An evaluation study to assess the consistency of criteria for an integrated care pathway for total hip replacement

Abstract

This paper seeks to highlight that integrated care pathways (ICPs), advocated as a tool to improve patient care and reduce variation in practice, fail to achieve the desired outcome. An evaluation tool was developed based on relevant literature, and 27 pathways from different trusts were reviewed using this tool. Each ICP was evaluated against four themed headings: Quality of care; Multiprofessional working; Patient involvement, and Variation in clinical practice. The evaluation demonstrated that ICPs are in themselves as varied as patient care, and not all they are purported to be.