Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Critical pathways: effectiveness in achieving patient outcomes

C L Ireson1

  • 1University of Kentucky Hospital, Lexington, USA. clireson%taonode@mvs.hosp.uky.edu

The Journal of Nursing Administration
|June 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Critical pathways improve patient outcomes and quality in managed care settings. This study demonstrates their effectiveness using objective quality measures, distinct from case management models.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Measuring outcomes in surgical patients.

American journal of surgery·2001
Same author

Evaluation of variances in patient outcomes.

Outcomes management for nursing practice·1999
Same author

A multidisciplinary shared governance model.

Nursing management·1998
Same author

Preparatory information.

Proceedings. Symposium on Computer Applications in Medical Care·1994
Same author

Relocation: the impact on staff nurses.

The Journal of nursing administration·1987

Area of Science:

  • Health Services Research
  • Quality Improvement in Healthcare
  • Nursing Practice and Informatics

Background:

  • Healthcare administrators face increasing pressure to enhance patient outcomes within managed care environments.
  • Clinical care process refinement is crucial for achieving high-quality results.
  • Existing research on critical pathways has limitations, often lacking objective quality measures or concurrent case management integration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of critical pathways on clinical, length-of-hospital-stay, and financial patient outcomes.
  • To assess the effectiveness of structured interventions and patient response evaluation within critical pathways.
  • To differentiate the study's approach by using an objective quality measure and avoiding concurrent case management implementation.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Methods:

  • Implementation of structured interventions using critical pathways.
  • Systematic evaluation of patient responses to interventions.
  • Utilization of an objective measure for assessing quality.
  • Analysis of clinical, length-of-hospital-stay, and financial outcomes.
  • Study design independent of a case management delivery model.

Main Results:

  • Critical pathways were identified as a significant factor in improving quality within a managed care setting.
  • Demonstrated positive effects on clinical outcomes.
  • Showed potential for reducing length of hospital stay.
  • Indicated favorable financial outcomes.
  • Results suggest critical pathways can enhance quality independently of case management.

Conclusions:

  • Critical pathways are a valuable tool for enhancing patient outcomes and quality in managed care.
  • Findings support the integration of critical pathways into nursing practice, education, and informatics.
  • The study provides evidence for the efficacy of critical pathways when objective quality measures are employed.