The Use of Clinical Pathways in Emergency Departments: A Scoping Review

Clinical pathways (CPWs) are evidence-based, standardised, clinical management plans that are designed to deliver a sequence of clinical interventions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare. The aim of this study was to identify and summarise the current available evidence on the use of CPWs in emergency departments (EDs).

A literature search was conducted in Scopus, Embase, Emcare, and PubMed academic databases. The search strategy was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework and results reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. Studies were included if they reported empirical data either qualitatively or quantitatively, studied the use of CPW practices, and reported on the use of at least one CPW activity.

Sixty-four articles were eligible for the scoping review. Variation and quality of treatment, resource utilisation and time to treatment were identified as the three main patient and organisational outcomes from the use of CPWs. Three main categories of barriers to use were identified: Organisational environment factors, Healthcare professional-related factors, and CPW operational issues.

CPW implementation has wide positive patient and organisational outcomes in the ED. Whilst no single strategy would result in implementing CPWs in the ED settings successfully, broad engagement with clinicians of all disciplines who use the pathways and involvement of multidisciplinary teams in implementation is vital to increase visibility of the CPW.