title: Development, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of pathways for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer at a comprehensive cancer center.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to explain the process used in the development and implementation of care pathways in a comprehensive cancer center in the Southwest. The pathways are a major component of the disease management process that defines a multidisciplinary standard of practice for a specific episode of care and measure outcomes as a basis for quality and cost improvement. Patients may be on several pathways as they progress through cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Center at University of Texas, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bisanz
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: DeJesus
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Saddler
mesh_terms: D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development