title: Critical Path education: necessary components and effective strategies.
abstract: Proper use of Critical Paths based on a solid educational foundation aids caregivers in meeting the ultimate challenge of today's healthcare environment: to provide a higher quality of care at a lower cost. The components for a comprehensive educational program for Critical Paths include general principles, Path contents, Path development, guidelines for documentation, variance data collection and evaluation. A strategy to provide large numbers of staff with background information is through the use of self-learning packets; the case study approach is an appropriate strategy for Path specific education. Evaluation data indicate that both strategies are effective in assisting staff to develop and implement Critical Paths.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing Education and Research, Hartford Hospital, Connecticut 06102-5037, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aronson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maljanian
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011380:Programmed Instructions as Topic