Critical pathways for smaller hospitals in rural areas.

Critical pathways, developed for utilisation in the health sector, are tools that are increasingly being used to implement co-ordinated patient care. The introduction of critical pathways results in planned progress through an episode of care, whilst optimising health outcomes and minimising resource utilisation. The advantages of implementing critical pathways are increasingly evident, with reports of increased co-ordination of activities, minimum delays in the provision of care, enhanced interdisciplinary communication, enhanced communication with clients, improved discharge planning processes and the implementation of a continuous quality improvement process (Pearson et al, 1995, p941-948).