What’s a “Clinical Pathway?”

A clinical pathway is a written process that guides the healthcare team in providing care to patients with a specific condition. Pathways in primary care often include medical, behavioral and educational interventions. Usually a pathway will address the following questions:

1. How to identify people who are at risk or who might have the condition? For example, by using a specific screening survey.
2. How to assess patients who are identified as at risk? For example, defining what lab tests and/or patient history should be obtained.
3. What medical treatment and diagnostic procedures are offered?
4. How is progress measured? For example, by lab values, vital signs or by the patient’s behavior change.
5. What education is provided to the patients and/or family members?
6. How are the patients assisted in their self-care? For example, patients are assisted in setting goals for their diet or physical activity.
7. How to keep track of how the whole population of patients with the conditions are doing under our care and how do we recall patients who need services?

Because pathways are often implemented as part of the flow of work in a busy primary care practice it can be important that they be as simple as possible, that the forms and tools needed are readily available and that the staff receives adequate training and support in integrating the pathway with their other care activities. Pathways often allow for care tasks to be delegated from medical providers to other members of the care team by the use of standing orders. In addition, pathways can help to assure that medical providers have all the information that they need to maximize the effectiveness of the patient visit.

Chronic Pain Management Clinical Pathway – Procedure Guide
March 20, 2008
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Clinical Pathway: ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER
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