| [ Summary ] |
A pharmaceutical approach to clinical pathways (CP) was mentioned. CP is a useful tool to promote reasonable and effective medication, and multidisciplinary team practice. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) must be applied to the development of CPs, and pharmacists should recommend reasonable drug use and seek to standardize medications in some CPs. Expenditures for medication have changed in relation to the process of CP development. Especially, the alteration of antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgical site infections has been implemented in our hospital over the last five years. The total amount of antibiotics per inpatient was reduced by half during this period and the total drug cost was also lowered. CPs should be developed by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other medical professionals with the aim of improving the quality of health care. In other words, CP is a tool for total quality management (TQM), and pharmacists must understand the basis of CP. |