[Clinical pathways in view of cost effects in the DRG system]

Clinical pathways constitute a useful tool for structuring diagnostic and therapeutic measures during the period of inpatient treatment. They primarily serve to ensure and improve quality and only secondarily to reduce costs. International experience in evaluating clinical pathways confirms these statements. The introduction of clinical pathways across disciplines and professional groups succeeds when the treatment team can be motivated to accept this concept. Only when this is achieved will it be possible for clinical pathways to lead to improved results for the patient as well as the hospital while simultaneously reducing costs and length of hospital stay.