ABSTRACT
Introduction The purpose of this chapter is to explain why a standardised set of definitions is needed to describe care pathways and related (but different) concepts, and why this is an essential requirement for the successful development of e-pathways. The chapter goes on to describe what we will call here a Care Pathway Conceptual Structure, which aims to model the relationships between concepts and offer definitions which could become
standards. The Care Pathway Conceptual Structure is illustrated with the use of an example care pathway.
