Health resource utilization and quality of life outcomes of low-risk coronary artery bypass graft patients: a comparison study.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), undertaken because of a decline in quality of life (QOL), is known to decrease morbidity and mortality, but it is expensive. At University Campus, London Health Science Centre, (UC-LHSC), a clinical path for CABG patients categorized as low-risk by UC-LHSC was developed to decrease the costs of CABG surgery through a shortened hospital stay while maintaining quality of patient care. The purpose of this research was to compare traditional care of the CABG patient with the care of those on the Clinical Path for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients on health resource utilization (HRU) and QOL outcomes 6 to 12 months post surgical discharge. The results of this study showed that while the experimental group made significantly more emergency department visits than did the control group, the groups did not differ on the health resource utilization categories of extra office visits, home care, or hospital admission. It was also found that within the experimental (Clinical Path) group there were significantly fewer extra office or clinic visits required by the subjects who received the Preadmission Program than by the participants who did not receive this program. No differences were found in quality of life 6 months after CABG surgery between low-risk patients receiving traditional care and those patients on the CABG Clinical Path. Results of this study have increased understanding of the impact of a shorter hospital stay upon CABG patients and on the health care system.