NICE launches new web tool pooling guidance on 18 specific health topics
THE National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has launched a new web tool for clinicians that pools guidance on specific health topics.
NICE Pathways is an online solution which brings together all connected NICE guidance on a topic in a user-friendly electronic flowchart.
It was created after the watchdog recognised that traditionally it was difficult for health and social care professionals to see at a glance everything it had said on a specific condition, such as diabetes, across all of its separately published guidance.
This is an important part of a bigger picture to fully digitise our guidance and resources that will eventually result in our guidance being available through enhanced internet access and mobile devices
The tool covers the entire care pathway for 18 topics: alcohol-use disorders, anaemia management in chronic kidney disease, breast cancer, chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, depression, diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy, diet, glaucoma, neonatal jaundice, physical activity, postnatal care, smoking, stroke, and venous thromboembolism prevention.
The postnatal care pathway, for example, looks at everything from the baby's first 24 hours up until the eighth week. The information includes different types of NICE advice, including health technology appraisals, clinical guidelines, public health and social care advice, quality standards and implementation tools.
NICE said hopes this will make it easier for commissioners, who need to consider the value of whole pathways.
Dr Gillian Leng, NICE deputy chief executive and chief operating officer for NHS Evidence, said: "NICE Pathways is for anyone who needs to use NICE guidance. Starting with a broad overview allows the user to explore in increasing detail NICE recommendations and advice.
Starting with a broad overview allows the user to explore in increasing detail NICE recommendations and advice
"For example, you may be interested in finding out what NICE has said on stroke. There might be technology appraisal guidance, clinical guidelines and perhaps a quality standard as well. NICE Pathways will connect all of this advice together in one place.
"NICE Pathways will also provide a useful starting point for users new to a topic, while giving specialists confidence that they are up to date with everything NICE has recommended.
"This is an important part of a bigger picture to fully digitise our guidance and resources that will eventually result in our guidance being available through enhanced internet access and mobile devices."