Use of a critical pathway to move laparoscopic cholecystectomy to the ambulatory surgery arena

Critical pathways are being implemented in health care facilities across the nation as a cost-containment tool. When developed using best practice based on a literature review and the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team, critical pathways can be very successful in maintaining or increasing the quality of care while controlling the cost of the care provided. The Department of Defense Utilization Management Plan strongly encourages the use of pathways. Here we discuss the development and implementation of a critical pathway for laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients, with the goal being to transfer the medical care from the inpatient setting to the ambulatory surgery arena. The use of this pathway resulted in almost a 50% increase in patients treated in the ambulatory surgery arena.