Implementation of liaison critical pathway for cerebral stroke in the Kawaguchi region

Abstract

In order to efficiently develop a regional medical cooperation, a local communal stroke network is important. Not only does it give more opportunities for communication between various medical staff regarding medical services for cerebral stroke, the introduction of the new system is also much easier. The Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital, located in Kawaguchi-city in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, is the hub for the regional medical care zone. In February 2008 the regional liaison critical pathway for cerebral stroke (for medical staff) was introduced at the Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital and since April 2008 in most other areas of Saitama Prefecture. Including the Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital, there are currently four acute phase hospitals in the Kawaguchi area, all of which differ in implementation and operational issues in regard to the critical pathway for cerebral stroke. The Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital was chosen for this study on operational issues and this study conducted over the year from April 2008 to March 2009. The study suggested several challenges to be solved; it was difficult to implement critical pathways in clinics and chronic care hospitals, which provided supportive care under the present system, and it was difficult to get the consensus at the meetings held three times a year since the number of participants increased.