[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 18027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9708]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research


Invitation to Submit Guidelines to the National Guideline 
Clearinghouse

AGENCY: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) invites 
organizations, professional societies, and other developers of clinical 
practice guidelines to submit completed guidelines for inclusion in the 
World Wide Web-based National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC).
    The AHCPR, in partnership with the American Association of Health 
Plans (AAHP) and the American Medical Association (AMA), is sponsoring 
the development of the NGC to promote widespread access to guidelines 
by the health care community and interested individuals. The NGC is 
designed to be a comprehensive data base of clinical practice 
guidelines. Availability on the Web is scheduled for Fall 1998.
    Data on each guideline will include: (1) A structured abstract 
containing information about the guideline and its development; (2) a 
comparison of guidelines covering similar topics, showing areas of 
similarity and differences; and (3) the full text of the guideline 
(when available) or links to full text (when not) and investigation on 
how to obtain the full text guideline. In addition, the NGC will have a 
topic-related electronic mail forum for registered users to exchange 
information on clinical practice guidelines, their development, 
implementation, and use.

DATES: Guidelines will be received on an ongoing basis by ECRI at the 
address below. ECRI, a nonprofit health services research organization, 
will perform the technical work of the NGC, under contract with AHCPR.

ADDRESSES: Organizations interested in contributing to the NGC should 
submit two hard copies of each guideline and related background 
information in typed format and electronic (if available), including 
name, address, phone, and e-mail address of a contact person to: Vivian 
Coates, NGC Project Director, ECRI, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, 
PA 19462-1298.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Slutsky, NGC Project Officer, 
Center for Practice and Technology Assessment, Agency for Health Care 
Policy and Research, Suite 310, Willco Building, 6000 Executive 
Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20852, telephone (301) 594-4015, fax 
(301) 594-4027, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under Title IX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299-
299c-6), AHCPR is charged with enhancing the quality, appropriateness, 
and effectiveness of health care services and access to such services. 
AHCPR accomplishes these goals through scientific research and through 
promotion of improvements in clinical practice, including prevention of 
diseases and other health conditions, and improvements in the 
organization, financing, and delivery of health care services.
    Increased interest in improving the quality of health care, 
reducing uncertainty and unnecessary variability in health care 
decision making, as well as rising health care costs, have stimulated a 
marked growth over the past 5 years in the development and use of 
clinical practice guidelines. Yet, many health providers, plans, 
systems, and purchasers have difficulty gaining access to and keeping 
abreast of the many clinical practice guidelines now available.

Clinical Practice Guideline Definition

    The NGC employs the definition of clinical practice guideline 
developed by the Institute of Medicine:

    ``Clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed 
statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about 
appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.''

Institute of Medicine. (1990). Clinical Practice Guidelines: 
Directions for a New Program, M.J. Field and K.N Lohr (eds.) 
Washington, DC: National Academy Press (page 38).

Criteria

    A clinical practice guideline must meet all of the following 
criteria to be included in the NGC:
    1. The clinical practice guideline contains systematically 
developed statements that include recommendations, strategies, or 
information that assists physicians and/or other health care 
practitioners and patients make decisions about appropriate health care 
for specific clinical circumstances.
    2. The clinical practice guideline was produced under the auspices 
of medical specialty associations; relevant professional societies, 
public or private organizations, government agencies at the Federal, 
State, or local level; or health care organizations or plans. A 
clinical practice guideline developed and issued by an individual not 
officially sponsored or supported by one of the above types of 
organizations does not meet the inclusion criteria for the National 
Guideline Clearinghouse.
    3. Corroborating documentation can be produced and verified that a 
systematic literature search and review of existing scientific evidence 
published in peer reviewed journals was performed during the guideline 
development. A guideline is not excluded from the National Guideline 
Clearinghouse if corroborating documentation can be produced and 
verified detailing specific gaps in scientific evidence for some of the 
guideline's recommendations.
    4. The guidelines is English language, current, and the most recent 
version produced. Documented evidence can be produced or verified that 
the guideline was either developed, reviewed, or revised within the 
last 5 years.

    Dated: April 6, 1998.
John M. Eisenberg,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-9708 Filed 4-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M