IMPACT OF A COLLABORATIVE CARE APPROACH TO RADICAL CYSTECTOMY AND URINARY RECONSTRUCTION

Purpose: We report the results of a collaborative care program that ha s been developed for radical cystectomy and urinary reconstruction. Ma terials and Methods: All patients undergoing surgery after July 1993 w ere placed on a collaborative care pathway and were compared to patien ts undergoing the same procedure before this period. Results: Total ad justed hospital charges decreased from $31,174 to $19,479. Hospital st ay decreased from 12.7 to 10.3 days. There were also decreases in dura tion of surgery, blood loss, intensive care unit use and postoperative morbidity rates. Conclusions: Collaborative care pathways favorably a ffect the cost efficiency of care and provide favorable surgical outco mes.