Clinical Pathways

Paper Summary:

This research examines clinical pathways which chart and document the care and expected outcomes of care for patients. It evaluates how clinical pathways represent a procedure in contemporary healthcare with a potential to both improve the quality of care and reduce the cost of care. A focus is placed on clinical nurse specialists who are well positioned to play critical roles in their use.

Outline
Introduction
Overview of Clinical Pathways and their Purpose
Clinical Pathways as Multi-Disciplinary Documents
Specific Statements and Flexible Application
The Development of Clinical Pathways
Resistance to Collaboration in the Development of Clinical Pathways
Clinical Pathways and Diagnosis Groups
Consensus Development
Dealing with the Resistance through the Application of Change Theory
Clinical Ethics by CNSs in the Application of Change Theory to Improve Collaboration in the Development of Clinical Pathways
Practicing Patient Advocacy by CNSs in the Application of Change Theory to Improve Collaboration
The Implementation of Clinical Pathways
Clinical Pathways and Holistic Care
Clinical Nurse Specialists as Case Managers in the Implementation of Clinical Pathways
Conclusion
References

From the Paper:

"Important in the definition of clinical ethics is an emphasis on clinicians, not only physicians, thus underscoring the fact that clinical ethics needs to be a multi-disciplinary endeavor that encompasses the range of clinician expertise involved in patient care. The central goal must be the resolution of ethical dilemmas through a process that promotes cooperation and collaboration among those parties involved. Clinical ethics holds that, while the traditional patient-centered approach is dominant, there is a need for the pragmatic acknowledgment that decisions about patient care take place in a context that of necessity involves the interests of others, such as institutions, families, and caregivers."

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