About ACR Clinical Practice Guidelines
Clinical practice guidelines and recommendations are developed to:
- Reduce inappropriate care
- Minimize geographic variations in practice patterns
- Enable effective use of health care resources
Guidelines and recommendations developed and/or endorsed by the ACR are intended to provide guidance for patterns of practice and not to dictate the care of a particular patient. The ACR considers adherence to these guidelines and recommendations to be voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding their application to be made by the clinician in light of each patient's individual circumstances.
Guidelines and recommendations are intended to promote beneficial or desirable outcomes but cannot guarantee any specific outcome. Guidelines and recommendations developed and/or endorsed by the ACR are subject to periodic revision as warranted by the evolution of medical knowledge, technology, and practice.
Clinical Practice Guideline Project Steps
Step 1: Define project scope and identify team
Step 2: Identify important clinical questions and outcomes
Step 3: Obtain feedback on project plan via public comment
Step 4: Conduct literature review
Step 5: Consider evidence in light of clinical expertise and experience and draft recommendations
Step 6: Draft guideline manuscript
Step 7: Peer review by ACR
Step 8: Post guideline summary
Step 9: Peer review by journal
Step 10: Final guideline published and disseminated
Step 11: Update literature searches and reevaluate the need for updating and revising
Guideline Policies and Procedures
To promote transparency and assist ACR guideline development groups in their work, the ACR has outlined its policies and procedures for guideline development and maintenance in the ACR Guideline Manual.
