Development and Roll-Out of A Coronavirus Disease 2019 Clinical Pathway for Standardized Qualified Care in Public...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Recurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variant outbreaks in Korea necessitated improved patient care strategies.
• Public hospitals were central to COVID-19 patient management but faced challenges adapting to evolving treatment guidelines.
• The need for standardized clinical protocols to manage COVID-19 effectively in public healthcare settings was identified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement clinical pathways (CPs) for managing COVID-19 patients in Korean public hospitals.
• To standardize COVID-19 treatment and care protocols across multiple healthcare institutions.
• To evaluate the impact of CPs on patient outcomes, satisfaction, and healthcare resource utilization.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen public hospitals participated in the development and implementation of CPs.
• A professional review board guided the formulation of CPs, including inclusion/exclusion criteria, flow charts, and standardized order sets.
• CPs were continuously updated to incorporate new therapeutic drugs and changing quarantine policies.

Main Results:

• Implementation of CPs led to significant improvements in key performance indicators.
• Patient and staff satisfaction scores increased by 0.41 and 0.57, respectively.
• Hospital stays decreased by an average of 1.78 days, and medical expenses were reduced by 17.5%.

Conclusions:

• Clinical pathways are effective tools for standardizing COVID-19 care in public hospitals.
• CPs contribute to enhanced patient and staff satisfaction and improved efficiency in resource utilization.
• The adaptability of CPs, through consistent updates, is crucial for managing infectious disease outbreaks effectively.