NAHQ CPHQ Practice Exam

The use of clinical pathways and guidelines in hospitals should

1. identify errors in patient care.

2. improve patient satisfaction.

3. minimize variation in patient care.

4. reduce length of stay.

The correct answer is: minimize variation in patient care.

Clinical pathways and guidelines in hospitals are designed to standardize patient care processes, ensuring that all patients receive the same level of high-quality care. By minimizing variation in patient care, hospitals can improve patient outcomes, reduce the likelihood of errors, enhance overall quality of care, and increase efficiency in healthcare delivery. This standardization also helps healthcare providers work more cohesively as a team, leading to better coordination of care and ultimately improving patient safety and outcomes.