title: Educational care path for the endoscopic patient.
abstract: Complex healthcare systems make it increasingly difficult for healthcare providers to coordinate patient care throughout the healthcare continuum. In order for patients to actively participate in their care, we need to develop tools that include them in this process. Our Short Stay (endoscopy) staff observed that pre-procedure patient teaching materials from area physician offices did not reflect consistent information. After meeting with several physicians and their office staff, our unit decided to use a Care Path tool designed for healthcare providers and adapt relevant areas for patients' use. Keeping in mind that patient satisfaction is an important focus for healthcare facilities, we successfully redesigned our unit's informational pamphlet into an educational tool resembling a Care Path to be used by our patients in their preparation and education for an endoscopic procedure.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Services, Kootenai Medical Center, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 2003 Lincoln Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814, USA. lterry@kmcmail.kmc.org
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terry
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects