Implementing clinical pathways: one agency's experience.

The shift to managed care is forcing home health agencies to evaluate their methods of service delivery and documentation. Managed-care organizations are demanding that agencies demonstrate that they can provide cost-effective, quality services within a specified period. The outcomes of care, per visit or per admission, represent the indicators of whether these demands are being met. Many home health agencies are turning to clinical pathways to delineate their services and strengthen their documentation. This article provides a description of one agency's experience in implementing clinical pathways.