title: Lumbar discectomy path emphasizes pain control.
abstract: Case managers at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have cut costs by $1,000 per case and reduced length of stay (LOS) from 4.92 days to just under two days for patients with lumbar discectomy by taking an aggressive approach to pain management. Case managers also found that patients' expectations helped drive up LOS. They prepare patients for early discharge by giving them an easy-to-read patient pathway that details the process of care. The lumbar discectomy pathway also emphasizes postoperative ambulation over bed rest, and reduces the number of individual blood tests required prior to surgery.
mesh_terms: D019090:Case Management; D003363:Cost Control; D019091:Critical Pathways; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010414:Pennsylvania