[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17151]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency For Health Care Policy and Research

 

Public Meeting on the Update of Acute Pain Management: Operative 
or Medical Procedures and Trauma Clinical Practice Guideline

    The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) announces a 
public meeting to receive comments and information pertaining to the 
update of the clinical practice guideline on Acute Pain Management: 
Operative or Medical Procedures and Trauma (AHCPR Publication No. 92-
0032). The AHCPR-supported guideline was developed by a private sector 
panel of health care experts and consumers, and released in March 1992.
    A meeting will be held to solicit information and comments from the 
public regarding the availability of new scientific evidence or new 
technologies that may warrant the updating of the Acute Pain 
Management: Operative or Medical Procedures and Trauma guideline. This 
information will assist AHCPR in determining the need for and timing of 
the guideline update.

Meeting: Update of Acute Pain Management: Operative or Medical 
Procedures and Trauma Clinical Practice Guideline

Date: September 7, 1994
From: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Place: The Parklawn Building, Conference Room E, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: 301-443-2585

    Copies of the clinical practice guideline may be requested from: 
The AHCPR Publications Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 8547, Silver Spring, MD 
20907, Toll-Free: 1-800-358-9295.

Background

    The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) is charged, 
under Title IX of the Public Health Service Act, with enhancing the 
quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care services, 
and access to such services. The AHCPR accomplishes its goals through 
the establishment of a broad base of scientific research and through 
the promotion of improvements in clinical practice and in the 
organization, financing, and delivery of health care services. (42 
U.S.C. 299-299c-6 and 1320b-12.)
    In keeping with its legislative mandates, AHCPR arranges for the 
periodic review and update of clinically relevant guidelines that may 
be used by physicians, nurses, other health care providers, educators, 
and consumers to assist in determining how diseases, disorders, and 
other health care conditions can most effectively and appropriately be 
prevented, diagnosed, treated, and clinically managed. Medical review 
criteria, standards of quality, and performance measures are then 
developed based on the guidelines produced.
    Section 912 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 299b-1(b)) requires that the 
guidelines:
    1. Be based on the best available research and professional 
judgment;
    2. Be presented in formats appropriate for use by physicians, 
nurses, other health care providers, medical educators, medical review 
organizations, and consumers;
    3. Be presented in treatment-specific or condition-specific forms 
appropriate for use in clinical practice, educational programs, and 
reviewing quality and appropriateness of medical care;
    4. Include information on the risks and benefits of alternative 
strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of the 
particular health condition(s); and
    5. Include information on the costs of alternative strategies for 
prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of the particular 
health condition(s), where cost information is available and reliable.
    Also, in accordance with title IX of the PHS Act and section 1142 
of the Social Security Act, the Administrator is to assure that the 
needs and priorities of the Medicare program are reflected 
appropriately in the agenda and priorities for development of 
guidelines and guideline updates.

The AHCPR Process for Determining the Need for Guideline Updates

    In the Federal Register of April 25, 1994 (59 Vol. 19723), AHCPR 
published its process for determining the need for updates of clinical 
practice guidelines. The process includes, among other activities:
     A survey of subsequently published scientific literature 
in the topic areas addressed by the guidelines, approximately 24 months 
after the release of the guideline, to determine the volume of new 
scientific evidence, its quality, and the likelihood of such 
information causing change in the guideline's recommendations;
     A review of other relevant information obtained from 
evaluation studies conducted to examine the implementation or effects 
of the guidelines (i.e., development and use of guideline derived 
medical review criteria, performance measures, and standards of 
quality); and
     A public meeting to address the need for and timing of an 
update when sufficient data are obtained that indicate a guideline 
update may be needed.

Arrangements for the September 7, 1994 Public Meeting on Update of 
Acute Pain Management: Operative or Medical Procedures and Trauma

    Representatives of organizations and other individuals are invited 
to provide written comments on new scientific evidence or other related 
information pertaining to the need to update the guideline, and make a 
brief (5 minutes or less) oral statement. Individuals and 
representatives who would like to attend must register with Kelly 
Fennington, Program Analyst, Office of the Forum for Quality and 
Effectiveness in Health Care (Forum), at the address set out below by 
August 12, 1994, and indicate whether they plan to make an oral 
statement. A written copy of the oral statement should be submitted to 
the Forum by August 12, 1994. If more requests to make oral statements 
are received than can be accommodated between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on 
September 7, 1994, time will be allocated in a manner which ensures, to 
the extent possible, that a range of views of health care 
professionals, consumers, product manufacturers, and pharmaceutical 
manufacturers are presented. Those who cannot be granted their 
requested speaking time because of time constraints are assured that 
their written comments will be considered when making a decision 
regarding the update for this guideline.
    If sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation 
for a disability is needed, please contact the Forum by August 12, 
1994, at the address below.
    Registration should be made with, and written materials submitted 
to: Kelly Fennington, Program Analyst, Office of the Forum for Quality 
and Effectiveness in Health Care, Agency for Health Care Policy and 
Research, Willco Building, 6000 Executive Blvd., Suite 310, Rockville, 
Maryland, 20852, Phone: (301) 594-4015, Fax: (301) 594-4027.
For Additional Information 
    Additional information on the guideline development process is 
contained in the AHCPR Program Note, ``Clinical Practice Guideline 
Development,'' dated August 1993. This document describes AHCPR's 
activities with respect to clinical practice guidelines including the 
process and criteria for selecting panels. This document may be 
obtained from the AHCPR Publications Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 8547, 
Silver Spring, MD 20907; or call Toll-Free: 1-800-358-9295.
    Information may also be obtained by contacting Carole Hudgings, 
Ph.D., Acting Director, Office of the Forum for Quality and 
Effectiveness in Health Care, Agency for Health Care Policy and 
Research, Willco Building, 6000 Executive Blvd., Suite 310, Rockville, 
MD 20852, Phone 301-594-4015, Fax: 301-594-4027.

    Dated: July 7, 1994.
Linda K. Demlo,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-17151 Filed 7-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P