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Fazzalari A, Srinivas S, Panjwani S, Pozzi N, Friedrich A, Sheoran R, Sabato J, Durocher D, Reznek M, Aiello F, Litwin D, Cahan MA. A Fast-track Pathway for Emergency General Surgery at an Academic Medical Center. J Surg Res 2021; 267:1-8. [PMID: 34116389 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fast Track Pathways (FTP) directed at reducing length of stay (LOS) and overall costs are being increasingly implemented for emergency surgeries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate implementation of a FTP for Emergency General Surgery (EGS) at an academic medical center (AMC). METHODS The study included 165 patients at an AMC between 2016 and 2018 who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy (LA), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), or laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LI). The FTP group enrolled 89 patients, and 76 controls prior to FTP implementation were evaluated. Time to surgery (TTS), LOS, and post-operative LOS between groups were compared. Direct costs, reimbursements, and patient reported satisfaction (satisfaction 1 = never, 4 = always) were also studied. RESULTS The sample was 60.6% female, with a median age of 40 years. Case distribution differed slightly (56.2% versus 42.1% LA, 40.4% versus 57.9% LC, FTP versus control), but TTS was similar between groups (11h39min versus 10h02min, P = 0.633). LOS was significantly shorter in the FTP group (15h17min versus 29h09min, P < 0.001), reflected by shorter post-operative LOS (3h11min versus 20h10min, P< 0.001), fewer patients requiring a hospital bed and overnight stay (P < 0.001). Direct costs were significantly lower in the FTP group, reimbursements were similar (P < 0.001 and P = 0.999 respectively), and average patient reported satisfaction was good (3.3/4). CONCLUSION In an era focused on decreasing cost, optimizing resources, and ensuring patient satisfaction, a FTP can play a significant role in EGS. At an AMC, an EGS FTP significantly decreased LOS, hospital bed utilization while not impacting reimbursement or patient satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Fazzalari
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; The Stanley J. Dudrick Department of Surgery, Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut
| | - Shruthi Srinivas
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Suraj Panjwani
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; The Stanley J. Dudrick Department of Surgery, Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut
| | - Natalie Pozzi
- The Stanley J. Dudrick Department of Surgery, Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut
| | - Ann Friedrich
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Reeti Sheoran
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph Sabato
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Dawn Durocher
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Martin Reznek
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Francesco Aiello
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Demetrius Litwin
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Mitchell A Cahan
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
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Arabacioglu D, Lehn A, Herrmann E, Albers B, Hanisch E, Buia A. Evaluating a Clinical Pathway in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Effective in Reducing Complications? A Propensity Score Matching Analysis. Visc Med 2020; 37:70-76. [PMID: 33718485 DOI: 10.1159/000506718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Care pathways are primarily aimed at decreasing length of hospital stay (LOS) and preventing unnecessary costs while maintaining or improving the quality of care. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, there is insufficient evidence for proving an impact upon postoperative complications. Methods In this retrospective study, logistic regression was used to calculate a propensity score, and, after carrying out 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching, 296 patients were analyzed in both groups with regard to postoperative complications using the Clavien-Dindo classification system as a primary aim. In addition, secondary aims were LOS, compliance to care, and deviation from the care pathway with respect to patient discharge. Relative risk of the primary outcome was calculated and compared with the e-value as sensitivity testing approach. Results Due to the mandatory part of the care pathway, patient record compliance was 100%. Deviation from the care pathway with respect to the planned patient discharge on postoperative day 2 was noted in 16% of the cases. After adjustment for potential factors, the relative risk when comparing Clavien-Dindo complication grades 0 versus 1-4 is 1.64 (95% CI 0.87-3.11), which did not reach significance (p = 0.127). After matching, LOS lasted 3.69 days without and 3.26 days with the care pathway, respectively. Conclusions Against the background of already implemented structured standard operation procedures, a care pathway is not able to reduce postoperative complications. Nevertheless, we consider our clinical pathway a highly valuable tool for the interdisciplinary management of patient hospitalization under the supervision of experienced specialized surgeons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duygu Arabacioglu
- Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, Asklepios Klinik Langen, Academic Teaching Hospital Goethe University Frankfurt, Langen, Germany
| | - Annette Lehn
- Department of Biostatistics and Mathematical Modeling, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Eva Herrmann
- Department of Biostatistics and Mathematical Modeling, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Benjamin Albers
- Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, Asklepios Klinik Langen, Academic Teaching Hospital Goethe University Frankfurt, Langen, Germany
| | - Ernst Hanisch
- Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, Asklepios Klinik Langen, Academic Teaching Hospital Goethe University Frankfurt, Langen, Germany
| | - Alexander Buia
- Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, Asklepios Klinik Langen, Academic Teaching Hospital Goethe University Frankfurt, Langen, Germany
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Zeng JQ. The pilot results of 47 148 cases of BJ-DRGs-based payment in China. Int J Health Plann Manage 2019; 34:1386-1398. [PMID: 31286577 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs)-based payment is an important tool for containment of inpatient expenditure rise in many countries. As a major developing country, China has introduced DRGs in the health reform. Beijing, the capital of China, developed a local DRGs version (BJ-DRGs) whose performance needs to be evaluated before universal utilization. The objective of this study was to survey the effect of BJ-DRGs-based payment on a pilot hospital. METHODS We surveyed the profit and loss situation of 47 148 cases of hospital discharged patients in 107 groups of pilot BJ-DRGs-based payment from December 2011 to July 2018 in certain top tertiary hospital in Beijing. RESULTS In pilot 107 groups of DRGs, there were 77 groups (71.96%) in profit and 30 groups (28.04%) in loss; average length of inpatient stay was 7.47 days, average inpatient expenditure ¥17 821.19, average DRGs standard unit price ¥15 896.83, average self-pay expenditure ¥1 117.04, and average profit ¥1 849.65; logistic regression showed that whether the pilot hospital of BJ-DRGs-based payment was in profit or loss was correlated negatively with inpatient expenditure, length of inpatient stay, drug expenditure, expenditure of medical consumables, and pilot years, and positively with DRGs standard unit price, self-pay expenditure, and age and gender (P < .0001). CONCLUSION BJ-DRGs-based payment is the first implemented DRGs-based prospective payment system in China. The current DRGs pilot model made the pilot hospital appear profitable as a whole and its length of inpatient stay decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Qun Zeng
- Medical Insurance Office, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
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Park JW, Kim M, Lee SK. Appropriate Hospital Discharge Timing after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Comparison of Postoperative Day 1 vs. Day 2 Discharge Protocol. JOURNAL OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY 2019; 22:69-74. [PMID: 35602769 PMCID: PMC8980169 DOI: 10.7602/jmis.2019.22.2.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The critical pathway (CP) was introduced as a means to provide quality healthcare service in many fields of surgery. CP may increase the patient's satisfaction rate and lowering hospital stay and medical cost also. We aimed to compare the two kinds of CP applied in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients by different hospital stay length. Methods From March 2016 to October 2016, 71 patients were enrolled in this analysis among 241 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were divided into two groups, 38 patients in the 1-day CP group and 33 patients in the 2-day CP group. In a retrospective review, surgical outcomes and related hospital costs were analyzed. Results Preoperative characteristics were not different between two CP groups. In analysis of operative outcome, 2-day CP group showed longer operative time than 1-day CP (73.4 vs 54.1 min, p<0.001); otherwise, there was no significant difference in frequency of postop complications (6.1% vs 2.6%, p=0.474), numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score (1.82 vs 2.16, p=0.052), and count of analgesics injection (0.12 vs 0.16, p=0.754). Total admission cost and actual patient's expenditures were higher in 2-day CP group, but there was no statistically significant difference (347.04 vs 306.69×104 won, p=0.106; 147.85 vs 125.58×104 won, p=0.276). Conclusion The length of hospital stay was shortened in 1-day CP group than in 2-day CP group, while there was no difference in other parameters. Therefore, it is feasible and safe practical policy the use 1-day CP in selected patients who undergo cholecystectomy according to our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Woo Park
- Department of Surgery, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Munjin Kim
- Department of Surgery, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Sang Kuon Lee
- Department of Surgery, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
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Identifying and classifying indicators affected by performing clinical pathways in hospitals: a scoping review. INT J EVID-BASED HEA 2018; 16:3-24. [PMID: 29176429 DOI: 10.1097/xeb.0000000000000126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
AIM To analyse the evidence regarding indicators affected by clinical pathways (CPW) in hospitals and offer suggestions for conducting comprehensive systematic reviews. METHODS We conducted a systematic scoping review and searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Scopus, OVID, Science Direct, ProQuest, EMBASE and PubMed. We also reviewed the reference lists of included studies. The criteria for inclusion of studies included experimental and quasi-experimental studies, implementing CPW in secondary and tertiary hospitals and investigating at least one indicator. Quality of included studies was assessed by two authors independently using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program for clinical trials and cohort studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool for Quasi-Experimental Studies. RESULTS Forty-seven out of 2191 studies met the eligibility and inclusion criteria. The majority of included studies had pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design and had been done in developed countries, especially the United States. The investigation of evidence resulted in identifying 62 indicators which were classified into three categories: input indicators, process and output indicators and outcome indicators. Outcome indicators were more frequent than other indicators. Complication rate, hospital costs and length of hospital stay were dominant in their own category. Indicators such as quality of life and adherence to guidelines have been considered in studies that were done in recent years. CONCLUSION Implementing CPW can affect different types of indicators such as input, process, output and outcome indicators, although outcome indicators capture more attention than other indicators. Patient-related indicators were dominant outcome indicators, whereas professional indicators and organizational factors were considered less extensively. WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE TOPIC?: WHAT DOES THIS ARTICLE ADD?
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Bai J, Bai F, Zhu H, Xue D. The perceived and objectively measured effects of clinical pathways' implementation on medical care in China. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196776. [PMID: 29734350 PMCID: PMC5937784 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Substantial resources have been expended on clinical pathways (CPs), but the reported effects of CPs on medical care vary considerably. This study sought to determine the effects of CPs on medical care in Chinese hospitals, including the perceived effects of CPs on medical care and the objectively measured patient outcomes. Methods Study data were obtained from 54 public hospitals in three provinces of China in 2015. Hospital questionnaires, employee surveys, and chart reviews were used to collect data related to hospital characteristics, the implementation of CPs and compliance status, perceived effects of CPs, and objectively measured patient outcomes. Logistic regression models and linear regression models were adopted in this study. Results The effects of CPs were not highly perceived by the hospitals or by the managers and physicians in China. The relatively low involvement in the implementation of and adherence to CPs resulted in CPs having no significant effects on hospital medical care as a whole. However, a chart review of 5 conditions in Chinese hospitals demonstrated that compliance with national CPs reduced the length of stay (LOS) and inpatient medical costs. Conclusions CPs should be implemented widely and followed closely to improve hospital medical care as a whole, and further studies should be conducted to identify the key elements of the effects of CPs on patient clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Bai
- Department of Hospital Management, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission (Fudan University), Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Fei Bai
- Center for Medical Service Administration, National Health Commission of China, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hongbo Zhu
- Medical Administration and Management, Health and Family Planning Commission of Hubei Province, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Di Xue
- Department of Hospital Management, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission (Fudan University), Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
- * E-mail:
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Kim S, Yoo YS, Kim JH, Min YD. Analysis of patient-dropouts from the critical pathways for gastric cancer. Ann Surg Treat Res 2015; 88:311-7. [PMID: 26029676 PMCID: PMC4443262 DOI: 10.4174/astr.2015.88.6.311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study was designed to determine the factors affecting completion of critical pathway for elective gastrectomy. Methods Since 2008, a critical pathway has been applied for elective gastrectomy at Chosun University Hospital. We retrospectively analyzed 252 patients who underwent elective gastrectomies from January 2009 to April 2013. The completion rate was determined, and risk factors for patient dropout were examined. Results The completion rate of the critical pathway was 45.6% (115/252). Mean length of stay was 11.7 ± 8.6 days (8-59 days). Readmission rates were 4.4% (11/252). Causes of failure for clinical pathway were systemic complications (21/137, 15.3%), intra-abdominal complications (44/137, 32.8%), patient factors (41/137, 29.9%), and wound complications (30/137, 21.9%). There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, operation time, readmission, and underlying disease (P > 0.05). Body mass index (P = 0.008) and pathologic stage (P = 0.001) were significantly different between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, the conventional approach (odds ratio, 2.0), and total gastrectomy (odds ratio, 5.3) were determined to be independent risk factors to drop the critical pathway. But there were no significant differences between total and distal gastrectomy groups in age, gender, underlying diseases, ASA score, readmission, operation time, and cause of dropout (P > 0.05). Conclusion We concluded that total gastrectomy may not be suitable for the critical pathway. We suggest that the critical pathway for elective distal gastrectomy is divided 2 subgroups, according to the surgical approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungsoo Kim
- Department of Surgery, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Young Sun Yoo
- Department of Surgery, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Jin Ha Kim
- Department of Nursing Science, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Young Don Min
- Department of Surgery, Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea
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