title: Implementing a multidisciplinary HIV diarrhea critical pathway in the acute care setting.
abstract: Clinical pathways are the new strategy for managing hospital length of stay and cost in the changing, dollar-driven arena of health care. For patients with AIDS, HIV-related diarrhea is a potential source of increased morbidity that results in increased hospitalization and health care costs. This article describes the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary HIV Diarrhea Critical Pathway at Mount Sinai Medical Center of Greater Miami in South Florida. The focus of this article is on the nursing issues that arose during the piloting of the Diarrhea Critical Pathway and on the "how-tos" of its use. Initial evaluation of the first 3 years of using the diarrhea pathway is reported.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing*; D005431:Florida; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D009737:Nursing Records; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods