A clinical pathway/guideline is a tool that helps healthcare providers to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and standardized care for a specific condition or population12.
The main goal of aclinical pathway/guideline is to improve the quality and consistency of care, reduce unnecessary variations, optimize outcomes, and enhance patient satisfaction123.
A clinical pathway/guideline is not meant to assist in documentation of care (option A), although it may include documentation requirements as part of the quality improvement process1.
A clinical pathway/guideline is not meant to document practitioner variances (option B), although it may allow for deviations from the recommended care based on individual patient needs and preferences, clinical judgment, and resource availability12. Variances should be monitored and evaluated for their impact on outcomes and quality1.
A clinical pathway/guideline is not meant to ensure precise treatment plans are followed (option D), although it may provide recommendations for specific interventions, tests, or medications based on the best available evidence12. A clinical pathway/guideline should be flexible and adaptable to the local context and the patient’s situation12. References: 1: Clinical Pathways 2: NICE clinical guidelines 3: Clinical Practice Guidelines
