Laval – October 12, 2026 -- A six-month pilot of a standardized cirrhosis clinical pathway raised follow-up office visit adherence by 9.0% in relative terms, to 51.1% from 46.9%, across 4,251 patients in five community gastroenterology practices, Bausch Health Companies Inc. and its GI unit Salix Pharmaceuticals announced.
The results will be presented as a poster at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting & Postgraduate Course, held October 9-14, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. The companies describe the findings as preliminary until presented and evaluated in peer-reviewed publications.
Pilot tracked five performance indicators in community practices
The study, titled "Development and Implementation of a Cirrhosis Clinical Pathway: Outcomes of a 6-Month Pilot Study," tested a multidisciplinary pathway designed to reduce variability in cirrhosis care. Investigators built the pathway from current clinical guidelines and evidence-based practices, with input from academic and community-based providers.
Using population health analytics, they monitored adherence to five key performance indicators: follow-up office visits, laboratory testing, nonselective beta-blocker use in patients with varices, hepatic encephalopathy treatment, and enrollment in chronic care management programs.
Office visits and care management enrollment post the largest relative gains
- Office visit adherence rose from 46.9% to 51.1%, a 9.0% relative improvement.
- Recommended laboratory monitoring rose from 61.5% to 63.5%, a 3.2% relative improvement.
- Non-selective beta-blocker treatment among patients with varices rose from 47.2% to 48.8%, a 3.4% relative improvement.
- Medication treatment to reduce hepatic encephalopathy recurrence rose from 60.2% to 64.9%, a 7.8% relative improvement.
- Enrollment in chronic care management/principal care management programs rose from 11.7% to 12.8%, a 9.4% relative improvement.
Absolute levels stayed below 65% on every metric, and chronic care management enrollment remained near 13%.
Cardinal Health analytics platform identified care gaps
The study used the Cardinal Health PPS Analytics platform to identify gaps in care and track adherence to predefined pathway benchmarks. Investigators concluded that the pathway, supported by population health analytics, was feasible in community practice and improved adherence to guideline-based monitoring and treatment recommendations. They believe the approach may serve as a scalable model for community cirrhosis management.
Principal investigator Peng-Sheng (Brian) Ting, MD, said broader adoption of proven care pathways may help close care gaps as the burden of liver disease grows.