Book excerpt: Clinical Paths in Medical-Surgical Practice is an exciting new publication that incorporates a multidisciplinary clinical pathway approach to patient care. This unique guide provides specific information that enables the user to understand, adapt, and implement clinical pathways for a variety of disorders common to medical-surgical practice. Precise information on implementation, variance management, and future trends in patient care within the managed care environment are featured. Included in the text are pathways in use at various institutions around the country, examples of alternate pathway structures, and advice for adapting these pathways to your own health care site. You will also get the personal perspectives of three physicians on the value of the collaborative clinical pathway approach.