[Vascular surgery in a vascular centre--the different way--2 years of the Karlsbad model].
BACKGROUND
The G-DRG system will lead from specialty-bound to process-bound pathways to guarantee efficient patient treatment in specialised units. Innovative concepts will have a trend-setting character. Certified vascular centres are currently cooperating in an interdisciplinary manner but on a specialty- and department-based background.


METHODS
In the "Karlsbad Model", the vascular surgery was integrated into existing medical departments like internal medicine/angiology, neurology and radiology in 2004. Treatment takes place in a department-overlapping, guide-line equitable and process-orientated manner with shared treatment competence. Clinical pathways, interdisciplinary case discussion and consultation hours guarantee a target-oriented pathway. The Karlsbad Model was certified by the German Society of Angiology. The internal (patients, staff) and external (cooperating doctors) contentment was augmented. The (preoperative) and overall length of stay was reduced from (6.47) 11.73 days in 2004 to (3.49) 9.32 days in 2005 for all vascular surgery G-DRGs.


CONCLUSIONS
The Karlsbad Model with its process- and case-orientated cooperation has a trend-setting character with a positive influence on internal and external contentment.
Löhr
G
G
Vaskuläre und Endovaskuläre Chirurgie, SRH Klinikum Karlsbad-Langensteinbach gGmbH. Guido.loehr@vivantes.de
Huber
R
R
D005858:Germany; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000458:organization & administration*