Impact of a collaborative care approach to radical cystectomy and urinary reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
We report the results of a collaborative care program that has been developed for radical cystectomy and urinary reconstruction.


METHODS
All patients undergoing surgery after July 1993 were placed on a collaborative care pathway and were compared to patients undergoing the same procedure before this period.


RESULTS
Total adjusted hospital charges decreased from $31,174 to $19,479. Hospital stay decreased from 12.7 to 10.3 days. There were also decreases in duration of surgery, blood loss, intensive care unit use and postoperative morbidity rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Collaborative care pathways favorably affect the cost efficiency of care and provide favorable surgical outcomes.
Koch
M O
MO
Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 87232-2765, USA.
Seckin
B
B
Smith
J A
JA
D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D017722:Hospital Charges; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014547:Urinary Diversion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*