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Pathway Audits

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

Key questions/Programme aims

What questions will identify if the programme is achieving its aims?

Outcomes/Programme logic

What difference do we aim to make? 

What do we expect to achieve? 

Who will benefit?

Indicators

How will we know if progress is tracking well? 

What changes will we look for? 

What indicators will help answer our key questions?

Methods/Data sources

What data will we collect and how?

Does the pathway conform with current best clinical practice?

  • Latest guidelines
  • National/state health priorities
  • Locally accepted best practice
  • 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
  • Pathway-dependent
  • Audit the pathway for:
    • Clinical quality
    • Referral accuracy
  • Review feedback
  • Pathway audits:
    • Clinical audits
    • Referral options
  • Feedback:
    • SMEs/CEs
    • CWGs
    • Clinicians
    • HP programme team
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
  • Review quality control processes and documentation
  • Review feedback
  • HP programme team documentation
  • Feedback:
    • SMEs/CEs
    • CWGs
    • HP programme team

Does the pathway support collaborative practice across the wider health system?

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary care
  • NGOs
  • Identify improved relationships through the collaborative development process of HP
  • Promote better integration of services between health systems
  • Identify barriers
  • Identify possible improvements   
  • Pathway-dependent
  • Review feedback
  • Feedback:
    • SMEs/CEs
    • CWGs
    • Clinicians
    • NGOs
    • HP programme team

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
  • Identify the wider benefits of the pathway
  • Pathway-dependent
  • Pathway-dependent

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
Identify referral options in the pathway
  • Has patient access to specialist care improved?
  • Has the patient journey improved?
  • Pathway-dependent
  • Review feedback
  • Pathway audits of referral options
  • Feedback:
    • GPs
    • Specialists
    • Allied health
    • Hospitals
    • SMEs/CEs

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
  • Identify patient information in the pathway
  • Solicit patient perspectives
  • Pathway-dependent
  • Review feedback
  • Pathway audits of patient information
  • Feedback from patient experience units