title: Care pathways. Paving the way.
abstract: Care pathways are most commonly used in acute trusts and private hospitals, according to a survey by the National Pathway Association. Orthopaedics is the specialty most likely to employ pathways, followed by surgery, medicine and care of elderly people. A third of respondents found the tool helped control costs, but a similar number found it did not. Setting and implementing standards of care and improving communication between staff are the most commonly reported benefits of using care pathways.
authors.affiliation: Kidderminster Health Care Trust, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013038:Specialization; D013222:State Medicine / Q000592:standards; D006113:United Kingdom