title: A pilot project using evidence-based clinical pathways and payment reform in China's rural hospitals shows early success.
abstract: Reforming China's public hospitals to curb widespread overtreatment and improve the quality and affordability of care has been the most challenging aspect of that nation's ambitious health reform, which began in 2009. This article describes a pilot project under way in several of China's provinces that combines payment reform with the implementation of evidence-based clinical pathways at a few hospitals serving rural areas. Results to date include reduced length-of-stay and prescription drug use and higher patient and provider satisfaction. These early results suggest that the pilot may be achieving its goals, which may have far-reaching and positive implications for China's ongoing reform.
authors.affiliation: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA. maycrein@princeton.edu
authors.forename: Tsung-Mei
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D004469:Economics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: Delivery Reform; Evidence-Based Medicine; Global Health; Payment Reform; Public Hospital Reform