Integrated care pathways: pathways to change in health care?
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that, if teams in healthcare focus on the patient using the framework of a care pathway, change can occur without the overt need to “manage” it directly.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper the relevant literature is reviewed and it is demonstrated that if this approach is used it also provides a means for addressing difficult professional and organisational issues that are often unresolved in broader projects of organisational change. This is not presented as a panacea or the solution to all change projects, rather the contention here is that it is one means among many that can be used to bring about important changes in practice.
Findings
The paper finds that care pathways represent a useful tool, which teams can use to work through the contextual and practical issues involved in changing practice.
Originality/value
The paper describes the development of integrated care pathways, which can be regarded as a fortunate fusion of managerial and professional concerns.
Keywords
Citation
Whittle, C. and Hewison, A. (2007), "Integrated care pathways: pathways to change in health care?", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 297-306. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777260710751753
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited