title: Making weaning easier. Pathways and protocols that work.
abstract: Clinical pathways and weaning protocols are useful tools for improving the care of patients requiring LTMV. The value of the pathways and protocols rests in large part on the systematic multidisciplinary nature of the tools. Nevertheless, for the pathways and protocols to truly affect outcomes, they must be carefully designed. It is critical that this occurs with the input of experts, and especially in the case of pathways, a seasoned knowledgeable clinician should guide the process. The success of such care delivery models rests with the quality of those who design, test, and revise them. If developed in a careful and thoughtful manner using the best science available, the pathways and protocols may truly be powerful tools for clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, USA. smb4h@virginia.edu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009737:Nursing Records; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*