What are 'clinical pathways' designed to do?

Clinical pathways are structured multidisciplinary plans that detail the steps in the care of specific clinical problems. These pathways are designed to standardize healthcare processes, ensuring that patients receive consistent and effective treatments based on best practices and evidence-based protocols. By mapping out the necessary interventions, timeframes, and expected outcomes for various conditions, clinical pathways facilitate healthcare professionals in delivering high-quality care efficiently.

They serve various purposes such as improving the coordination among care teams, reducing variations in practice, and enhancing patient outcomes by following a systematic approach. The focus and design of clinical pathways are squarely on the treatment process for defined patient populations facing specific clinical challenges. This targeted nature distinguishes them from other options that do not primarily serve this specific function.