Critical pathways are multifunctional, multidisciplinary guidelines developed after several years of collaborative effort by nursing, medical and social work staff for the care of the patients. Once per month 60 minute long sessions were devoted to develop, implement, and examine benefits and the effectiveness of critical pathway by the pediatric residents, attending physicians and subspecialty consultants. Diagnosis specific critical pathways were developed in 1993-1994 and implemented in 1995. Duration of length of stay according to payor status was compared for patients admitted with diagnosis of gastroenteritis before and after the implementation of critical pathway. Data were entered into a computer using Microsoft Excel 4 program and unpaired one tail student t test was used to calculate statistical significance. Conclusion: a prompt initiation of discharge plan which included social service consultation and parent education from the first day of admission reduced LOS significantly for patients with the diagnosis of gastroenteritis resulting in 65.25 days of savings.Table

Table 1
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