A Study on Effects of Critical Pathway Practices by Using BSC and Datamining Method / 대한의료정보학회지

ABSTRACT

Emphasis on healthcare during the 1990s has been to provide both optimal wellness and function with quality in a cost-effective manner. Critical Pathway was developed to meet the need to guide clients along the continuum of care and to achieve continuity of care. The purpose of this study was to develop on evaluating model of Critical Pathway practices. The topics which developed into Critical Pathway were normal delivery, repairment of cataract, cesarean section delivery, pediatric tonsillectomy and hemorrhoidectomy. The main goals set by teams were educations, improvement of process and quality of care, customer satisfaction and financial achievements. To evaluate the performace of Critical Pathway in clinical process, 13 kinds of perspective key performance indicators were selected by using Balanced Scorecard(BSC) method. The analysis method was Data Mining. Cesarean section discharge abstract data were reviewed for guidelines of model development and classification of control groups. Five kinds of Critical Pathway were developed by multidisciplinary participation by personnels of related departments, and pilot-test was performed. All the Critical Pathway was applied as standard protocols in patient s care since November, 1999. Length of stay was significantly shortened and increased patient s satisfaction in 4 case groups except pediatric tonsillectomy group. Hospital and medication cost of each patient remarkably decreased in all 5 case groups. And the improvement of process and quality of care was appeared during the Critical Pathway implementation period. These results show that new evaluation model of Critical Pathway in medical practice was an effective.