E-PATHWAYS: COMPUTERS AND THE PATIENT'S JOURNEY THROUGH CARE; ED. BY KATHRYN DE LUC

Care pathways are being developed throughout the health service to improve the quality and effectiveness of care. This guide looks at the potential of Information Technology and systems methods for supporting the development, implementation and maintenance of "e-Pathways". Case studies throughout highlight team approaches to facilitation, clinical knowledge management, process analysis and redesign, and computerization - providing insights into how e-Pathways can be used to support high quality patient care. This text requires no prior knowledge of IT systems. The accompanying CD-ROM includes the full text of the book, useful website links, background material and trial process modelling software. Doctors, nurses, managers throughout primary and secondary care and healthcare information technology specialists and suppliers should find this volume of interest. Contributors are Anne Brice, Charles Bruce, Jessica Flower, Paul Frosdick, Nick Gaunt, David Jones, Maxine Jones, Bala Kainth, Louise MacPherson, Shiv Naraynen, Malcolm Oswald, David Rodrick, Susan Short, John Thornbury and Pat Williams. Care Pathways are being developed throughout the health service to improve the quality and effectiveness of care. Are they being developed efficiently and making the most of the latest clinical computing systems? This is the first practical guide on how Information Technology and systems methods can support the development, implementation and maintenance of Care Pathways. Case studies throughout highlight team approaches to facilitation, clinical knowledge management, process analysis and redesign, and computerisation - providing insights into how e-Pathways can be used to support high quality patient care. The information is presented in an easy-to-read style, and requires no prior knowledge of IT systems. Doctors, nurses and managers throughout primary and secondary care, as well as healthcare information technology specialists and suppliers will find this to be essential reading. Care pathways are being developed throughout the health service to track the progress of patients through the system and this guide looks at the potential of IT systems to help organizations and individuals use care pathways to improve the quality and effectiveness of care.