A CLINICAL PATH FOR ADULT DIABETES

The use of clinical paths for patient care management was explored by this development team as a mechanism to provide consistent, high-quali ty care to hospitalized patients in high-volume, high-risk diagnostic categories. Reviewing the historical aspects and importance of clinica l paths helped expand the team's perspective to incorporate pre- and p osthospitalization phases of patient care into the clinical path being developed. A multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, health edu cators, and dietitians from both inpatient and outpatient departments of Kaiser-Santa Teresa Medical Center in San Jose, California, devised and implemented an Adult Diabetes Mellitus care path. Staff education preceded the implementation of the care paths. Measurements of qualit y indicators showed improvements in patient satisfaction, patient educ ation, patient knowledge, and nutrition assessments.