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The effect of a 'fast-track' unit on the performance of a cardiothoracic department

L Hadjinikolaou1, A Cohen, B Glenville

  • 1St Mary's Hospital, London, UK. leonhn@otenet.gr

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
|March 4, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Implementing a fast-track unit and computerized system significantly boosted cardiothoracic operating numbers and financial income. This innovation improved efficiency without negatively impacting patient outcomes or mortality rates.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Health Informatics
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Cardiothoracic departments face challenges in optimizing clinical practice and financial performance.
  • Implementing specialized units and information systems can address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a fast-track unit and computerized system on clinical practice and finance in a cardiothoracic department.
  • To assess changes in operating numbers, financial income, patient recovery, and operative mortality.

Main Methods:

  • A 3-bed fast-track unit was established with a computerized system for planning and a pre-admission clinic.
  • Data from 642 major cardiothoracic cases over 12 months were analyzed.
  • Key outcomes included operating numbers, financial income, patient recovery, and operative mortality.

Main Results:

  • Operating numbers increased by 11.3% and financial income by 38%.
  • 81.8% of patients were scheduled for the fast-track unit, with 93.7% successfully managed.
  • Coronary artery bypass grafting showed low failure rates; re-do operations had higher failure rates.

Conclusions:

  • The fast-track unit and computerized system substantially improved operating numbers and financial income.
  • Clinical results were not adversely affected, demonstrating enhanced efficiency.
  • Appropriate patient selection is key to further optimizing fast-track unit efficiency.
Abstract

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