The changing healthcare environment, particularly
the increased penetration of managed care
and capitated reimbursement, provides an impetus
to develop new patient care delivery models.
Unquestionably, hospitalization produces great impact
on healthcare costs. These costs increase, in
part, because of our use of advanced technology
and specialized medical and nursing services. Clinical
care pathways and case management are strategies
utilized by increasing numbers of hospitals
to meet the challenges of capitated reimbursement
and managed care. These tools and systems have
great potential for use by nurse anesthetists in ensuring
high-quality anesthesia care is delivered in
a cost-effective manner. The ability to demonstrate
cost and quality will be the key to survival of practitioners
and hospitals in the evolving healthcare
environment.