Basic statistics for clinical pathway evaluation.

Clinical pathways (using accepted benchmark goals) are among the most widespread tools used to enhance outcomes and contain costs within a constrained length of stay (LOS). The author describes the need for selection and use of designated basic statistics in the "definition and evaluation of the impact of clinical pathways in hospitals." The use of both the mean and median data on resource use and LOS information (to evaluate the effectiveness of various clinical pathways) is advised, as the influence of outlier data will thus be revealed. The ultimate goal of such evaluation is the identification of statistics that can be readily "understood by and communicated among providers and consumers of health care services." The correlation of statistical variables such as resource utilization (including ICU stays) and LOS, can reveal patterns not easily seen otherwise.