title: Implementation of a clinical pathway system in maternal newborn care: a comprehensive documentation system for outcomes management.
abstract: This article describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of an interdisciplinary clinical pathway system for maternal newborn care in a perinatal regional referral institution. Core issues in the design of this system are addressed to promote outcomes management and ongoing performance improvement. A discussion of the implementation follows, illustrating the lessons learned, changes made, and associated evaluation. This clinical pathway system has improved communication and collaboration among all disciplines, enhanced the discharge coordination process, and established protocols available to all members of the health care team.
authors.affiliation: Women's Services, Duke University Health System, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Creely
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Woodland
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gerdes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019985:Benchmarking; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004282:Documentation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008499:Medical Records; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration