Abstract

JULIA, J. et al. Clinical management in a vascular surgery unit: Results of the application of a clinical practice protocol. Gac Sanit [online]. 2003, vol.17, n.5, pp.430-432. ISSN 0213-9111.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of clinical management on quality indicators in a vascular surgery unit over a 10-year period. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of quality indicators from 1990 to 2001 and of the influence of a clinical practice protocol and standards of quality on these indicators. Results: Comparison of both periods revealed improvement in all the quality indicators. The safety of surgical procedures was unaffected by the application of management protocols and clinical pathways. Conclusions: Clinical management based on the cost-quality binomial can ensure the efficiency of a hospital unit without adversely affecting quality of care. Quality standards based on hospital resource use, morbidity and mortality can be defined for groups of procedures.

Keywords : Clinical practice protocols; Clinical management; Health indicators; Cost-quality.

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