title: Establishing a proper perspective on clinical pathways before implementing a clinical improvement program.
abstract: The presumed stellar characteristics of clinical pathways have grown in unearthly proportions to the extent that our expectations of pathway utilization are unrealistic and unfounded. Therefore, before expectations go unmet and dissatisfaction with clinical pathway outcomes becomes prevalent, we must objectively analyze the clinical pathway phenomenon and understand the origins, elements, and purpose of this clinical improvement technique.
authors.affiliation: Delta Group, Inc., Greenville, SC 29601, USA.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Wooster
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Forthman
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States