BMC Health Serv Res. 2026 May 9. doi: 10.1186/s12913-026-14617-9. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Clinical pathways are increasingly adopted to control costs and enhance quality management, becoming a standardized approach in treatment. This study aims to develop a hospital-specific clinical pathway for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) surgery based on national standards and actual treatment practices, and evaluate its service efficiency through simulation.
METHODS: We analyzed 94 electronic medical records of NSCLC surgeries performed between May 2020 and November 2022, evaluating the need for localization by statistically examining treatment process delays. A Time Petri Net model was established for this pathway, with simulations conducted to measure post-implementation changes in hospital length of stay (LOS).
RESULTS: The hospital’s existing processes were generally consistent with national standards. Validation of the Time Petri Net model confirmed its effectiveness. Simulation results showed that the average LOS was reduced from a baseline of 8.20 days to 7.76 days, saving a total of ~ 10.28 h (individual diagnostic/treatment processes were shortened by 0.15-5.04 h).
CONCLUSION: Implementing this tailored clinical pathway significantly improved service efficiency by aligning it with national guidelines, enabling better integration and optimization of medical resources while improving overall clinical pathway management quality.
PMID:42106790 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-026-14617-9
