title: A comprehensive approach to facilitating the recovery of cardiac surgery patients.
abstract: This article describes the cardiac surgery program at Baystate Medical Center. It emphasizes the importance of planning for the discharge process, early extubation, and structured activity guidelines and their effect on patient outcomes. The unique roles of the staff nurse, mid-level practitioner, and the clinical resource coordinator in facilitating the case management process are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Baystate Medical Center, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Corsetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing*; D019090:Case Management; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008404:Massachusetts; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome