Pathway audits focus on the quality of an individual pathway or a suite of pathways. This framework focuses on:
- clinical quality.
- processes for maintaining clinical quality.
- referral accuracy and options.
- patient information and options.
Due to the varied nature of pathways, the indicators may depend on the specific pathway audited.
Key questions or programme aims
Pathway Audits
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Key questions/Programme aims
What questions will identify if the programme is achieving its aims?
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Outcomes/Programme logic
What difference do we aim to make?
What do we expect to achieve?
Who will benefit?
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Indicators
How will we know if progress is tracking well?
What changes will we look for?
What indicators will help answer our key questions?
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Methods/Data sources
What data will we collect and how?
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Does the pathway conform with current best clinical practice?
- Latest guidelines
- National/state health priorities
- Locally accepted best practice
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- Identify if the pathway is clinically accurate and up to date:
- Reflects best practice and local agreement
- Contains accurate local referral information
- Log all issues being addressed via HP team/SME negotiation or CWG process
- Identify barriers and possible improvements
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- Pathway-dependent
- Audit the pathway for:
- Clinical quality
- Referral accuracy
- Review feedback
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- Pathway audits:
- Clinical audits
- Referral options
- Feedback:
- SMEs/CEs
- CWGs
- Clinicians
- HP programme team
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| Are quality control measures in place to ensure the pathway is well maintained? |
- Pathways are reviewed in collaboration with SMEs, CEs, and clinical leads
- Pathways are reviewed as scheduled
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- Review quality control processes and documentation
- Review feedback
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- HP programme team documentation
- Feedback:
- SMEs/CEs
- CWGs
- HP programme team
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Does the pathway support collaborative practice across the wider health system?
- Primary
- Secondary
- Tertiary care
- NGOs
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- Identify improved relationships through the collaborative development process of HP
- Promote better integration of services between health systems
- Identify barriers
- Identify possible improvements
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- Pathway-dependent
- Review feedback
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- Feedback:
- SMEs/CEs
- CWGs
- Clinicians
- NGOs
- HP programme team
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How does the pathway support and contribute to the quadruple aim of health care of improved:
- Patient experience
- Efficiency
- Population health outcomes
- Health care provider experience
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- Identify the wider benefits of the pathway
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Are the referral options inclusive and do they reflect all options?
Where appropriate, does it support:
- Vulnerable populations
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI)
- Māori
- Pacific peoples
- Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
- People with disabilities
- LGBTIQ
- Different age groups
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Identify referral options in the pathway
- Has patient access to specialist care improved?
- Has the patient journey improved?
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- Pathway-dependent
- Review feedback
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- Pathway audits of referral options
- Feedback:
- GPs
- Specialists
- Allied health
- Hospitals
- SMEs/CEs
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Is the patient information inclusive?
Where appropriate, does it support:
- Vulnerable populations
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI)
- Māori
- Pacific peoples
- Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
- People with disabilities
- LGBTIQ
- Different age groups
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- Identify patient information in the pathway
- Solicit patient perspectives
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- Pathway-dependent
- Review feedback
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- Pathway audits of patient information
- Feedback from patient experience units
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