability into the assessment of value.