The implementation of a fast-track care pathway for hip fracture patients

摘要

Background On April 1, 2007, a clinical pathway for hip fracture patients was introduced at Lund University Hospital, Sweden. In this pathway, the emergency department was bypassed and the patient taken directly to the ward via X-ray. In 2009, a similar pathway was implemented at the nearby Helsingborg County Hospital. Objective The objective was to analyse possible time gains with this new pathway at a university hospital and a county hospital within the same geographical region. Patients and methods Data were retrieved from the Swedish National Hip Fracture Register, patient charts and the X-ray databases. Patients were divided into pathway group (PG) and non-pathway group (NPG). Lead times analysed were—arrival to X-ray, X-ray to surgery, arrival to surgery and total length of stay.Results Between April 1 and December 31, 2007, 367 hip fracture patients were admitted to Lund University Hospital, 118 were PG. There was a time gain for the PG from arrival to X-ray but not in the other lead times.