Standardization of critical pathways for regional stroke care networks in Kanagawa

Abstract

The authors have tried to form the system of the common critical pathways for regional stroke care networks in Kanagawa prefecture. That contributes to improve the system of transferring stroke patients from acute hospitals to rehabilitation ones and the system of performing seamless care going over regional community areas.
We have held the Meeting of Western Kanagawa Stroke Care Network consisted of ten acute hospitals and seven rehabilitation hospitals. 625 critical pathways were used in this network between April 2008 and February 2010. The using rate of our critical pathways was 44%.
The Kanagawa prefectural common critical pathway has just been propelled in the Committee of Kanagawa Seamless Stroke Care Networks. Thirteen regional stroke care network groups in all areas of Kanagawa prefecture have been joinning in this committee. The using rate of this critical pathway in 760 cases admitted to our institute from these network groups was 41.7%.
For the future we would establish a stroke care network from acute hospitals to maintenance hospitals and community support clinics. Our goal should be not a cooperation of hospitals but a regional alliance, and a local conclusion of stroke care.