title: [Changes in medicine and health care brought by the use of critical paths].
abstract: The use of critical paths is rapidly spreading and developing, and drastic changes are occurring in medicine and health care in Japan. Many items, for example, standardization of medicine and health care, shortening of hospital stays, and quality control in medicine and health care have been changed and reformed by the use of critical paths. Critical paths are now strongly recommended as useful tools in good medical and health care management, which will promote best practices in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Kumamoto National Hospital, 1-5 Ninomaru, Kumamoto 860-0008, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000592:standards; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007902:Length of Stay; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000592:standards; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011445:Prospective Payment System; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care