Why Clinical Guidelines Are Important and How They Come Together

by Jennifer Fink •

Of course, some patients and scenarios don’t fit neatly into the guidelines, and physicians must consider their patients’ needs and personal experiences when assessing and treating them. Because guidelines are based on evidence, though, it’s in patients’ and physicians’ best interests to follow the guidelines more often than not.

“The reality is, if you’re deviating from the guidelines 99% of the time, you’re probably doing the wrong thing,” said David C. Brodner, MD, an otolaryngologist at The Center for Sinus, Allergy, & Sleep Wellness in Boynton Beach, Fla. “You’re not doing your patients a service by ignoring it. Why not harness the power of that information to do a better job for your patients?”

Jennifer Fink is a freelance writer based in Wisconsin.

Take-Home Points

  • Clinical practice guidelines are intended to synthesize the best available scientific evidence, making it easier for clinicians to stay up to date on the latest evidence-based practices.
  • Many insurers and third party payers, including CMS, consider clinical guidelines when determining the medical necessity of a given treatment.
  • Clinical guidelines are an opportunity to reduce unjustified variations by identifying knowledge gaps, defining best practices, and promoting quality improvement opportunities.

How Clinical Guidelines Are Developed

  • Individuals and groups are invited to submit topics for consideration to the AAO–HNS Guidelines Task Force (GTF).
  • Twice a year, GTF considers proposals and prioritizes topics for guideline development.
  • Stakeholders—including consumers, allied health professionals, and representatives of relevant medical specialties and subspecialties—are selected to serve on a guideline development group.
  • An information specialist assists with literature searches and systematic reviews.
  • The Guideline Development Group develops guidelines using published methodology.
  • The draft guideline undergoes extensive review by stakeholders, the public, and Academy leadership.
  • Estimated time from conception to publication: 18 months.

Types of Evidence-Based Studies

  • Clinical Guidelines: Statements to assist practitioners in making patient decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific circumstances.
  • Consensus Statements: Developed by an independent panel of experts convened to review research literature to advance understanding of an issue, procedure, or method.
  • Systematic Reviews: Identifies findings of similar but separate studies and can help clarify what is known about potential benefits and harms of drugs, devices, and other healthcare service.