title: Clinical pathways from conception to outcome.
abstract: A provider must demonstrate superior performance in several areas, such as cost, utilization, and clinical outcomes, to obtain designation as a Center of Excellence. A comprehensive orthopedic strategy was designed for use by Good Samaritan Health Systems to obtain this designation. The strategy included the development of clinical pathways and a profiling system. Acute, subacute, home care, and patient/family pathways were developed for diagnosis-related group 209: total joint replacement. Six months after implementation, a profile was developed using the Dartmouth Clinical Value Compass. Dimensions profiled included patient satisfaction, clinical variance data, functional status, and cost/utilization data. Improvements were identified in patient satisfaction, cost/utilization, and patient care.
authors.affiliation: Good Samaritan Health Systems, Kearney, NE, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertholf
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000592:standards*; D019985:Benchmarking; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare; D009329:Nebraska; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States