title: Care pathway initiative for people with intellectual disabilities: impact evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve the integrated care of individuals with learning disabilities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  We report on the evaluation of a care pathway initiative in learning disability services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three separate care pathways were developed and implemented as part of a pilot project. Improvements in parameters were independently verified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Service providers and people with learning disabilities welcomed the introduction of care pathways into their services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the introduction of care pathways leads to increased communication within services, greater satisfaction and improved outcomes. These gains were achieved without an increase in resources.
authors: Arden Vale, Meriden, West Midlands, UK. drfahmad@msn.com
authors: Farooq
authors: F
authors: Ahmad
authors: Ashok
authors: A
authors: Roy
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Brady
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Belgeonne
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Dunn
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Pitts
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D004739:England; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications; D006302:Health Services Research; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration