[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] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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