Discussion: Clinical Pathways And Disease Registries
A Disease Registry is a database for people diagnosed with a particular disease, such as diabetes or hypertension. Hospital Disease Registries are specific to that hospital. Population disease registries are specific to a focused geographical sector such as a city, state, country, etc.
A Clinical Pathway illuminates a potential standard of practice for the care associated with a particular disease. The pathway is a guideline that is used to optimize outcomes. Clinical Pathways are multidisciplinary management tools for evidence-based healthcare delivery protocol optimization targeting a specific disease and expected clinical course. Protocols are also useful tools for facilitating the coordination of care.
Outcomes-based practice (sometimes called outcomes management) involves a combination of teamwork, continuous quality improvement, and process and outcome measurement. Outcomes based data provide the framework for establishing a Clinical Pathway.
Cancer is more likely to occur in men than women. Within the United States the three most common cancers among men are cancer of the prostate, lung, and colon/rectum. It has been observed that approximately 1 in 6 men over their lifetime will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and African American men are two times more likely to die of prostate cancer than their Caucasian or Asian counterparts.
Prostate cancer screening may involve testing the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood level and performing a digital rectal exam (DRE) yearly, beginning at age 50, to men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and have at least a 10-year life expectancy.
Screening may take place starting at age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65). Very early stage screening should take place at age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with several first-degree relatives who had prostate cancer at an early age.)
For this Discussion,
• Identify 2-3 different types of Disease Registries, such as that for prostate cancer, and the benefits and limitations of the Disease Registries chosen.
• What are some of the protocols involved in establishing a Clinical Pathway project for the identified diseases?
• What value is there-clinically and economically-in having health care providers follow Clinical Pathways that have been validated by Outcomes Reports?
• What is the potential liability associated with a provider not following an established Clinical Pathway?
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.