Developing better critical paths in healthcare: combining 'best practice' and the quantitative approach.
Critical paths are tools to manage healthcare delivery and ensure favorable patient outcomes. Unfortunately, many of these paths are not evaluated or revised after their initial development. One potential problem faced by nursing managers is that critical paths may lose relevance in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. The authors suggest one strategy to strengthen existing critical paths in a way that is responsive to these changes.
baileyd1@cesmtp.ccf.org
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D000368:Aged; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing; D001415:Back / Q000601:surgery; D019985:Benchmarking; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006770:Hospitals, Group Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D009820:Ohio; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*