Utilization & Characteristics Of Inpatient Pediatric Asthma Pathways In The United States

Introduction Asthma is the second most common cause of pediatric hospitalizations in the United States, and has been the primary focus of efforts to measure quality of care in pediatrics. Clinical pathways are structured, multidisciplinary, detailed care plans for patients with a specific clinical problem-- they link evidence to practice to optimize patient outcomes and delivery efficiency. In controlled trials, pathways reduce inappropriate variation in care and improve outcomes for children hospitalized for with asthma. However, pathways require substantial commitment of resources towards development, implementation, and …