Alcohol and substance use disorders: Algorithms and critical pathways for healthcare delivery

Contemporary health care delivery is being driven by a changing health care market environments as well as by the availability of enhanced models of service delivery. Providers are using clinical algorithms and critical pathways to standardize clinical care and improve clinical services to patients. The article highlights the application of contemporary clinical models and demonstrates their utility in the context of substance use and abuse disorders. Clinical algorithms and critical pathways are advanced as guidelines in diagnostic and therapeutic processes for the delivery of quality health care to patients. Specific recommendations for the development and implementation of such initiatives are discussed in detail.