Map of Medicine is constantly transforming the way disparate information is brought together into a single source of best practice. In February, the Map will be launching the first set of our new look pathways. These will be the first pathways that have been created using the latest editorial methodology.
The new look pathways have a number of core elements. Each pathway begins with three nodes:
- 'Background information', which includes the scope of the pathway
- 'Information resources for patients', which includes information for patients, their family, and carers
- 'Updates to this pathway', which describes major changes in this new version of the pathway
As these nodes will always be present at the top of each page of the pathway, they serve as a resource that is easy to refer to, assisting clinicians in both the primary and secondary care settings. Through the 'Information resources for patients' node, we assist the clinician in providing patients and families with information about how to understand and deal with their condition, and the availability of support groups.
The main pathway flow now begins with the clinical presentation for the condition, the patient history to be taken and the examinations to be conducted.
Another new feature is the 'red flag' node. These are used to highlight and indicate to a clinician the seriousness of issues requiring urgent attention, or to describe warning signs requiring special attention, therefore always ensuring that the most serious diagnosis is considered, or ruled out as early as possible.
We have also changed the way that we cite our evidence sources, and now attribute every sentence in the quick info text to the specific source that the information comes from.
These unique features will provide clinicians with reliable, valuable guidance through every decision-making step of a patient's journey.
Over the next year, pathways on the Map will start to move to this new look.
Related news articles:
- Map of Medicine's Profile
About Map of Medicine
Map of Medicine is a visual representation of evidence-based, practice-informed pathways. A key tool for clinically-led service improvement programmes, the Map has been shown to improve patient outcomes and lower healthcare delivery costs. For more information, please visit www.mapofmedicine.com.