title: A clinical view of pathways of care in disease management.
abstract: Pathways of care define in detail the individual components of treatment for a group of patients. A well written pathway can give rise to consistent care or the highest quality. There are both educational and audit advantages to the approach. Details the means by which groups are selected and the care pathways written. Gives an example of the benefits that can accrue, based on the authors' experience at Ashford Hospital, UK of running a pathway for patients having prostate surgery. The pathways are appreciated by patients, nurses, doctors and managers. Care is improved and costs contained.
authors.affiliation: Ashford Hospital NHS Trust, Ashford, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019091:Critical Pathways; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012308:Risk Management / Q000592:standards; D006113:United Kingdom