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Care pathways: have they a place in ‘the new National Health Service’?
Author(s) -
Charles U. Lowe
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2834.1998.00084.x
Subject(s) - audit , clinical pathway , health care , nursing , process management , service (business) , process (computing) , medicine , psychology , business , public relations , computer science , political science , marketing , accounting , law , operating system
Aim To discuss the use of Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs) as tools for ensuring cost‐effectiveness and high quality patient‐focused care. To examine how electronic pathways combining process, practice and audit might be effectively used by Primary Care Groups as a tool to integrate care within the ‘New National Health Service’. Key issues It has been argued that for doctors pathways lead to ‘cook book medicine’ and for nurses they move practice away from patient‐centred care back to a disease/task‐based model. This article explores the origins of pathways, addresses the concerns of critics and goes on to describe a pathway strategy. Conclusions Pathway development offers the potential to create a coherent plan of care and treatment (across primary/secondary care) which incorporates evidence‐based practice and reduces fragmentation and duplication whilst aiding co‐ordination and communication. The incorporation of clinical indicators and measurable goals ensures the audit process is embedded.