carepathway

Care pathway, sometimes written as carepathway in branding or database contexts, is a structured, multidisciplinary plan that outlines the essential steps in the care of patients with a specific condition or in a defined clinical scenario. It maps the patient journey from initial assessment through treatment, discharge, and follow-up, detailing the sequencing and timing of interventions, tests, medications, education, and goals of care, and identifies the team members responsible across care settings.

The primary aim of a care pathway is to standardize evidence-based practices to reduce unwarranted variation, improve patient safety and outcomes, and coordinate care across departments and settings. By aligning activities with clinical guidelines and local resources, pathways seek to optimize resource use, communication, and continuity of care.

Components typically include the target patient group, defined care phases with timeframes, recommended assessments and treatments, discharge criteria, patient education and self-management goals, and documentation requirements to track progress and outcomes. Development is usually driven by multidisciplinary teams and informed by guidelines, local expertise, and feasibility; pathways are often piloted and periodically updated to reflect new evidence and changing resources. Implementation commonly relies on electronic health records or care-management tools to support decision-making and data collection.

Care pathways are related to clinical guidelines but emphasize the concrete patient journey and cross-setting coordination. Integrated care pathways, in particular, focus on continuity of care across settings and providers. Benefits reported include higher adherence to evidence-based practices, shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, reduced variation, and improved patient experience, though challenges include balancing standardization with individualized care, clinician buy-in, updating content, and data management.

Common applications include surgical pathways (such as orthopedic procedures), stroke rehabilitation, and chronic disease management.