title: Caring about carepaths.
abstract: This short paper describes an experiment in the use of clinical pathways for orthopaedic patients at Cairns Base Hospital. We rapidly found they improved the management of cost and quality, and that there were many beneficial side-effects. Our approach was subsequently adopted in other departments. Unfortunately, external support for further developments has not been forthcoming and we argue that this may be an unwise move.
authors.affiliation: Cairns Base Hospital, Queensland.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Macintosh
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000592:standards; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000592:standards; D003363:Cost Control; D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008485:Medical Audit; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011793:Queensland; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*