Stepwise establishment of regional critical pathways for malignancies organized throughout the prefecture, promoting regional medical cooperation system

Abstract

Shiga Cooperative Conference for Cancer Treatment, Regional Cooperation Unit, developed regional medical care cooperation system for malignancies using critical pathways (CPs) in 2010. CPs in Shiga had several characteristics such as comprehensive constitution, escalation of adapted stage of cancers, and proper secretariat function, for smooth introduction among prefecture. CPs were proposed by bottom-up and widespread by top-down manner, referring existing social systems. The initial CPs for five major malignancies in an early stage were equipped with manifested outcomes, variance-sheet, which evolved therapeutic utilities for advanced gastrointestinal, prostatic carcinoma and furthermore, palliative medicine. Secretariat office independently established collective notification of cooperating medical institution, contributing the promotion of CPs and development of medical cooperation for malignancies. The strategic development of CPs played a leading and promoting role in medical care cooperation system for patients of carcinomas.