Development of regimens and critical paths for chemotherapy corresponding to Diagnosis　Procedure Complex and all medical orders using new electronic medical recording system

−Case report in regard to acute myeloid leukemia−

Abstract

Critical paths are useful not only as a tool to improve the quality of medical care but also to reduce the work related burden for physicians and to manage medical costs under the reimbursement system of diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) in Japan. Using the medical record system EGMAIN-GX by Fujitsu, we introduced order-linked critical paths and regimens for cancer chemotherapy. After the introduction and compared to the formerly used paper-path that made using Excel (Microsoft) the time physicians spent on ordering was sufficiently reduced and assumingly the risk of medical errors decreased as well. Comparing the costs to income in DPC from before and after the introduction of the new system, the management of medical costs became easier. The new system definitely reduces the work related burden of physicians and improves the quality of medical treatment.