Integrated care pathway for carotid endarterectomy patients.

ABSTRACT

Modern day health care should incorporate strategies for controlling both the cost and quality of clinical interventions, to ensure that care is evidence based, outcomes are monitored and any areas of poor practice are improved. An integrated care pathway for an area of vascular surgery was devised with these issues in mind. The chosen pathway was for patients undergoing surgery to remove atheromatous plaques from the carotid artery. The evidence base for the interventions detailed in the pathway are given and potential advantages and disadvantages of utilizing care pathways offered. Utilizing this form of structured care, health professionals may be able to ensure cost containment combined with high quality patient care.