Measuring Effects of Quality Improvement through the Development of Critical Pathway for Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

Kim, Moo Seong; Ha, So Young; Bae, Yoon Hyuk; Jung, Yong Tae; Kim, Sung Tae; Lee, Won Hee; Go, Yeon Joo

Journal of Korean Society Quality Assurance Health Care 2012;18(1): 27.
Published online December 30, 2012.

당일 감마나이프수술 환자의 표준진료지침 개발을 통한 질 향상 효과 측정

김무성¹, 하소영², 배윤혁¹, 정용태¹, 김성태¹, 이원희¹, 고연주³

¹인제대학교 부산백병원 신경외과
²인제대학교 부산백병원 간호부
³인제대학교 부산백병원 QI실

Measuring Effects of Quality Improvement through the Development of Critical Pathway for Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

Moo Seong Kim¹, So Young Ha², Yoon Hyuk Bae¹, Yong Tae Jung¹, Sung Tae Kim¹, Won Hee Lee¹, Yeon Joo Go³

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University
²Department of Nursing, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University
³Department of QI, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University

Abstract

Objectives
A protocol called "critical pathway" was developed to standardize the management of hospital patients the day after they underwent gamma knife radiosurgery. The quality of improvement in patient outcomes was evaluated.
Methods
Critical pathway was developed, according to the regulations of the I hospital, by analyzing the medical records of 22 inpatients who underwent gamma knife surgery within the period from January to April 2011 on the day of the surgery. The study included a group of 22 patients admitted to the hospital the day after they underwent gamma knife radiosurgery, between July and September 2011. The control group included 22 patients who had surgery employing the same method within the period from May to June 2011. To measure the effects on quality improvement, the average length of stay, the execution rate of the hospital discharge notice system, daily hospital revenue, and the satisfaction of the patients and the medical team were assessed. The patient questionnaire employed a four-point Likert scale while the medical-staff questionnaire employed a five-point Likert scale.
Result
The average length of stay was significantly shorter in the study group compared to the control group (2.3 days vs. 3.8 days, P<0.05). The execution rate of the hospital discharge notice system was higher in the study group (100% vs. 72%) than in the control group. Daily hospital revenues were higher by 264,178 Korean won in the study group when compared to the control group. The study group showed greater satisfaction of patients compared to the control group based on a four-point Likert scale (P<0.05). The study group showed greater satisfaction in medical team compared to the control group based on a five-point Likert scale (P<0.05).
Conclusion
The development and implementation of a critical pathway protocol for hospital admission the day after gamma knife radiosurgery is an effective care process that improves the clinical quality.

Key words Critical pathway;Gamma knife radiosurgery;Quality improvement;