Care pathways

Definition

Care pathways are described variously as integrated care pathways, clinical pathways, critical pathways, care maps, or anticipated recovery pathways.

The following definition comes from the Welsh National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare guide to integrated care pathways published in 2005.

A care pathway is "anticipated care placed in an appropriate time frame, written and agreed by a multidisciplinary team.

It has locally agreed standards based on evidence where available to help a patient with a specific condition or diagnosis move progressively through the clinical experience.

It forms part or all of the clinical record, documenting the care given. It facilitates and demonstrates continuous quality improvement.

It includes patient milestones and clinical interventions noted on the day or stage that they are expected to occur.

It will include all of the following standards or show evidence that it is working towards meeting these standards:

multidisciplinary
single documentation
use exception reporting
variance analysis
patient/user involvement
monitoring of utilisation
cross boundaries
standard format
outcome orientated
built in audit
evidence based."

(National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare 2005, p.8)

Where to find help

European Pathway Association (EPA)
The EPA is "an international network of researchers, managers and clinicians who want to share knowledge on the health management concept of clinical/critical care pathways".

A discussion forum dedicated to care pathways is the official communication channel of the European Pathway Association (E-P-A). Visit EPA on pathways.

Scottish Pathways Association
The Scottish Pathways Association (SPA) (formerly ICPUS - Integrated Care Pathway Users Scotland) is an established network of NHS and partner agency staff from all over Scotland, who are using Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs) in many different clinical areas. SPA aims to be aware of what ICPs have been, or are being, developed in Scotland and the UK and be a point of contact for help in Scotland with care pathways. The website includes a discussion forum.

A workbook on integrated care pathways was published by ICPUS in 2007. The workbook aims to provide a knowledge and understanding of the skills and processes required to successfully develop ICPs and is made available on the Scottish Pathways Association website. Download: A workbook for people starting to develop integrated care pathways (PDF 1.15MB) [See how to access PDF files].