title: Care maps across the continuum.
abstract: As hospital length of stay decreases and care shifts to the community, there is a need to develop approaches to ensure uniformity and continuity of care in patient groups. Care maps, multidisciplinary standards that outline the processes of care and expected outcomes within predetermined timeframes, can support a continuum of care from preadmission through hospital stay to discharge from community-based home care by clearly delineating standards across the entire episode of care. However, the development of successful care maps requires extensive collaboration, planning and evaluation.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raiwet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halliwell
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andruski
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000451:nursing*; D012041:Regional Medical Programs