The European Pathway Association is a European non-profit organisation which brings together researchers, managers and clinicians on the management concept of clinical pathways. The organisation works on the establishment of clinical care pathways in order to systematically plan and follow up a patient focused care program.

In 2003, at the conference of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQUA) in Dallas (United States), the idea of a European Pathway Association was suggested by Kris Vanhaecht of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) and Massimiliano Panella of the University of Eastern Piedmont (Italy). On 16 and 17 September 2004, the EPA was founded at a meeting in Jesi (Italy).

• European Institute for Health Records

• Darer J, Pronovost P, Bass E. Use and evaluation of critical pathways in hospitals. Eff Clin Pract 2002; 5:114-119.
• De Luc K., Developing care pathways - the handbook, Oxford: Radcliffe Medical Press Ltd, 2001.
• Vanhaecht K, Bollmann M, Bower K, Gallagher C, Gardini A, Guezo J et al., International survey on the use and dissemination of clinical pathways in 23 countries, Journal of Integrated Care Pathways, 2006.

• European Pathway Association