The Evolution and Future of ACC/AHA Clinical Practice Guidelines: A 30-Year Journey

Alice JacobsProfessor of medicine, Boston University School of Medicine

“The Task Force on Practice Guidelines carefully reviewed the guideline process and methods to ensure that future guidelines are current, relevant and useful at the point of care to busy clinicians. ACC/AHA guidelines have provided clinicians with evidence-based decision support for many decades. This document will provide a roadmap to ensure the guideline writing process embraces the rapid evolution of medical research and the equally rapid changes in technology for accessing guidelines.”

Jeffrey L. AndersonChair, ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines

“Clinical Practice Guidelines are at the core of the work of the ACC and the AHA. With this document, we are establishing a vision to maintain a commitment to evidence-based care while recognizing the realities of rapid advances in research and technology and constantly increasing demands on physicians' time.”

Alice JacobsProfessor of medicine, Boston University School of Medicine

“This was a natural next step in the evolution of our process and methods as we strive to integrate and respond to the continuous stream of new knowledge. At the time the IOM report was released, we were already compliant with many of the proposed standards, but we used this as an opportunity to continue to improve.”