What are some of the ways the Care Guidelines can be used to reduce waste and improve a patient’s health status?

The Care Guidelines are used as tools in medical decision-making for a patient at home, in a doctor’s office, in a hospital or at another care facility. Inpatient and Surgical Care begins by describing the training and treatment a patient scheduled to enter a hospital receives, prior to admission.

Once the patient is admitted, the Care Guidelines help track day-to-day progress. Care managers are able to identify omissions in treatment and bring them to the attention of the attending physician, as well as plan for the next step in care and prepare for discharge. In this way, the Care Guidelines function much like a safety checklist.

As part of the healthcare delivery process, the Care Guidelines are also used to coordinate care with other disciplines, such as ambulatory case management and disease management. This approach is important in making the patient’s transition from a hospital setting to another level of care in a safe and effective manner.

Most importantly, the Care Guidelines can be used by hospital staff and physician groups to examine their own processes and performance, as they seek ways to improve what they do. These and many other uses contribute to reducing waste and improving the quality of healthcare a patient receives.