Sjúkraferli

Sjúkraferli is the structured, coordinated sequence of clinical activities designed to manage a patient through the course of illness or a medical condition. It aims to translate guidelines and evidence into consistent care by defined steps, roles, and timelines from first contact through diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up.

Typically, a sjúkraferli includes access and triage, assessment and diagnosis, the treatment plan, care coordination among professionals, monitoring and adjustments, discharge planning, and follow-up or rehabilitation. The path is often disease-specific (for example, pathways for stroke, chest pain, cancer) or setting-specific (emergency department, hospital ward, primary care). It relies on standardized protocols, multidisciplinary teams, patient education, and information systems to ensure continuity and reduce variability.

Benefits of sjúkraferli include improved safety, outcomes, and patient experience; increased efficiency and equity; and facilitation of measurement and quality improvement. It provides a framework for predictable care and better resource use, while enabling benchmarking and ongoing improvement.

Challenges can arise when rigid adherence to a pathway limits individualized care or when local contexts require adaptation. Successful implementation depends on robust data collection, information technology, governance, staff training, and ongoing evaluation to balance standardization with patient-centered decision-making.

In Icelandic health care, the term is used to discuss the overall care process and the implementation of standardized pathways within hospitals and clinics, in alignment with national guidelines. Examples are care pathways for acute conditions, chronic disease management, and rehabilitation programs.