 Critical
Pathways
Critical pathways are multidisciplinary tools which focus on specific
patient populations and provide an outline of the patients' expected
course. They are outcomes focused, allowing for documentation by exception
through variance recording, and in turn enabling variance analysis.
This variance analysis provides valuable data and can assist in continuous
quality improvement activities.
Potential benefits of critical pathways include improved clinical
outcomes, improved collaboration and communication between health
professionals, decreased resource utilisation and decreased costs.
ACA is involved in the development of critical pathways that extend
from the inpatient setting to the community or home base of the
patient when they are discharged from hospital.
ACA is a resource for services wishing to develop critical pathways
and has coordinated educational workshops for rural HITH programs
in the past.
ACA conducted a survey on Critical Pathways in the Australian Healthcare
system. This project was undertaken in order to establish an understanding
of the existence and utilisation of critical pathways across Australian
health care settings, including acute home care (eg. Hospital in
the Home) and the experiences and issues surrounding pathway development,
use and evaluation. The specific objectives of the survey were to:
- examine what critical pathways are currently used, and expected
to be used in the future,
- examine variance management strategies and the issues surrounding
variance management,
- establish the existence of, and analyse the use of, critical
pathways related software, and
- determine and analyse any further issues surrounding the development
of critical pathways in the Australian Healthcare system.
Survey forms were distributed to all public and private hospitals
in Australia and a district nursing representative from each state
or territory.
Critical Pathways Survey  (Word File 121KB)
For more information regarding criticial pathway development contact
Kaylene Fiddes on (03)9076 6964 or via email at k.fiddes@alfred.org.au
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