Best Practices/Clinical Guidelines
- Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ)
The AHRQ site contains clinical practice guidelines, evidence-based practices, and outcomes and effectiveness clinical information. Publications are downloadable. - The American College of Radiology
The American College of Radiology site has samples of lay reports for direct reporting of results to women by mammography facilities. It also presents downloadable criteria for breast radiation oncology. - American College of Surgeons (ACOS)
The ACOS Commission on Cancer's approval system for hospital cancer programs involves nearly 2,000 institutions. Its standards program provides clinical oversight and expertise for the Commission's standard-setting activities, and interfaces with others in the development, review, and dissemination of patient care guidelines. The ACOS site has information on patient choice and decision-making about surgery, and on-line ordering of cancer publications. It also provides access to information and data pertinent to initiating a cancer registry program. - American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
The ASCO site contains recommended Breast Cancer Surveillance Guidelines and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Use of Tumor Markers in Breast Cancer, among others. Publications may be printed from the Web. - Benchmarking and Best Practices Network
This site offers a comprehensive, specialized forum for all phases of benchmarking that is designed for veteran practitioners as well as novices. - End of Life/ Palliative Education Resource Center
The End of Life/ Palliative Education Resource Center functions as a clearinghouse for educational materials, training materials, publications, and conferences that are specific to end-of-life issues. A main goal of this organization is to assist physician educators and others in locating high quality, peer-reviewed training materials. - Institute for Health Care Improvement (IHI)
The IHI site has resources to help health care professionals lead and manage improvement efforts at their organizations. Access improvement guides, Quality Connection Newsletter (subscribe free), web links, and more. - Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
The JCAHO site includes information on accreditation process improvement and performance measurement systems. Specialized areas for healthcare providers, the general public, and others. - National Association of Health Data Organizations (NAHDO)
NAHDO is dedicated to improving health care through the collection, analysis, dissemination, and use of health care data. It works with state, federal, and private sector technical and policy leaders and consultants to expand health systems development and shape responsible health information policies. - National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
This NCCN site has Breast Cancer Practice Guidelines and Breast Cancer Screening Practice Guidelines (new). "Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients," produced collaboratively by NCCN and the American Cancer Society, is also available here. - National Guideline Clearinghouse
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) is a comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents produced by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), in partnership with the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP). - The Picker Institute
The Picker Institute site contains health care quality assessment and improvement strategies that address patients' needs and concerns as defined by patients. Patient satisfaction surveys, educational programs and resources are described. - Risk Management Foundation
The Risk Management Foundation (RMF) of Harvard Medical Institution is an evidence-based risk management services organization. Topics include patient safety, quality improvement, and claims management. RMF's Web site offers information related to its risk management services. Articles describing how communication skills affect risk management issues can be accessed by performing a search on the site's search engine using the term "communication."
