Computerization of Clinical Pathways: A Literature Review and Directions for Future Research

Clinical Pathways (CP) are medical management plans developed to standardize patient treatment activities, optimize resource usage, reduce expenses, and improve the quality of healthcare services. Most CPs currently in use are paper-based documents (i.e., not computerized). CP computerization has been an active research topic since the inception of CP use in hospitals. This literature review research aims to examine studies that focused on CP computerization and offers recommendations for future research in this important research area. Some critical research suggestions include centralizing computerized CPs in Healthcare Information Systems (HIS), CP term standardization using international medical terminology systems, developing a global CP-specific digital coding system, creating a unified CP meta-ontology, developing independent Clinical Pathway Management Systems (CPMS), and supporting CPMSs with machine learning sub-systems.

A Literature Review on Length of Stay Prediction for Stroke Patients using Machine Learning and Statistical Approaches

Hospital length of stay (LOS) is one of the most essential healthcare metrics that reflects the hospital quality of service and helps improve hospital scheduling and management. LOS prediction helps in cost management because patients who remain in hospitals usually do so in hospital units where resources are severely limited. In this study, we reviewed papers on LOS prediction using machine learning and statistical approaches. Our literature review considers research studies that focus on LOS prediction for stroke patients. Some of the surveyed studies revealed that authors reached contradicting conclusions. For example, the age of the patient was considered an important predictor of LOS for stroke patients in some studies, while other studies concluded that age was not a significant factor. Therefore, additional research is required in this domain to further understand the predictors of LOS for stroke patients.