The COPD critical pathway: a case study in progress

Effects of Clinical Pathways for COPD on Patient, Professional, and Systems Outcomes: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

COPD has a substantial burden seen in both patient quality of life and health-care costs. One method of minimizing this burden is the implementation of clinical pathways (CPWs). CPWs bring the best available evidence to a range of health-care professionals by adapting guidelines to a local context and detailing essential steps in care.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to address the following question: What are the effects of CPWs for COPD on patient-, professional-, and systems-level outcomes? The review used methods outlined by the Cochrane Collaboration. We included all studies that met our operational definition for CPWs and focused on COPD. All studies were evaluated for risk of bias, and all data regarding patient, professional, and systems outcomes were extracted.

RESULTS

The search strategy identified 497 potentially relevant titles. Of these, 13 studies were included in the review. These studies reported a total of 398 outcomes, with sufficient data for meta-analysis of five outcomes: complications, length of stay, mortality, readmissions, and quality of life. Results showed statistically significant reductions in complications, readmissions, and length of stay but did not show changes in mortality or quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review reveals evidence to suggest that CPWs for COPD have the potential to reduce complications, readmissions, and length of stay without negatively influencing mortality or quality of life. However, quality of evidence was generally low. The authors therefore acknowledge that results should be interpreted with caution and note the need for additional research in this area.

Effects of Integrated Case Payment on Medical Expenditure and Readmission of Inpatients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Nonrandomized, Comparative Study in Xi County, China

In the past few decades, Chinese government attempted to reduce the economic burden of chronic diseases and lower family financial risk of patients by establishing a nationwide coverage of Social Health Insurance system. However, the payment mode of Social Health Insurance varies across Chinese healthcare settings, and the effectiveness of each mode differs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of integrated case payment on medical expenditure and readmission of inpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a complex, multicomponent, chronic condition. A nonrandomized, comparative method was used in this study. Inpatients with COPD before (n=1569) and after the integrated case payment reform (n=4764) were selected from the inpatient information database of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme Agency of Xi County. The integrated case payment comprises the case payment (including price-cap case payment and fixed-reimbursement case payment) and clinical pathway (including clinical pathway A, clinical pathway B and clinical pathway C). Effects of integrated case payment were evaluated with indicators of per capita total medical expense and readmission within 30 days. A multivariate linear regression and a binary logistic regression were used to conduct statistical analysis. The results showed that case payment, comprising price-cap case payment β=2382.988, P<0.001) and fixed-reimbursement case payment β=2613.564, P<0.001), and clinical pathway C β=1996.467, P<0.001) were risk factors of per capita total medical expenses. Clinical pathway A β=1443.409, P<0.001) and clinical pathway B β=1583.791, P<0.001) were protective factors. The interactive effects of case payment with hospital level β=0.710, P<0.001) lowered the readmission rate within 30 days. Meanwhile, clinical pathways A β=18.949, P<0.001), B (β=19.152, PO.OOl) and C β=1.882, P<0.001) were associated with the rate increase. The findings revealed that integrated case payment ensured the quality of care for inpatients with COPD to some extent. However, this payment mode increased the per capita total medical expense. Further, policy-makers should set reasonable reimbursement standards of case payment, unify the type of case payment, and strengthen the supervision of the reform to enhance its function on medical cost control.

The use of process mapping in healthcare quality improvement projects

Introduction Process mapping provides insight into systems and processes in which improvement interventions are introduced and is seen as useful in healthcare quality improvement projects. There is little empirical evidence on the use of process mapping in healthcare practice. This study advances understanding of the benefits and success factors of process mapping within quality improvement projects. Methods Eight quality improvement projects were purposively selected from different healthcare settings within the UK's National Health Service. Data were gathered from multiple data-sources, including interviews exploring participants' experience of using process mapping in their projects and perceptions of benefits and challenges related to its use. These were analysed using inductive analysis. Results Eight key benefits related to process mapping use were reported by participants (gathering a shared understanding of the reality; identifying improvement opportunities; engaging stakeholders in the project; defining project's objectives; monitoring project progress; learning; increased empathy; simplicity of the method) and five factors related to successful process mapping exercises (simple and appropriate visual representation, information gathered from multiple stakeholders, facilitator's experience and soft skills, basic training, iterative use of process mapping throughout the project). Conclusions Findings highlight benefits and versatility of process mapping and provide practical suggestions to improve its use in practice.

Algorithm based patient care protocol to optimize patient care and inpatient stay in head and neck free flap patients

Objective

To determine if rigid adherence (where medically appropriate) to an algorithm/checklist-based patient care pathway can reduce the duration of hospitalization and complication rates in patients undergoing head and neck reconstruction with free tissue transfer.

Methods

Study design was a retrospective case-control study of patients undergoing major head and neck cancer resections and reconstruction at a tertiary referral centre. The intervention was rigid adherence to a pre-existing care pathway including flow algorithms and multidisciplinary checklists incorporated into patient charting and care orders. 157 patients were enrolled prospectively and were compared to 99 patients in a historical cohort. Patient charts were reviewed and information related to the patient, procedure, and post-operative course was extracted. The two groups were compared for number of major and minor complications (using the Clavien-Dindo system) and length of stay in hospital.

Results

Comparing pre- and post-intervention groups, no significant difference was identified in duration of hospital stay (21.5 days vs. 20.5 days, p = 0.750), the rate of major complications was significantly higher in the pre-intervention cohort (25.3 % vs. 14.0 %, p = 0.031), the rate of minor complications was not significantly higher (34.3 % vs 30.8 %, p = 0.610).

Conclusion

Rigid adherence to our patient care pathway, and improved charting techniques including flow algorithms and multidisciplinary checklists has improved patient care by showing a significant reduction in the rate of major complications.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40463-015-0090-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Impact of clinical pathway on clinical outcomes in the management of COPD exacerbation

Background

Exacerbations, a leading cause of hospitalization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affect the quality of life and prognosis. Treatment recommendations as provided in the evidence-based guidelines are not consistently followed, partly due to absence of simplified task-oriented approach to care. In this study, we describe the development and implementation of a clinical pathway (CP) and evaluate its effectiveness in the management of COPD exacerbation.

Methods

We developed a CP and evaluated its effectiveness in a non-randomized prospective study with historical controls on patients admitted for exacerbation of COPD to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Consecutive patients who were admitted between June 2009 and December 2010 were prospectively recruited into the CP group. Non-CP historical controls were obtained from case records of patients admitted between January 2008 and January 2009. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by comparing the length of stay (LOS), complication rates, readmissions, and mortality rates.

Results

Ninety-five patients were recruited in the CP group and 98 patients were included in the non-CP historical group. Both groups were comparable with no significant differences in age, sex and severity of COPD (p = 0.641). For clinical outcome measures, patients in the CP group had shorter length of stay than the non-CP group (median (IQR): 5 (4–7) days versus 7 (7–9) days, p < 0.001) and 24.1% less complications (14.7% versus 38.8%, p < 0.001). We did not find any significant differences in readmission and mortality rates.

Conclusion

The implementation of CP –reduced the length of stay and complication rates of patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD.

The impact of care pathways for exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: rationale and design of a cluster randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hospital treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently does not follow published evidences. This lack of adherence can contribute to the high morbidity, mortality and readmissions rates. The European Quality of Care Pathway (EQCP) study on acute exacerbations of COPD (NTC00962468) is undertaken to determine how care pathways (CP) as complex intervention for hospital treatment of COPD affects care variability, adherence to evidence based key interventions and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

An international cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (cRCT) will be performed in Belgium, Italy, Ireland and Portugal. Based on the power analysis, a sample of 40 hospital teams and 398 patients will be included in the study. In the control arm of the study, usual care will be provided. The experimental teams will implement a CP as complex intervention which will include three active components: a formative evaluation of the quality and organization of care, a set of evidence based key interventions, and support on the development and implementation of the CP. The main outcome will be six-month readmission rate. As a secondary endpoint a set of clinical outcome and performance indicators (including care process evaluation and team functioning indicators) will be measured in both groups.

DISCUSSION

The EQCP study is the first international cRCT on care pathways. The design of the EQCP project is both a research study and a quality improvement project and will include a realistic evaluation framework including process analysis to further understand why and when CP can really work.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT00962468.

Physician-perceived barriers to adopting a critical pathway for unity-acquired pneumonia

BACKGROUND

A proven efficacious and evidence-based critical pathway for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was implemented in six hospitals across a health service region (Edmonton, Canada). After one year (November 2000-November 2001), the pathway had reduced average length of stay by 1 day (from 10.8 to 9.8 days, p < .001). However, great variation was observed in physician adherence to the pathway.

METHODS

Physician-perceived barriers to adoption of the CAP pathway were identified through in-depth interviews. Data saturation was reached after 10 physicians, representing a convenience sample of those willing to participate, were interviewed.

RESULTS

Self-reported adherence to the CAP pathway was 75% (range 50%-100%). Qualitative analysis of the interview data indicated that comments could be grouped into five themes: (1) limited applicability, (2) lack of flexibility to accommodate atypical clinical presentations, (3) perception of insufficient evidence to support recommendations, (4) local organizational barriers, and (5) need for local adaptation. For example, one physician remarked that his community hospital had insufficient staff to support collection of lab samples for all patients.

DISCUSSION

Interventions to increase pathway adoption and further improve quality of CAP care should address the identified barriers. For example, local audit and feedback of outcomes data to persuade physicians of the benefits of CAP pathways will need to be instituted.

Trauma case management and clinical pathways: prospective evaluation of their effect on selected patient outcomes in five key trauma conditions

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the implementation of clinical pathways and case management between July 1998 and July 1999 in five key trauma conditions: severe head injury, fractured ribs, fractured pelvis, blunt abdominal trauma, and fractured femurs presenting to a single trauma service.

METHODS

Thirteen key elements of care with expected outcomes were defined for each key trauma condition. Deviations from expected outcome were defined as variances. Attainment of the expected outcomes was measured before (stage 1) and after introduction (stages 2 and 3) of clinical pathways and case management. Nonattained outcomes were quantified and categorized into time of occurrence, and relationship to staff, patient, or system.

RESULTS

Two hundred thirty-five patients were studied, with a mean age of 41.8 (SD, 20.6) years and mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 11.7 (SD, 11.0). The mean number of observed variances per patient for stage 1 was 51.7 (SD, 43.5); stage 2, 42.3 (SD, 32.9); and stage 3, 23.2 (SD, 21.7) (p = 0.0001 for both stage 1 and stage 2 compared with stage 3). There was a significant improvement in outcomes achieved from stage 1 (92.7%; 95% confidence interval, 92.5-92.9%), to stage 3 (96.7%; 95% confidence interval, 96.5-96.9%). Of the total number of variances seen, 0.2% related to system errors, 25% related to patient factors, and 75.8% related to staff. The proportion of staff-related variances was significantly reduced in stage 3.

CONCLUSION

Clinical pathways and case management identified areas in need of remedial action and improved the delivery of patient care to our trauma population. It has set a template for the future management of our trauma service.

Critical pathways intervention to reduce length of hospital stay

PURPOSE

Despite their popularity, critical pathways have been evaluated in only a few controlled studies. We evaluated the effectiveness of critical pathways in reducing length of hospital stay.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We compared postoperative lengths of stay of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, total knee replacement, colectomy, thoracic surgery, or hysterectomy before and after pathway implementation at a university hospital. For three procedures, changes in lengths of stay at neighboring hospitals without pathway programs were assessed for comparison.

RESULTS

A total of 6,796 patients underwent one of the procedures during the study. The percentage of eligible patients managed on a critical pathway ranged from 94% for hysterectomy to 26% for colectomy. For most procedures, the postoperative length of stay was decreasing during the baseline period. After pathway implementation, the length of stay decreased 21% for total knee replacement, 9% for CABG surgery, 7% for thoracic surgery, 5% for hysterectomy, and 3% for colectomy (all P < 0.01). However, similar decreases were seen in the neighboring hospitals that did not have critical pathways or other specific efficiency initiatives.

CONCLUSIONS

Critical pathways were associated with a rapid reduction in postoperative length of stay after all five study procedures. Secular trends at nearby hospitals, however, produced comparable reductions for the three procedures available for comparison. These findings raise questions about the effectiveness of critical pathways in a competitive environment.