Impact of a collaborative care approach to radical cystectomy and urinary reconstruction.

Abstract

We report the results of a collaborative care program that has been developed for radical cystectomy and urinary reconstruction. All patients undergoing surgery after July 1993 were placed on a collaborative care pathway and were compared to patients undergoing the same procedure before this period. Total adjusted hospital charges decreased from $31,174 to $19,479. Hospital stay decreased from 12.7 to 10.3 days. There were also decreases in duration of surgery, blood loss, intensive care unit use and postoperative morbidity rates. Collaborative care pathways favorably affect the cost efficiency of care and provide favorable surgical outcomes.