Outcomes of a Clinical Pathway for Pleural Disease Management: “Pleural Pathway”
Table 2
Outcomes data for inpatient pleural care (DRG codes) during the two eras: “prior to pathway” versus “pathway.”
Pleural condition
Inpatient admissions in prior to pathway era
Inpatient admissions during pathway era
Average LOS in prior to pathway era (days)
Average LOS during pathway era (days)
Average case charges in prior to pathway era ($)
Average case charges during pathway era ($)
Pleural effusion with MCC¥ & CC∞
4
3
3.00
3.00
22,884.7
17,092
Pleural effusion without MCC¥ & CC∞
3
3
2.67
2.67
12,874.3
24,081.6
Pneumothorax with MCC¥
3
0
5.67
0
36,637.3
0
Pneumothorax with CC∞
5
2
2.80
3.00
18,706.6
14,277.5
Pneumothorax without CC∞ & MCC¥
2
1
5.50
2.00
17,967
11,563
Overall pleural conditions
17
9
3.65
2.78
21,737
18,818.2
MCC: major complications/comorbid conditions such as congestive heart failure, stroke, coma, acute MI, HIV, acute respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. CC: complications/comorbid conditions such as angina, delirium, dementia, anemia, cachexia, and COPD with exacerbation.
