Critical pathways: a means of managing the operating room.
Critical pathways help institutions in efficient and appropriate resource use to increase the quality of health care and minimize health care costs. However, many opportunities for pathway development and implementation are unexplored. This article delineates the development process for critical pathways and discusses the outcomes realized from use of the total joint pathway at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA.
Sprague
T E
TE
Department of Anesthesiology, School of Nursing, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-4270, USA.
Wren
K R
KR
Corpe
R S
RS
Philpot
T E
TE
Chaney
S A
SA
Bentz
H L
HL
Bandy
L C
LC
D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies