Successes and Challenges in the Implementation of Care Pathways in an Intellectual Disability Service: Health Professionals' Experiences

Abstract

Health care pathways are a relatively new approach to delivering care in intellectual disability services. This study aimed to ascertain and explore successes and challenges in the implementation of care pathways in a National Health Service (NHS) adult intellectual disability service in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. Data were obtained from a variety of sources including observations of multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, issue logs and feedback from health professionals. Constant comparative analysis identified 10 themes; communication between health professionals; clarity and dissemination of relevant documentation; multidisciplinary working; role of health professionals; role of administrative staff; locality differences; information technology systems, care pathway procedures, attitudes towards care pathways and impact on patients. Successes and challenges in the implementation of care pathways and of health service changes more generally are discussed.

Improving services for people with learning disabilities and dementia: Findings from a service evaluation exploring the perspectives of health and social care professionals

“…The findings show that dementia screening and pathways have become embedded within practice, providing health and social care professionals with a common framework and facilitating a co‐ordinated, efficient, multidisciplinary approach. This reflects findings from other adult learning disability services in the United Kingdom that introducing care pathways improves communication and information‐gathering, strengthens multidisciplinary working, leads to more co‐ordinated, standardised care and reduces duplication, benefiting clients (Ahmad et al., ; Wood et al., ). In the wider research literature, concerns about care pathways surround: restricting the ability to apply clinical judgement; stifling innovation and progress; and the need for leadership, good communication and time to implement pathways.…”

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with intellectual disability admitted to a specialist inpatient rehabilitation service

“…This service is integral to a tiered model of forensic ID provision (Devapriam and Alexander, 2012) that was developed as part of a wider clinical care pathway project (Wood et al, 2014). In order to successfully introduce the service, a mapping exercise was conducted to evaluate whether there were any skill gaps within the workforce.…”

Inter-Professional Collaborative Care: A Way to Enhance Services for Adults with Intellectual Disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mental Health Problems

“…The team mission, goals and guidelines for working together were outlined as part of this charter and a commitment from all members was sought. Wood et al [13], in studying the implementation of care pathways in an intellectual disability service, concluded that leadership plays an important role in guiding and supporting service delivery and managing staff reactions to change.…”