Total joint project: acute care to home care.
The advent of managed care, decreased reimbursement, and competition among providers has forced acute care institutions to examine care delivery. Clinical paths provide a method that manages patient care toward positive outcomes within a cost-effective environment. A collaborative project for total joint patients beginning with the office visit and continuing through the entire episode of care is described.
Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA, USA.
P A
PA
Matula
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D
Shollenberger
D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019985:Benchmarking; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D009737:Nursing Records; D015397:Program Evaluation