Continuum-focused CHF path cuts LOS to four days.

Evanston (IL) Hospital's continuum-focused clinical pathway for congestive heart failure (CHF) has racked up some impressive numbers since its implementation in 1995: Length of stay has dropped from 6.2 days to four days--three less than the national average--while direct treatment costs have dropped by 60%. At the same time, the 30-day readmission rate has fallen from 19% to only 2.6%. Case managers at Evanston attribute much of the pathway's success to its ability to quickly mobilize team members and allow them efficient access to necessary resources. The drop in 30-day readmissions has resulted from Evanston's automated tele-management program, which allows CHF patients to phone in their daily weights and answer questions related to their current health status.