The patient care pathways knowledge hub
A collaborative space owned by the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition and our PCP consortium members.
The care pathways approach
A care pathway assessment looks at the journey a patient takes through the healthcare system for a specific condition or reason, mapping each stage and activity within that defined pathway.
When tackling environmental sustainability, looking at this entire journey rather than isolated facilities or single products is essential to establish a thorough understanding of the downstream impact of care choices made upstream. Patient care pathways account for a significant proportion of healthcare emissions. By shifting our focus to the pathway level, it is possible to identify carbon hotspots and evaluate how a change in one area, such as introducing a new therapeutic drug or shifting from hospital-based to at-home care, might impact the broader system's environmental footprint.
Ultimately, the care pathways approach allows you to consider the system-level environmental impact of a product or intervention. The SHC method which underpins the approach provides a comprehensive view of environmental and operational outcomes across the entire patient journey.
Our work so far
Over a decade ago, the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition set out to embed sustainability into the way healthcare value is understood – not at the level of individual products or facilities, but across the entire patient journey.
Working in close collaboration with NHS England, we developed a foundational methodology that underpins care pathway assessment - a shared, structured approach to mapping and measuring the environmental impact of care from referral to recovery.
From there, the work has grown through our cross-sector partnerships. We built the Care Pathway Calculator, alongside other speciality-specific tools, translating the method into a practical entry-level tool that clinicians and planners could actually use. We published our findings, shared our learning openly, and invited others to stress-test and improve what we had built.
Over time, that spirit of collaboration has taken shape as the Patient Care Pathway (PCP) Consortium – a growing network of pharmaceutical companies, medtech organisations, and health system representatives who contribute their data, case studies, and expertise to advance the field together.
Today, we are republishing our updated care pathway methodology, reflecting everything we have learned across a decade of real-world application. It is a milestone that belongs to the whole community that helped build it.
The care pathways knowledge hub
What is the hub for?
The Care Pathways Knowledge Hub is a centralised, collaborative platform serving as a meeting point for public health systems and global industry, providing the shared language and evidence base needed to measure, understand, and reduce the environmental impact of patient care journeys.
What does it offer?
The hub equips healthcare planners, clinicians, and industry leaders with actionable tools and insights to drive sustainable decision-making. Through this platform, you can access:
- Practical frameworks and tools: Including our Care Pathway Calculator and step-by-step methodological guidance.
- Evidence and application: Real-world case studies, implementation guides, and the latest publications.
- Shared learning: Video explainers and curated resources to help you assess carbon hotspots and model sustainable interventions for both local and global markets.
Who owns it?
This hub is proudly owned and curated by the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition, a non-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring and equipping the healthcare sector to transition to sustainable practices.
Powered by our PCP Consortium Members
The hub's ongoing development and rich resource pool are made possible by our Patient Care Pathway (PCP) consortium members. This network includes leading global pharmaceutical and medtech companies, health system representatives, and sustainability experts who actively contribute their data, case studies, and strategic insights to benefit the wider healthcare community.
Join the Conversation
Sustainability is a collaborative effort. Connect with global peers, share your own findings, and ask questions by joining our active Community of Practice (COP).
Resources
Check out our top three most recent resources.
Resource library: explore our full collection of care pathway-related materials, including valuable case studies and publications provided by our PCP members.
How to do a care pathway assessment
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Measuring the impact of an intervention or product within a care pathway requires a structured approach. Use the above flowchart to begin to formulate your approach, then to begin your own evaluation using our standardised metrics, refer to our care pathway framework for more detail.
What to do with your findings
Once you have completed your evaluation, the next vital step is implementation. Review our worked examples of care pathway assessments to discover practical implementation ideas that can be adapted for your own setting.
