A clinical pathway for the secondary diagnosis of alcohol misuse: implications for the orthopaedic patient

This article presents the process of developing a method of routine identification, assessment, intervention, and follow-up for the trauma patient with a concomitant diagnosis of alcohol misuse. A clinical pathway approach to addressing the needs of the alcohol misuser is outlined, and an alternative method that adapts this approach to other settings is also presented. Ever mindful of decreasing lengths of stay and reimbursement predicated on diagnosis-related groups, this pathway is tailored to overlay onto an existing clinical path of care so as not to increase length of stay nor duplicate services.