The transformation in the health care industry, begun over a decade ago, will continue well into the 21st century. And the dominant theme in the new millennium is likely to be collaborative practice and outcomes-based health care delivery. A collection of the most current and innovative presentations in path-based, collaborative practices, this book focuses on the design, implementation and analysis of outcomes for the heavy volume DRGs. For each DRG, the authors present two to three standard clinical pathways, and then show how those pathways can be manipulated to alter outcomes. Health Care Outcomes covers topics in Respiratory, Neonatal/Pediatric, General Surgery, Orthopaedic, and Geriatric Care. A comprehensive collection of critical pathways and outcomes maps being used by leading hospitals and health care agencies around the country, this is an important reference for developing path-based care models, or revising critical paths and outcomes maps.