Objective: To review the effectiveness of a clinical care pathway on interprofessional collaboration
and quality of health service.
Method:
A
review
was
performed
of
literature
published
from
2000 to
2015, with the following
keywords:
clinical pathway,
care pathway,
and interprofessional collaboration.
Results:
Evidence
depicted
the
positive
results
of nursing
care
for clients,
health
care
professionals
and facilities. The
research results were implemented at different facilities using several
research
designs,
from
descriptive
to
experimental.
A
clinical
pathway
was
used
as
a
tool
in
various
clinical
situations
including
in
emergency,
elective
surgery,
and
pre-post-surgery,
as
well
as
in common
clinical cases. It was
administered
by the health care
professionals
in providing
care,
encompassing
the comprehensive
process
from
diagnosis
to
clinical audit. Health care
professionals
should engage in active collaboration during the implementation of a clinical care
pathway.
In implementing the standard
of
input, process,
and outcome
of
care
to
clients, health
care
professionals should emphasize the
process and outcome of care and eliminate unnecessary
or
inefficient
treatments.
Conclusions:
A
clinical
care
pathway
could
reduce
the
average
length
of stay
for patients,
increase
cost
effectiveness,
and,
consequently,
improve
the
quality
of service.
To
optimize
the
care
process, the pathway should be implemented of multidisciplinary health care team.