Sample records for eanm procedure guideline

  1. EANM procedural guidelines for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging with SPECT and SPECT/CT: 2015 revision.

    PubMed

    Verberne, Hein J; Acampa, Wanda; Anagnostopoulos, Constantinos; Ballinger, Jim; Bengel, Frank; De Bondt, Pieter; Buechel, Ronny R; Cuocolo, Alberto; van Eck-Smit, Berthe L F; Flotats, Albert; Hacker, Marcus; Hindorf, Cecilia; Kaufmann, Philip A; Lindner, Oliver; Ljungberg, Michael; Lonsdale, Markus; Manrique, Alain; Minarik, David; Scholte, Arthur J H A; Slart, Riemer H J A; Trägårdh, Elin; de Wit, Tim C; Hesse, Birger

    2015-11-01

    Since the publication of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) procedural guidelines for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in 2005, many small and some larger steps of progress have been made, improving MPI procedures. In this paper, the major changes from the updated 2015 procedural guidelines are highlighted, focusing on the important changes related to new instrumentation with improved image information and the possibility to reduce radiation exposure, which is further discussed in relation to the recent developments of new International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) models. Introduction of the selective coronary vasodilator regadenoson and the use of coronary CT-contrast agents for hybrid imaging with SPECT/CT angiography are other important areas for nuclear cardiology that were not included in the previous guidelines. A large number of minor changes have been described in more detail in the fully revised version available at the EANM home page: http://eanm.org/publications/guidelines/2015_07_EANM_FINAL_myocardial_perfusion_guideline.pdf .

  2. Radiation doses for pediatric nuclear medicine studies: comparing the North American consensus guidelines and the pediatric dosage card of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine.

    PubMed

    Grant, Frederick D; Gelfand, Michael J; Drubach, Laura A; Treves, S Ted; Fahey, Frederic H

    2015-04-01

    Estimated radiation dose is important for assessing and communicating the risks and benefits of pediatric nuclear medicine studies. Radiation dose depends on the radiopharmaceutical, the administered activity, and patient factors such as age and size. Most radiation dose estimates for pediatric nuclear medicine have not been based on administered activities of radiopharmaceuticals recommended by established practice guidelines. The dosage card of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and the North American consensus guidelines each provide recommendations of administered activities of radiopharmaceuticals in children, but there are substantial differences between these two guidelines. For 12 commonly performed pediatric nuclear medicine studies, two established pediatric radiopharmaceutical administration guidelines were used to calculate updated radiation dose estimates and to compare the radiation exposure resulting from the recommendations of each of the guidelines. Estimated radiation doses were calculated for 12 common procedures in pediatric nuclear medicine using administered activities recommended by the dosage card of the EANM (version 1.5.2008) and the 2010 North American consensus guidelines for radiopharmaceutical administered activities in pediatrics. Based on standard models and nominal age-based weights, radiation dose was estimated for typical patients at ages 1, 5, 10 and 15 years and adult. The resulting effective doses were compared, with differences greater than 20% considered significant. Following either the EANM dosage card or the 2010 North American guidelines, the highest effective doses occur with radiopharmaceuticals labeled with fluorine-18 and iodine-123. In 24% of cases, following the North American consensus guidelines would result in a substantially higher radiation dose. The guidelines of the EANM dosage card would lead to a substantially higher radiation dose in 39% of all cases, and in 62% of cases in which patients

  3. Highlights lecture EANM 2014: "Gimme gimme gimme those nuclear Super Troupers".

    PubMed

    de Jong, Marion; Van Laere, Koen

    2015-04-01

    The EANM Congress 2014 took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 18 to 22 October under the presidency of Prof. Wim Oyen, chair of the EANM Scientific Committee. Prof. Peter Gjertsson chaired the Local Organizing Committee, according to the standardized EANM congress structure. The meeting was a highlight for the multidisciplinary community that forms the heart and soul of nuclear medicine; attendance was exceptionally high. In total almost 5,300 participants came to Gothenburg, and 1,397 colleagues participated via the EANM LIVE sessions ( http://eanmlive.eanm.org/index.php ). Participants from all continents were presented with an excellent programme consisting of symposia, scientific and featured sessions, CME sessions, and plenary lectures. These lectures were devoted to nuclear medicine therapy, hybrid imaging and molecular life sciences. Two tracks were included in the main programme, clustering multi-committee involvement: the 5th International Symposium on Targeted Radionuclide-therapy and Dosimetry (ISTARD) and the first Molecules to Man (M2M) track, an initiative of the EANM Committees for Translational Molecular Imaging, Radiopharmacy and Drug Development. The industry made a substantial contribution to the success of the congress demonstrating the latest technology and innovations in the field. During the closing Highlights Lecture, a selection of the best-rated abstracts was presented including diverse areas of nuclear medicine: physics and instrumentation, radiopharmacy, preclinical imaging, oncology (with a focus on the clinical application of newly developed tracers) and radionuclide therapy, cardiology and neurosciences. This Highlights Lecture could only be a brief summary of the large amount of data presented and discussed during the meeting, which can be found in much greater detail in the congress proceedings book, published as Volume 41, Supplement 2 of the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in October 2014.

  4. Curriculum for education and training of medical physicists in nuclear medicine: recommendations from the EANM Physics Committee, the EANM Dosimetry Committee and EFOMP.

    PubMed

    Del Guerra, Alberto; Bardies, Manuel; Belcari, Nicola; Caruana, Carmel J; Christofides, Stelios; Erba, Paola; Gori, Cesare; Lassmann, Michael; Lonsdale, Markus Nowak; Sattler, Bernhard; Waddington, Wendy

    2013-03-01

    To provide a guideline curriculum covering theoretical and practical aspects of education and training for Medical Physicists in Nuclear Medicine within Europe. National training programmes of Medical Physics, Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine physics from a range of European countries and from North America were reviewed and elements of best practice identified. An independent panel of experts was used to achieve consensus regarding the content of the curriculum. Guidelines have been developed for the specialist theoretical knowledge and practical experience required to practice as a Medical Physicist in Nuclear Medicine in Europe. It is assumed that the precondition for the beginning of the training is a good initial degree in Medical Physics at master level (or equivalent). The Learning Outcomes are categorised using the Knowledge, Skill and Competence approach along the lines recommended by the European Qualifications Framework. The minimum level expected in each topic in the theoretical knowledge and practical experience sections is intended to bring trainees up to the requirements expected of a Medical Physicist entering the field of Nuclear Medicine. This new joint EANM/EFOMP European guideline curriculum is a further step to harmonise specialist training of Medical Physicists in Nuclear Medicine within Europe. It provides a common framework for national Medical Physics societies to develop or benchmark their own curricula. The responsibility for the implementation and accreditation of these standards and guidelines resides within national training and regulatory bodies. Copyright © 2012 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. EANM Dosimetry Committee series on standard operational procedures for pre-therapeutic dosimetry II. Dosimetry prior to radioiodine therapy of benign thyroid diseases.

    PubMed

    Hänscheid, Heribert; Canzi, Cristina; Eschner, Wolfgang; Flux, Glenn; Luster, Markus; Strigari, Lidia; Lassmann, Michael

    2013-07-01

    The EANM Dosimetry Committee Series "Standard Operational Procedures for Pre-Therapeutic Dosimetry" (SOP) provides advice to scientists and clinicians on how to perform patient-specific absorbed dose assessments. This particular SOP describes how to tailor the therapeutic activity to be administered for radioiodine therapy of benign thyroid diseases such as Graves' disease or hyperthyroidism. Pretherapeutic dosimetry is based on the assessment of the individual (131)I kinetics in the target tissue after the administration of a tracer activity. The present SOP makes proposals on the equipment to be used and guides the user through the measurements. Time schedules for the measurement of the fractional (131)I uptake in the diseased tissue are recommended and it is shown how to calculate from these datasets the therapeutic activity necessary to administer a predefined target dose in the subsequent therapy. Potential sources of error are pointed out and the inherent uncertainties of the procedures depending on the number of measurements are discussed. The theoretical background and the derivation of the listed equations from compartment models of the iodine kinetics are explained in a supplementary file published online only.

  6. FDG-PET/CT(A) imaging in large vessel vasculitis and polymyalgia rheumatica: joint procedural recommendation of the EANM, SNMMI, and the PET Interest Group (PIG), and endorsed by the ASNC.

    PubMed

    Slart, Riemer H J A

    2018-07-01

    Large vessel vasculitis (LVV) is defined as a disease mainly affecting the large arteries, with two major variants, Takayasu arteritis (TA) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). GCA often coexists with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in the same patient, since both belong to the same disease spectrum. FDG-PET/CT is a functional imaging technique which is an established tool in oncology, and has also demonstrated a role in the field of inflammatory diseases. Functional FDG-PET combined with anatomical CT angiography, FDG-PET/CT(A), may be of synergistic value for optimal diagnosis, monitoring of disease activity, and evaluating damage progression in LVV. There are currently no guidelines regarding PET imaging acquisition for LVV and PMR, even though standardization is of the utmost importance in order to facilitate clinical studies and for daily clinical practice. This work constitutes a joint procedural recommendation on FDG-PET/CT(A) imaging in large vessel vasculitis (LVV) and PMR from the Cardiovascular and Inflammation & Infection Committees of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the Cardiovascular Council of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), and the PET Interest Group (PIG), and endorsed by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC). The aim of this joint paper is to provide recommendations and statements, based on the available evidence in the literature and consensus of experts in the field, for patient preparation, and FDG-PET/CT(A) acquisition and interpretation for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with suspected or diagnosed LVV and/or PMR. This position paper aims to set an internationally accepted standard for FDG-PET/CT(A) imaging and reporting of LVV and PMR.

  7. Dose Optimization of the Administered Activity in Pediatric Bone Scintigraphy: Validation of the North American Consensus Guidelines.

    PubMed

    Ayres, Karen L; Spottswood, Stephanie E; Delbeke, Dominique; Price, Ronald; Hodges, Pamela K; Wang, Li; Martin, William H

    2015-09-01

    The 2010 North American Consensus Guidelines (NACG) for pediatric administered doses and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Dosage Card guidelines recommend lower activities than those administered at our institution. We compared the quality of the lower-activity images with the higher-activity images to determine whether the reduction in counts affects overall image quality. Twenty patients presenting to our pediatric radiology department for bone scintigraphy were evaluated. Their mean weight was 20 kg. The patients were referred for oncologic (n = 10), infectious/inflammatory (n = 5), and pain (n = 5) evaluation. Dynamic anterior and posterior images were acquired for 5 min for each patient. Data were subsampled to represent different administered activities corresponding to the activities recommended by the NACG and the EANM Dosage Card. Images were evaluated twice, first for diagnostic quality and then for acceptability for daily clinical use. There was no statistically significant difference in the diagnostic quality of the images from any of the 3 protocols. Pathologic uptake was correctly identified independent of the administered activity, although there was a single false-positive result for an EANM image. When images were subjectively evaluated as acceptable for daily clinical use, there was a slight preference for the higher-activity images over the NACG (P = 0.04). The recommended administered activities of the NACG produce images of diagnostic quality while reducing patient radiation exposure. © 2015 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.

  8. EANM 2012 guidelines for radionuclide imaging of phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma

    PubMed Central

    Timmers, Henri J.; Hindié, Elif; Guillet, Benjamin A.; Neumann, Hartmut P.; Walz, Martin K.; Opocher, Giuseppe; de Herder, Wouter W.; Boedeker, Carsten C.; de Krijger, Ronald R.; Chiti, Arturo; Al-Nahhas, Adil; Pacak, Karel

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Radionuclide imaging of phaeochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) involves various functional imaging techniques and approaches for accurate diagnosis, staging and tumour characterization. The purpose of the present guidelines is to assist nuclear medicine practitioners in performing, interpreting and reporting the results of the currently available SPECT and PET imaging approaches. These guidelines are intended to present information specifically adapted to European practice. Methods Guidelines from related fields, issued by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine and the Society of Nuclear Medicine, were taken into consideration and are partially integrated within this text. The same was applied to the relevant literature, and the final result was discussed with leading experts involved in the management of patients with PCC/PGL. The information provided should be viewed in the context of local conditions, laws and regulations. Conclusion Although several radionuclide imaging modalities are considered herein, considerable focus is given to PET imaging which offers high sensitivity targeted molecular imaging approaches. PMID:22926712

  9. Guidelines on nuclear medicine imaging in neuroblastoma.

    PubMed

    Bar-Sever, Zvi; Biassoni, Lorenzo; Shulkin, Barry; Kong, Grace; Hofman, Michael S; Lopci, Egesta; Manea, Irina; Koziorowski, Jacek; Castellani, Rita; Boubaker, Ariane; Lambert, Bieke; Pfluger, Thomas; Nadel, Helen; Sharp, Susan; Giammarile, Francesco

    2018-06-25

    Nuclear medicine has a central role in the diagnosis, staging, response assessment and long-term follow-up of neuroblastoma, the most common solid extracranial tumour in children. These EANM guidelines include updated information on 123 I-mIBG, the most common study in nuclear medicine for the evaluation of neuroblastoma, and on PET/CT imaging with 18 F-FDG, 18 F-DOPA and 68 Ga-DOTA peptides. These PET/CT studies are increasingly employed in clinical practice. Indications, advantages and limitations are presented along with recommendations on study protocols, interpretation of findings and reporting results.

  10. The European Stroke Organisation Guidelines: a standard operating procedure.

    PubMed

    Ntaios, George; Bornstein, Natan M; Caso, Valeria; Christensen, Hanne; De Keyser, Jacques; Diener, Hans-Christoph; Diez-Tejedor, Exuperio; Ferro, Jose M; Ford, Gary A; Grau, Armin; Keller, Emanuella; Leys, Didier; Russell, David; Toni, Danilo; Turc, Guillaume; Van der Worp, Bart; Wahlgren, Nils; Steiner, Thorsten

    2015-10-01

    In 2008, the recently founded European Stroke Organisation published its guidelines for the management of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. This highly cited document was translated in several languages and was updated in 2009. Since then, the European Stroke Organisation has published guidelines for the management of intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoidal hemorrhage, for the establishment of stroke units and stroke centers, and recently for the management of intracerebral hemorrhage. In recent years, the methodology for the development of guidelines has evolved significantly. To keep pace with this progress and driven by the strong determination of the European Stroke Organisation to further promote stroke management, education, and research, the European Stroke Organisation decided to delineate a detailed standard operating procedure for its guidelines. There are two important cornerstones in this standard operating procedure: The first is the implementation of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology for the development of its Guideline Documents. The second one is the decision of the European Stroke Organisation to move from the classical model of a single Guideline Document about a major topic (e.g. management of ischemic stroke) to focused modules (i.e. subdivisions of a major topic). This will enable the European Stroke Organisation to react faster when new developments in a specific stroke field occur and update its recommendations on the related module rather swiftly; with the previous approach of a single large Guideline Document, its entire revision had to be completed before an updated publication, delaying the production of up-to-date guidelines. After discussion within the European Stroke Organisation Guidelines Committee and significant input from European Stroke Organisation members as well as methodologists and analysts, this document presents the official standard operating procedure for

  11. Highlights lecture EANM 2016: "Embracing molecular imaging and multi-modal imaging: a smart move for nuclear medicine towards personalized medicine".

    PubMed

    Aboagye, Eric O; Kraeber-Bodéré, Françoise

    2017-08-01

    The 2016 EANM Congress took place in Barcelona, Spain, from 15 to 19 October under the leadership of Prof. Wim Oyen, chair of the EANM Scientific Committee. With more than 6,000 participants, this congress was the most important European event in nuclear medicine, bringing together a multidisciplinary community involved in the different fields of nuclear medicine. There were over 600 oral and 1,200 poster or e-Poster presentations with an overwhelming focus on development and application of imaging for personalized care, which is timely for the community. Beyond FDG PET, major highlights included progress in the use of PSMA and SSTR receptor-targeted radiopharmaceuticals and associated theranostics in oncology. Innovations in radiopharmaceuticals for imaging pathologies of the brain and cardiovascular system, as well as infection and inflammation, were also highlighted. In the areas of physics and instrumentation, multimodality imaging and radiomics were highlighted as promising areas of research.

  12. Guidelines for testing and release procedures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Molari, R.; Conway, M.

    1984-01-01

    Guidelines and procedures are recommended for the testing and release of the types of computer software efforts commonly performed at NASA/Ames Research Center. All recommendations are based on the premise that testing and release activities must be specifically selected for the environment, size, and purpose of each individual software project. Guidelines are presented for building a Test Plan and using formal Test Plan and Test Care Inspections on it. Frequent references are made to NASA/Ames Guidelines for Software Inspections. Guidelines are presented for selecting an Overall Test Approach and for each of the four main phases of testing: (1) Unit Testing of Components, (2) Integration Testing of Components, (3) System Integration Testing, and (4) Acceptance Testing. Tools used for testing are listed, including those available from operating systems used at Ames, specialized tools which can be developed, unit test drivers, stub module generators, and the use of format test reporting schemes.

  13. Guidelines for procedural pain in the newborn

    PubMed Central

    Lago, Paola; Garetti, Elisabetta; Merazzi, Daniele; Pieragostini, Luisa; Ancora, Gina; Pirelli, Anna; Bellieni, Carlo Valerio

    2009-01-01

    Despite accumulating evidence that procedural pain experienced by newborn infants may have acute and even long-term detrimental effects on their subsequent behaviour and neurological outcome, pain control and prevention remain controversial issues. Our aim was to develop guidelines based on evidence and clinical practice for preventing and controlling neonatal procedural pain in the light of the evidence-based recommendations contained in the SIGN classification. A panel of expert neonatologists used systematic review, data synthesis and open discussion to reach a consensus on the level of evidence supported by the literature or customs in clinical practice and to describe a global analgesic management, considering pharmacological, non-pharmacological, behavioural and environmental measures for each invasive procedure. There is strong evidence to support some analgesic measures, e.g. sucrose or breast milk for minor invasive procedures, and combinations of drugs for tracheal intubation. Many other pain control measures used during chest tube placement and removal, screening and treatment for ROP, or for postoperative pain, are still based not on evidence, but on good practice or expert opinions. Conclusion: These guidelines should help improving the health care professional's awareness of the need to adequately manage procedural pain in neonates, based on the strongest evidence currently available. PMID:19484828

  14. 42 CFR 488.110 - Procedural guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... resident care situations that you believe might pose a serious threat to a resident's health or safety. Add... 42 Public Health 5 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Procedural guidelines. 488.110 Section 488.110 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES...

  15. Student Services Program Planning and Evaluation: Responsibility, Procedures, Instrument, and Guidelines.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Repp, Charles A.; Brach, Ronald C.

    The manual provides a rationale, procedural guidelines, time-schedules, instruments, and supporting documentation for student services program evaluation at SUNY Agricultural and Technical College, Delhi. Six procedural guidelines include: (1) all programs and services should be evaluated at least once every four years, with provision for annual…

  16. Standard operating procedures for ESPEN guidelines and consensus papers.

    PubMed

    Bischoff, Stephan C; Singer, Pierre; Koller, Michael; Barazzoni, Rocco; Cederholm, Tommy; van Gossum, André

    2015-12-01

    The ESPEN Guideline standard operating procedures (SOP) is based on the methodology provided by the Association of Scientific Medical Societies of Germany (AWMF), the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), and the Centre for Evidence-based Medicine at the University of Oxford. The SOP is valid and obligatory for all future ESPEN-sponsored guideline projects aiming to generate high-quality guidelines on a regular basis. The SOP aims to facilitate the preparation of guideline projects, to streamline the consensus process, to ensure quality and transparency, and to facilitate the dissemination and publication of ESPEN guidelines. To achieve this goal, the ESPEN Guidelines Editorial board (GEB) has been established headed by two chairmen. The GEB will support and supervise the guideline processes and is responsible for the strategic planning of ESPEN guideline activities. Key elements of the SOP are the generation of well-built clinical questions according to the PICO system, a systemic literature search, a classification of the selected literature according to the SIGN evidence levels providing an evidence table, and a clear and straight-forward consensus procedure consisting of online voting's and a consensus conference. Only experts who meet the obligation to disclosure any potential conflict of interests and who are not employed by the Industry can participate in the guideline process. All recommendations will be graded according to the SIGN grading and novel outcome models besides biomedical endpoints. This approach will further extent the leadership of ESPEN in creating up-to-date and suitable for implementation guidelines and in sharing knowledge on malnutrition and clinical nutrition. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

  17. Technical note: how to determine the FDG activity for tumour PET imaging that satisfies European guidelines.

    PubMed

    Koopman, Daniëlle; van Osch, Jochen A C; Jager, Pieter L; Tenbergen, Carlijn J A; Knollema, Siert; Slump, Cornelis H; van Dalen, Jorn A

    2016-12-01

    For tumour imaging with PET, the literature proposes to administer a patient-specific FDG activity that depends quadratically on a patient's body weight. However, a practical approach on how to implement such a protocol in clinical practice is currently lacking. We aimed to provide a practical method to determine a FDG activity formula for whole-body PET examinations that satisfies both the EANM guidelines and this quadratic relation. We have developed a methodology that results in a formula describing the patient-specific FDG activity to administer. A PET study using the NEMA NU-2001 image quality phantom forms the basis of our method. This phantom needs to be filled with 2.0 and 20.0 kBq FDG/mL in the background and spheres, respectively. After a PET acquisition of 10 min, a reconstruction has to be performed that results in sphere recovery coefficients (RCs) that are within the specifications as defined by the EANM Research Ltd (EARL). By performing reconstructions based on shorter scan durations, the minimal scan time per bed position (T min) needs to be extracted using an image coefficient of variation (COV) of 15 %. At T min, the RCs should be within EARL specifications as well. Finally, the FDG activity (in MBq) to administer can be described by [Formula: see text] with c a constant that is typically 0.0533 (MBq/kg(2)), w the patient's body weight (in kg), and t the scan time per bed position that is chosen in a clinical setting (in seconds). We successfully demonstrated this methodology using a state-of-the-art PET/CT scanner. We provide a practical method that results in a formula describing the FDG activity to administer to individual patients for whole-body PET examinations, taking into account both the EANM guidelines and a quadratic relation between FDG activity and patient's body weight. This formula is generally applicable to any PET system, using a specified image reconstruction and scan time per bed position.

  18. Guidelines for the Development of Procedural Schematics for Research.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dolim, Michael P.

    To aid the student or researcher in the development of an effective procedural schematic (a graphic description of a research plan showing the steps needed to reach a stated objective), guidelines are presented under three topic headings: Compositional elements, taxonomy of research terms, and examples of procedural schematics. An introduction…

  19. Oregon Graduation Requirements: Guidelines for Record Keeping Procedures and Sample Forms.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Oregon State Dept. of Education, Salem.

    These guidelines and sample forms for record keeping are intended to serve as a supplement to Oregon Graduation Requirements, Administrative Guidelines (Section 1), which was published in September 1973. The purposes of the guidelines and sample forms are to outline various record-keeping procedures and to provide sample forms that districts may…

  20. Application Guidelines for Quality Assurance Procedures for Hybrid Microcircuits.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-03-01

    INSPECTION LIMITS SYMBOL TEST CONDITIONS UNITS SUBGROUP 6 TC = -55 DEGREES C AVI0 1 SAME AS SUBGROUP 5 -0.1 5 Vpp VOS SAME AS SUBGROUP 4 50 m%LC V0 2 ... 1 . Line Certification 2 . Fabrication Techniques and Material Qualification Procedures 3. Design Guidelines e. Application Guidelines. Items a through... 1 2 . GENERAL ................... ......... ................. 3 2.1 Summary of documents generated ........................ 3 2.2 Contract objectives

  1. Proposed Education Guidelines and Procedures: Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sac and Fox Nation, OK. Education Committee.

    These educational guidelines and procedures were developed after extensive review of current education programs for the Sac and Fox Nations of Oklahoma. The guidelines, prepared by a committee of local educators appointed by a tribal business committee, examined the anticipated needs for future generations of the Sac and Fox people. The document…

  2. Role of risk stratification by SPECT, PET, and hybrid imaging in guiding management of stable patients with ischaemic heart disease: expert panel of the EANM cardiovascular committee and EACVI.

    PubMed

    Acampa, Wanda; Gaemperli, Oliver; Gimelli, Alessia; Knaapen, Paul; Schindler, Thomas H; Verberne, Hein J; Zellweger, Michael J

    2015-12-01

    Risk stratification has become increasingly important in the management of patients with suspected or known ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Recent guidelines recommend that these patients have their care driven by risk assessment. The purpose of this position statement is to summarize current evidence on the value of cardiac single-photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and hybrid imaging in risk stratifying asymptomatic or symptomatic patients with suspected IHD, patients with stable disease, patients after coronary revascularization, heart failure patients, and specific patient population. In addition, this position statement evaluates the impact of imaging results on clinical decision-making and thereby its role in patient management. The document represents the opinion of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Cardiovascular Committee and of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) and intends to stimulate future research in this field. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2015. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  3. Guidelines and Procedures for Meeting the Specialized Physical Health Care Needs of Pupils.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lunden, Janet, Ed.

    This monograph presents the California State guidelines for providing physical health care services within the public school setting. Part I addresses administrative concerns. Included are sections on: education and chronic illness; professional roles; referral and evaluation; guidelines and procedures for transporting chronically ill pupils;…

  4. EANM guidelines for radionuclide therapy of bone metastases with beta-emitting radionuclides.

    PubMed

    Handkiewicz-Junak, Daria; Poeppel, Thorsten D; Bodei, Lisa; Aktolun, Cumali; Ezziddin, Samer; Giammarile, Francesco; Delgado-Bolton, Roberto C; Gabriel, Michael

    2018-05-01

    The skeleton is the most common metastatic site in patients with advanced cancer. Pain is a major healthcare problem in patients with bone metastases. Bone-seeking radionuclides that selectively accumulate in the bone are used to treat cancer-induced bone pain and to prolong survival in selected groups of cancer patients. The goals of these guidelines are to assist nuclear medicine practitioners in: (a) evaluating patients who might be candidates for radionuclide treatment of bone metastases using beta-emitting radionuclides such as strontium-89 ( 89 Sr), samarium-153 ( 153 Sm) lexidronam ( 153 Sm-EDTMP), and phosphorus-32 ( 32 P) sodium phosphate; (b) performing the treatments; and ©) understanding and evaluating the treatment outcome and side effects.

  5. Guidelines as rationing tools: a qualitative analysis of psychosocial patient selection criteria for cardiac procedures

    PubMed Central

    Giacomini, Mita K.; Cook, Deborah J.; Streiner, David L.; Anand, Sonia S.

    2001-01-01

    Background Cardiac procedure guidelines often include psychosocial criteria for selecting patients that potentially introduce social value judgements into clinical decisions and decisions about the rationing of care. The aim of this study was to investigate the terms and justifications for and the meanings of psychosocial patient characteristics used in cardiac procedure guidelines. Methods We selected English-language guidelines published since 1990 and chapters in textbooks published since 1989. These guidelines amalgamated multiple sources of evidence and expertise and made recommendations regarding patient selection for specific procedures. A multidisciplinary team of physicians and social scientists extracted passages regarding psychosocial criteria and developed categories and conceptual relationships to describe and interpret their content. Results Sixty-five papers met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Forty-five (69%) mentioned psychosocial criteria as procedure indications or contraindications. The latter fell into several categories, including behavioural and psychological issues, relationships with significant others, financial resources, social roles and environmental circumstances. Interpretation Psychosocial characteristics are portrayed as having 2 roles in patient selection: as risk factors intrinsic to the candidate or as indicators of need for special intervention. Guidelines typically simply list psychosocial contraindications without clarifying their specific nature or providing any justification for their use. Psychosocial considerations can help in the evaluation of patients for cardiac procedures, but they become ethically controversial when used to restrict access. The use of psychosocial indications and contraindications could be improved by more precise descriptions of the psychosocial problem at issue, explanations regarding why the criterion matters and justification of the characteristic using a biological rationale or research

  6. Policies and Procedures That Facilitate Implementation of Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines in U.S. Dental Schools.

    PubMed

    Polk, Deborah E; Nolan, Beth A D; Shah, Nilesh H; Weyant, Robert J

    2016-01-01

    The aim of this study was to determine the degree to which dental schools in the United States have policies and procedures in place that facilitate the implementation of evidence-based clinical guidelines. The authors sent surveys to all 65 U.S. dental schools in 2014; responses were obtained from 38 (58%). The results showed that, of the nine policies and procedures examined, only two were fully implemented by 50% or more of the responding schools: guidelines supported through clinical faculty education or available chairside (50%), and students informed of guidelines in both the classroom and clinic (65.8%). Although 92% of the respondents reported having an electronic health record, 80% of those were not using it to track compliance with guidelines. Five schools reported implementing more policies than the rest of the schools. The study found that the approach to implementing guidelines at most of the responding schools did not follow best practices although five schools had an exemplary set of policies and procedures to support guideline implementation. These results suggest that most dental schools are currently not implementing guidelines effectively and efficiently, but that the goal of schools' having a comprehensive implementation program for clinical guidelines is achievable since some are doing so. Future studies should determine whether interventions to improve implementation in dental schools are needed.

  7. Special Education Services: A Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    British Columbia Ministry of Education, 2013

    2013-01-01

    This resource conveys policies, procedures, and guidelines that support the delivery of special education services in British Columbia's (Canada) public schools. It was originally published in 1995 (ED414703), following an extensive provincial Special Education Review (1993-94). The purpose of this manual is to provide a single point of reference…

  8. Guideline for obtaining valid consent for gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures.

    PubMed

    Everett, Simon M; Griffiths, Helen; Nandasoma, U; Ayres, Katie; Bell, Graham; Cohen, Mike; Thomas-Gibson, Siwan; Thomson, Mike; Naylor, Kevin M T

    2016-10-01

    Much has changed since the last guideline of 2008, both in endoscopy and in the practice of obtaining informed consent, and it is vital that all endoscopists who are responsible for performing invasive and increasingly risky procedures are aware of the requirements for obtaining valid consent. This guideline is restricted to GI endoscopy but we cover elective and acute or emergency procedures. Few clinical trials have been carried out in relation to informed consent but most areas are informed by guidance from the General Medical Counsel (GMC) and/or are enshrined in legislation. Following an iterative voting process a series of recommendations have been drawn up that cover the majority of situations that will be encountered by endoscopists. This is not exhaustive and where doubt exists we have described where legal advice is likely to be required. This document relates to the law and endoscopy practice in the UK-where there is variation between the four devolved countries this is pointed out and endoscopists must be aware of the law where they practice. The recommendations are divided into consent for patients with and without capacity and we provide sections on provision of information and the consent process for patients in a variety of situations. This guideline is intended for use by all practitioners who request or perform GI endoscopy, or are involved in the pathway of such patients. If followed, we hope this document will enhance the experience of patients attending for endoscopy in UK units. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

  9. [Procedure guidelines for radioiodine therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer (version 2)].

    PubMed

    Dietlein, M; Dressler, J; Farahati, J; Grünwald, F; Leisner, B; Moser, E; Reiners, C; Schicha, H; Schober, O

    2004-08-01

    The procedure guidelines for radioiodine therapy (RIT) of differentiated thyroid cancer (version 2) are the counter-part to the procedure guidelines for (131)I whole-body scintigraphy (version 2) and specify the interdisciplinary guidelines for thyroid cancer of the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie concerning the nuclear medicine part. Compared with version 1 facultative options for RIT can be chosen in special cases: ablative RIT for papillary microcarcinoma

  10. Tri-Service Procedural Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessments. Volume 1.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1996-05-01

    appearance of product changes pH and a pH sensitive dye is present in the medium), by change in turbidity, or by the production of a precipitate or chemical...project has been the development of procedural guidelines for ecological risk assessment. The product of this effort will maximize the transfer of...constitute an official endorsement of any commercial products . This report may not be cited for the purpose of advertisement. This report has been

  11. 50 CFR 600.747 - Guidelines and procedures for determining new fisheries and gear.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 50 Wildlife and Fisheries 8 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Guidelines and procedures for determining new fisheries and gear. 600.747 Section 600.747 Wildlife and Fisheries FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE MAGNUSON-STEVENS ACT...

  12. Guidelines for the Use of Behavioral Procedures in State Programs for Retarded Persons.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    May, Jack G., Jr.; And Others

    One of six publications of the Research Advisory Committee of the National Association for Retarded Citizens, the monograph presents guidelines for using behavioral procedures with retarded individuals in residential settings, group living homes, sheltered workshops, or other settings. Addressed are the following topics (sample subtopics in…

  13. Guidelines and standard procedures for continuous water-quality monitors: Station operation, record computation, and data reporting

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Wagner, Richard J.; Boulger, Robert W.; Oblinger, Carolyn J.; Smith, Brett A.

    2006-01-01

    The U.S. Geological Survey uses continuous water-quality monitors to assess the quality of the Nation's surface water. A common monitoring-system configuration for water-quality data collection is the four-parameter monitoring system, which collects temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and pH data. Such systems also can be configured to measure other properties, such as turbidity or fluorescence. Data from sensors can be used in conjunction with chemical analyses of samples to estimate chemical loads. The sensors that are used to measure water-quality field parameters require careful field observation, cleaning, and calibration procedures, as well as thorough procedures for the computation and publication of final records. This report provides guidelines for site- and monitor-selection considerations; sensor inspection and calibration methods; field procedures; data evaluation, correction, and computation; and record-review and data-reporting processes, which supersede the guidelines presented previously in U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report WRIR 00-4252. These procedures have evolved over the past three decades, and the process continues to evolve with newer technologies.

  14. In-hospital rehabilitation after multiple joint procedures of the lower extremities in haemophilia patients: clinical guidelines for physical therapists.

    PubMed

    De Kleijn, P; Fischer, K; Vogely, H Ch; Hendriks, C; Lindeman, E

    2011-11-01

    This project aimed to develop guidelines for use during in-hospital rehabilitation after combinations of multiple joint procedures (MJP) of the lower extremities in persons with haemophilia (PWH). MJP are defined as surgical procedures on the ankles, knees and hips, performed in any combination, staged, or during a single session. MJP that we studied included total knee arthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty and ankle arthrodesis. Literature on rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated promising functional results, fewer hospitalization days and days lost from work. However, the complication rate is higher and rehabilitation needs optimal conditions. Since 1995, at the Van Creveldkliniek, 54 PWH have undergone MJP. During the rehabilitation in our hospital performed by experienced physical therapists, regular guidelines seemed useless. Guidelines will guarantee an optimal physical recovery and maximum benefit from this enormous investment. This will lead to an optimal functional capability and optimal quality of life for this elderly group of PWH. There are no existing guidelines for MJP, in haemophilia, revealed through a review of the literature. Therefore, a working group was formed to develop and implement such guidelines and the procedure is explained. The total group of PWH who underwent MJP is described, subdivided into combinations of joints. For these subgroups, the number of days in hospital, complications and profile at discharge, as well as a guideline on the clinical rehabilitation, are given. It contains a general part and a part for each specific subgroup. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  15. Developing clinical practice guidelines: target audiences, identifying topics for guidelines, guideline group composition and functioning and conflicts of interest

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Clinical practice guidelines are one of the foundations of efforts to improve health care. In 1999, we authored a paper about methods to develop guidelines. Since it was published, the methods of guideline development have progressed both in terms of methods and necessary procedures and the context for guideline development has changed with the emergence of guideline clearing houses and large scale guideline production organisations (such as the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). It therefore seems timely to, in a series of three articles, update and extend our earlier paper. In this first paper we discuss: the target audience(s) for guidelines and their use of guidelines; identifying topics for guidelines; guideline group composition (including consumer involvement) and the processes by which guideline groups function and the important procedural issue of managing conflicts of interest in guideline development. PMID:22762776

  16. Developing clinical practice guidelines: target audiences, identifying topics for guidelines, guideline group composition and functioning and conflicts of interest.

    PubMed

    Eccles, Martin P; Grimshaw, Jeremy M; Shekelle, Paul; Schünemann, Holger J; Woolf, Steven

    2012-07-04

    Clinical practice guidelines are one of the foundations of efforts to improve health care. In 1999, we authored a paper about methods to develop guidelines. Since it was published, the methods of guideline development have progressed both in terms of methods and necessary procedures and the context for guideline development has changed with the emergence of guideline clearing houses and large scale guideline production organisations (such as the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). It therefore seems timely to, in a series of three articles, update and extend our earlier paper. In this first paper we discuss: the target audience(s) for guidelines and their use of guidelines; identifying topics for guidelines; guideline group composition (including consumer involvement) and the processes by which guideline groups function and the important procedural issue of managing conflicts of interest in guideline development.

  17. Policy, Guidelines, and Procedures for the Selection and Classification of Provincially Authorized Learning Resources. Revised.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Adamson, Martin; And Others

    Intended for use by curriculum committees or individuals charged with responsibility for the selection of provincially authorized learning resources, this document contains guidelines and procedures intended to serve as minimum standard requirements for the provincial evaluation and selection of learning resources. Learning resources are defined…

  18. Handbook of Procedural Guidelines for Implementation of Special Education Curriculum: Critical Skills/Community-Based and Special Education Curriculum Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Riverside County Office of Education, CA. Div. of Special Schools and Services.

    The special education procedural handbook and the special education curriculum guide provide guidelines for teachers and other school personnel. The procedural handbook covers the following areas: individual education program process (IEP) and program placement, individual education program team, administrative placements, parent interviews,…

  19. EANM guideline for radionuclide therapy with radium-223 of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Poeppel, Thorsten D; Handkiewicz-Junak, Daria; Andreeff, Michael; Becherer, Alexander; Bockisch, Andreas; Fricke, Eva; Geworski, Lilli; Heinzel, Alexander; Krause, Bernd J; Krause, Thomas; Mitterhauser, Markus; Sonnenschein, Wilfried; Bodei, Lisa; Delgado-Bolton, Roberto C; Gabriel, Michael

    2018-05-01

    Radium Ra-223 dichloride (radium-223, Xofigo®) is a targeted alpha therapy approved for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with symptomatic bone metastases and no known visceral metastatic disease. Radium-223 is the first targeted alpha therapy in this indication providing a new treatment option, with evidence of a significant survival benefit, both in overall survival and in the time to the first symptomatic skeletal-related event. The skeleton is the most common metastatic site in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Bone metastases are a clinically significant cause of morbidity and mortality, often resulting in bone pain, pathologic fracture, or spinal cord compression necessitating treatment. Radium-223 is selectively accumulated in the bone, specifically in areas of high bone turnover, by forming complexes with the mineral hydroxyapatite (the inorganic matrix of the bone). The alpha radiation generated during the radioactive decay of radium-223 produces a palliative anti-tumour effect on the bone metastases. The purpose of this guideline is to assist nuclear medicine specialists in evaluating patients who might be candidates for treatment using radium-223, planning and performing this treatment, understanding and evaluating its consequences, and improving patient management during therapy and follow-up.

  20. Sedation assisted by an endoscopist (SAE) for complex endoscopic procedures. Is it time to change the current guidelines?

    PubMed

    Hernán Ocaña, Pablo

    2018-04-01

    Currently, sedation in endoscopic procedures is considered a necessary condition and a criterion of quality in digestive endoscopy. The role of SAE in conventional endoscopic procedures is clearly established in clinical guidelines, but this is not so clear in complex endoscopic procedures, such as ERCP. In recent years, numerous studies have been published, with results similar to those noticed in this article, endorsing the safety, efficacy and efficiency of SAE, when performed by properly trained staff.

  1. NASA Safety Standard: Guidelines and Assessment Procedures for Limiting Orbital Debris

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1995-01-01

    Collision with orbital debris is a hazard of growing concern as historically accepted practices and procedures have allowed man-made objects to accumulate in orbit. To limit future debris generation, NASA Management Instruction (NMI) 1700.8, 'Policy to Limit Orbital Debris Generation,' was issued in April of 1993. The NMI requires each program to conduct a formal assessment of the potential to generate orbital debris. This document serves as a companion to NMI 1700.08 and provides each NASA program with specific guidelines and assessment methods to assure compliance with the NMI. Each main debris assessment issue (e.g., Post Mission Disposal) is developed in a separate chapter.

  2. Developing clinical practice guidelines: reviewing, reporting, and publishing guidelines; updating guidelines; and the emerging issues of enhancing guideline implementability and accounting for comorbid conditions in guideline development

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Clinical practice guidelines are one of the foundations of efforts to improve health care. In 1999, we authored a paper about methods to develop guidelines. Since it was published, the methods of guideline development have progressed both in terms of methods and necessary procedures and the context for guideline development has changed with the emergence of guideline clearing houses and large scale guideline production organisations (such as the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). It therefore seems timely to, in a series of three articles, update and extend our earlier paper. In this third paper we discuss the issues of: reviewing, reporting, and publishing guidelines; updating guidelines; and the two emerging issues of enhancing guideline implementability and how guideline developers should approach dealing with the issue of patients who will be the subject of guidelines having co-morbid conditions. PMID:22762242

  3. Guidelines and standard procedures for studies of ground-water quality; selection and installation of wells, and supporting documentation

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Lapham, W.W.; Wilde, F.D.; Koterba, M.T.

    1997-01-01

    This is the first of a two-part report to document guidelines and standard procedures of the U.S. Geological Survey for the acquisition of data in ground-water-quality studies. This report provides guidelines and procedures for the selection and installation of wells for water-quality studies/*, and the required or recommended supporting documentation of these activities. Topics include (1) documentation needed for well files, field folders, and electronic files; (2) criteria and information needed for the selection of water-supply and observation wells, including site inventory and data collection during field reconnaissance; and (3) criteria and preparation for installation of monitoring wells, including the effects of equipment and materials on the chemistry of ground-water samples, a summary of drilling and coring methods, and information concerning well completion, development, and disposition.

  4. 5 CFR 720.206 - Selection guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 5 Administrative Personnel 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Selection guidelines. 720.206 Section 720... guidelines. This subpart sets forth requirements for a recruitment program, not a selection program... procedures and criteria must be consistent with the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures (43...

  5. 76 FR 77742 - Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-14

    ... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 136 [EPA-HQ-OW-2010-0192; FRL-9504-2] Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act; Analysis and Sampling... waste constituent. Similarly, if EPA has established sampling requirements, measurements taken under an...

  6. 29 CFR 2509.75-10 - Interpretive bulletin relating to the ERISA Guidelines and the Special Reliance Procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 29 Labor 9 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Interpretive bulletin relating to the ERISA Guidelines and the Special Reliance Procedure. 2509.75-10 Section 2509.75-10 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR GENERAL INTERPRETIVE BULLETINS...

  7. 28 CFR 42.306 - Guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 28 Judicial Administration 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Guidelines. 42.306 Section 42.306... PROCEDURES Equal Employment Opportunity Program Guidelines § 42.306 Guidelines. (a) Recipient agencies are... guidelines under their equal employment opportunity program which will correct, in a timely manner, any...

  8. [Complementary and alternative procedures for fibromyalgia syndrome : Updated guidelines 2017 and overview of systematic review articles].

    PubMed

    Langhorst, J; Heldmann, P; Henningsen, P; Kopke, K; Krumbein, L; Lucius, H; Winkelmann, A; Wolf, B; Häuser, W

    2017-06-01

    The regular update of the guidelines on fibromyalgia syndrome, AWMF number 145/004, was scheduled for April 2017. The guidelines were developed by 13 scientific societies and 2 patient self-help organizations coordinated by the German Pain Society. Working groups (n =8) with a total of 42 members were formed balanced with respect to gender, medical expertise, position in the medical or scientific hierarchy and potential conflicts of interest. A search of the literature for systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials of complementary and alternative therapies from December 2010 to May 2016 was performed in the Cochrane library, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus databases. Levels of evidence were assigned according to the classification system of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine version 2009. The strength of recommendations was formed by multiple step formalized procedures to reach a consensus. Efficacy, risks, patient preferences and applicability of available therapies were weighed up against each other. The guidelines were reviewed and approved by the board of directors of the societies engaged in the development of the guidelines. Meditative movement therapies (e.g. qi gong, tai chi and yoga) are strongly recommended. Acupuncture and weight reduction in cases of obesity can be considered.

  9. Standard Guidelines of Care: Performing Procedures in Patients on or Recently Administered with Isotretinoin

    PubMed Central

    Mysore, Venkataram; Mahadevappa, Omprakash H.; Barua, Shyamanta; Majid, Imran; Viswanath, Vishalakshi; Bhat, Ramesh M.; Talwar, Suresh; Thurakkal, Salim; Aurangabadkar, Sanjeev J.; Chatterjee, Manas; Ganjoo, Anil

    2017-01-01

    Background: Currently, the standard protocol regarding the performance of procedures on patients receiving or having recently received isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) states that the procedures should not be performed. The recommendations in standard books and drug insert require discontinuation of isotretinoin for 6 months before performing cosmetic procedures, including waxing, dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser procedures, or incisional and excisional cold-steel surgery. These recommendations have been followed for over two decades despite little evidence for the stated increased risk of scarring. Objective: The Association of Cutaneous Surgeons (I) constituted a task force to review the evidence and to recommend consensus guidelines regarding the safety of skin procedures, including resurfacing, energy-device treatments, and dermatosurgical procedures in patients with concurrent or recent isotretinoin administration. Materials and Methods: Data were extracted from the literature through a PubMed search using the keywords “isotretinoin,” “safety,” “scarring,” “keloids,” “hypertrophic scarring,” and “pigmentation.” The evidence was then labeled and circulated to all members of task force for review. Results: The task force is of the opinion that there is insufficient evidence to support the current protocol of avoiding and delaying treatments in the patient group under consideration and recommends that the current practice should be discontinued. The task force concludes that performing procedures such as laser hair removal, fractional lasers for aging and acne scarring, lasers for pigmented skin lesions, fractional radio-frequency microneedling, superficial and medium-depth peels, microdermabrasion, dermaroller, biopsies, radio-frequency ablation, and superficial excisions is safe in patients with concurrent or recent isotretinoin administration. PMID:29491653

  10. Undergraduate Professional Education in Chemistry: Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

    Provided are guidelines for evaluating undergraduate professional education in chemistry. The guidelines summarize an approved program as including: 400 hours of classroom work; 500 hours of laboratory work; a core curriculum covering principles of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry; 1 year of advanced work in chemistry or…

  11. 32 CFR 231.11 - Guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 32 National Defense 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Guidelines. 231.11 Section 231.11 National... PROCEDURES GOVERNING BANKS, CREDIT UNIONS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ON DOD INSTALLATIONS Guidelines for Application of the Privacy Act to Financial Institution Operations § 231.11 Guidelines. (a) The...

  12. Guidance on validation and qualification of processes and operations involving radiopharmaceuticals.

    PubMed

    Todde, S; Peitl, P Kolenc; Elsinga, P; Koziorowski, J; Ferrari, V; Ocak, E M; Hjelstuen, O; Patt, M; Mindt, T L; Behe, M

    2017-01-01

    Validation and qualification activities are nowadays an integral part of the day by day routine work in a radiopharmacy. This document is meant as an Appendix of Part B of the EANM "Guidelines on Good Radiopharmacy Practice (GRPP)" issued by the Radiopharmacy Committee of the EANM, covering the qualification and validation aspects related to the small-scale "in house" preparation of radiopharmaceuticals. The aim is to provide more detailed and practice-oriented guidance to those who are involved in the small-scale preparation of radiopharmaceuticals which are not intended for commercial purposes or distribution. The present guideline covers the validation and qualification activities following the well-known "validation chain", that begins with editing the general Validation Master Plan document, includes all the required documentation (e.g. User Requirement Specification, Qualification protocols, etc.), and leads to the qualification of the equipment used in the preparation and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals, until the final step of Process Validation. A specific guidance to the qualification and validation activities specifically addressed to small-scale hospital/academia radiopharmacies is here provided. Additional information, including practical examples, are also available.

  13. Fundamentos, Orientaciones, Areas Basicas y Procedimientos para la Investigacion Educativa (Bases, Guidelines, Basic Areas, and Procedures for Educational Research).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ministerio de Educacion Nacional, Bogota (Colombia). Instituto Colombiano de Pedagogia.

    This document establishes the bases, general guidelines, basic areas, and procedures for educational research conducted in Colombia. The philosophy underlying research objectives is explained. There is special interest in social research concerning the condition of man and of the social groups that will be the targets of education, and in research…

  14. Guidelines and standard procedures for continuous water-quality monitors: Site selection, field operation, calibration, record computation, and reporting

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Wagner, Richard J.; Mattraw, Harold C.; Ritz, George F.; Smith, Brett A.

    2000-01-01

    The U.S. Geological Survey uses continuous water-quality monitors to assess variations in the quality of the Nation's surface water. A common system configuration for data collection is the four-parameter water-quality monitoring system, which collects temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and pH data, although systems can be configured to measure other properties such as turbidity or chlorophyll. The sensors that are used to measure these water properties require careful field observation, cleaning, and calibration procedures, as well as thorough procedures for the computation and publication of final records. Data from sensors can be used in conjunction with collected samples and chemical analyses to estimate chemical loads. This report provides guidelines for site-selection considerations, sensor test methods, field procedures, error correction, data computation, and review and publication processes. These procedures have evolved over the past three decades, and the process continues to evolve with newer technologies.

  15. Nondiscrimination on the basis of handicap; procedures and guidelines relating to health care for handicapped infants--HHS. Final rules.

    PubMed

    1984-01-12

    These are final rules on procedures and guidelines relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of handicap in connection with health care for handicapped infants. These rules are issued under the authority of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance.

  16. Measure Guideline: Ventilation Cooling

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Springer, D.; Dakin, B.; German, A.

    2012-04-01

    The purpose of this measure guideline is to provide information on a cost-effective solution for reducing cooling system energy and demand in homes located in hot-dry and cold-dry climates. This guideline provides a prescriptive approach that outlines qualification criteria, selection considerations, and design and installation procedures.

  17. 28 CFR 42.306 - Guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... denying equal employment opportunities to minority individuals and women. (b) Equal employment program... Judicial Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NONDISCRIMINATION; EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY; POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Equal Employment Opportunity Program Guidelines § 42.306 Guidelines. (a) Recipient agencies are...

  18. Guidelines for Neurotoxicity Risk Assessment

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    These Guidelines set forth principles and procedures to guide EPA scientists in evaluating environmental contaminants that may pose neurotoxic risks, and inform Agency decision makers and the public about these procedures.

  19. Measure Guideline: Ventilation Cooling

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Springer, D.; Dakin, B.; German, A.

    2012-04-01

    The purpose of this measure guideline on ventilation cooling is to provide information on a cost-effective solution for reducing cooling system energy and demand in homes located in hot-dry and cold-dry climates. This guideline provides a prescriptive approach that outlines qualification criteria, selection considerations, and design and installation procedures.

  20. Guideline Implementation: Surgical Smoke Safety.

    PubMed

    Fencl, Jennifer L

    2017-05-01

    Research conducted during the past four decades has demonstrated that surgical smoke generated from the use of energy-generating devices in surgery contains toxic and biohazardous substances that present risks to perioperative team members and patients. Despite the increase in information available, however, perioperative personnel continue to demonstrate a lack of knowledge of these hazards and lack of compliance with recommendations for evacuating smoke during surgical procedures. The new AORN "Guideline for surgical smoke safety" provides guidance on surgical smoke management. This article focuses on key points of the guideline to help perioperative personnel promote smoke-free work environments; evacuate surgical smoke; and develop education programs and competency verification tools, policies and procedures, and quality improvement initiatives related to controlling surgical smoke. Perioperative RNs should review the complete guideline for additional information and for guidance when writing and updating policies and procedures. Copyright © 2017 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Implementation of study results in guidelines and adherence to guidelines in clinical practice.

    PubMed

    Waldfahrer, Frank

    2016-01-01

    Guidelines were introduced in hospital- and practice-based otorhinolaryngology in the 1990ies, and have been undergoing further development ever since. There are currently 20 guidelines on file at the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head & Neck Surgery. The society has cooperated in further 34 guidelines. The quality of the guidelines has been continuously improved by concrete specifications put forward by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V., AWMF). Since increasing digitalization has made access to scientific publications quicker and simpler, relevant study results can be incorporated in guidelines more easily today than in the analog world. S2e and S3 guidelines must be based on a formal literature search with subsequent evaluation of the evidence. The consensus procedure for S2k guidelines is also regulated. However, the implementation of guidelines in routine medical practice must still be considered inadequate, and there is still a considerable need for improvement in adherence to these guidelines.

  2. Journal of Wildlife Management guidelines

    Treesearch

    William M. Block; Frank R. Thompson; Dawn Hanseder; Allison Cox; Anna Knipps

    2011-01-01

    These Guidelines apply to all Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM, The Journal) submissions. Publishing a professional manuscript proceeds most smoothly if authors understand the policy, procedures, format, and style of the outlet to which they are submitting a manuscript. These instructions supersede all previous guidelines. Manuscripts that clearly deviate from this...

  3. Implementation of study results in guidelines and adherence to guidelines in clinical practice

    PubMed Central

    Waldfahrer, Frank

    2016-01-01

    Guidelines were introduced in hospital- and practice-based otorhinolaryngology in the 1990ies, and have been undergoing further development ever since. There are currently 20 guidelines on file at the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head & Neck Surgery. The society has cooperated in further 34 guidelines. The quality of the guidelines has been continuously improved by concrete specifications put forward by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V., AWMF). Since increasing digitalization has made access to scientific publications quicker and simpler, relevant study results can be incorporated in guidelines more easily today than in the analog world. S2e and S3 guidelines must be based on a formal literature search with subsequent evaluation of the evidence. The consensus procedure for S2k guidelines is also regulated. However, the implementation of guidelines in routine medical practice must still be considered inadequate, and there is still a considerable need for improvement in adherence to these guidelines. PMID:28025601

  4. Combining tabular, rule-based, and procedural knowledge in computer-based guidelines for childhood immunization.

    PubMed

    Miller, P L; Frawley, S J; Sayward, F G; Yasnoff, W A; Duncan, L; Fleming, D W

    1997-06-01

    IMM/Serve is a computer program which implements the clinical guidelines for childhood immunization. IMM/Serve accepts as input a child's immunization history. It then indicates which vaccinations are due and which vaccinations should be scheduled next. The clinical guidelines for immunization are quite complex and are modified quite frequently. As a result, it is important that IMM/Serve's knowledge be represented in a format that facilitates the maintenance of that knowledge as the field evolves over time. To achieve this goal, IMM/Serve uses four representations for different parts of its knowledge base: (1) Immunization forecasting parameters that specify the minimum ages and wait-intervals for each dose are stored in tabular form. (2) The clinical logic that determines which set of forecasting parameters applies for a particular patient in each vaccine series is represented using if-then rules. (3) The temporal logic that combines dates, ages, and intervals to calculate recommended dates, is expressed procedurally. (4) The screening logic that checks each previous dose for validity is performed using a decision table that combines minimum ages and wait intervals with a small amount of clinical logic. A knowledge maintenance tool, IMM/Def, has been developed to help maintain the rule-based logic. The paper describes the design of IMM/Serve and the rationale and role of the different forms of knowledge used.

  5. 48 CFR 13.202 - Purchase guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Purchase guidelines. 13.202 Section 13.202 Federal Acquisition Regulations System FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION CONTRACTING METHODS AND CONTRACT TYPES SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES Actions at or Below the Micro-Purchase Threshold 13.202 Purchase guidelines. (a)...

  6. European guidelines for the accreditation of Sleep Medicine Centres.

    PubMed

    Pevernagie, Dirk

    2006-06-01

    This document describes guidelines for accreditation of Sleep Medicine Centres in Europe. These guidelines are the result of a consensus procedure, in which representatives of the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) and representatives of different European National Sleep Societies (ENSS) were involved. The information obtained during different rounds of consultation was gathered and processed by the members of the Steering Committee of the ESRS. The scope of the guidelines is to define the characteristics of multidisciplinary Sleep Medicine Centres (SMCs), in terms of requirements regarding staff, operational procedures and logistic facilities. Accreditation of SMCs is proposed to be the responsibility of the individual ENSS. The Accreditation Guidelines may thus be considered an instrument for the national societies to develop new or standardize existing accreditation questionnaires, as well as procedures for visiting the site, drafting the accreditation report, and finally, granting the accreditation. The Accreditation Guidelines are meant to be a line of action, that ideally should be followed as close as possible, but that may be subject to certain exceptions, depending on local customs or regulations.

  7. School Capital Policies, Regulations and Guidelines.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Alberta Dept. of Education, Edmonton. Finance and Administration Div.

    This document is a compendium of the policies, regulations, and guidelines that govern provincial school capital funding in Alberta. The compendium supplements the general framework of policies, guidelines, and procedures contained in the earlier Management and Finance Plan (MFP). Each section of the compendium contains a set of policies,…

  8. 77 FR 31069 - Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-24

    ... SENTENCING COMMISSION Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts AGENCY: United States... federal sentencing guidelines, and in accordance with Rule 5.2 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure, the... the judicial branch of the United States Government. The Commission promulgates sentencing guidelines...

  9. Addressing implementation challenges during guideline development - a case study of Swedish national guidelines for methods of preventing disease.

    PubMed

    Richter-Sundberg, Linda; Kardakis, Therese; Weinehall, Lars; Garvare, Rickard; Nyström, Monica E

    2015-01-22

    Many of the world's life threatening diseases (e.g. cancer, heart disease, stroke) could be prevented by eliminating life-style habits such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use. Incorporating evidence-based research on methods to change unhealthy lifestyle habits in clinical practice would be equally valuable. However gaps between guideline development and implementation are well documented, with implications for health care quality, safety and effectiveness. The development phase of guidelines has been shown to be important both for the quality in guideline content and for the success of implementation. There are, however, indications that guidelines related to general disease prevention methods encounter specific barriers compared to guidelines that are diagnosis-specific. In 2011 the Swedish National board for Health and Welfare launched guidelines with a preventive scope. The aim of this study was to investigate how implementation challenges were addressed during the development process of these disease preventive guidelines. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of the guideline development management group. Archival data detailing the guideline development process were also collected and used in the analysis. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis as the analytical framework. The study identified several strategies and approaches that were used to address implementation challenges during guideline development. Four themes emerged from the analysis: broad agreements and consensus about scope and purpose; a formalized and structured development procedure; systematic and active involvement of stakeholders; and openness and transparency in the specific guideline development procedure. Additional factors concerning the scope of prevention and the work environment of guideline developers were perceived to influence the possibilities to address implementation issues. This case study

  10. Technical standards and guidelines: molecular genetic testing for ultra-rare disorders.

    PubMed

    Maddalena, Anne; Bale, Sherri; Das, Soma; Grody, Wayne; Richards, Sue

    2005-10-01

    These standards and guidelines are designed primarily as an educational resource for clinical laboratory geneticists to help them provide quality clinical laboratory genetic services. Adherence to these standards and guidelines does not necessarily ensure a successful medical outcome. These standards and guidelines should not be considered inclusive of all proper procedures and tests or exclusive of other procedures and tests that are reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. In determining the propriety of any specific procedure or test, the clinical molecular geneticist should apply his or her own professional judgment to the specific clinical circumstances presented by the individual patient or specimen. It may be prudent, however, to document in the laboratory record the rationale for any significant deviation from these standards and guidelines.

  11. Guidelines on Hair Restoration for East Asian Patients.

    PubMed

    Lee, In-Joon; Jung, Jae Heon; Lee, Young-Ran; Kim, Jung Chul; Hwang, Sungjoo Tommy

    2016-07-01

    In East Asian countries, hair transplantation is a quite common procedure for treating pattern hair loss, cosmetically correcting the hairline, and correcting eyebrow and pubic hair defects. Although there are general guidelines concerning hair transplantation, certain factors need to be addressed to make the guidelines more specific and suitable to East Asian requirements. To provide guidelines for hairline design, donor harvesting, graft preparation and placement, and medical treatment that are appropriate for hair transplantation in East Asian patients. Recommendations are based on the experience of the authors, surgeons who perform hair transplantation, and a comprehensive review of the available literature on hair transplantation in East Asians. Data on hair thickness and graft density, hairline design, and graft creation and placement techniques have been collaboratively evaluated and used to establish overall guidelines. The use of the proposed guidelines by surgeons will hopefully enhance outcomes and bring greater consistency to hair transplantation procedures for East Asian patients.

  12. UK guidelines on oesophageal dilatation in clinical practice

    PubMed Central

    Sami, Sarmed S; Haboubi, Hasan N; Ang, Yeng; Boger, Philip; Bhandari, Pradeep; de Caestecker, John; Griffiths, Helen; Haidry, Rehan; Patel, Praful; Paterson, Stuart; Ragunath, Krish; Watson, Peter; Siersema, Peter D; Attwood, Stephen E

    2018-01-01

    These are updated guidelines which supersede the original version published in 2004. This work has been endorsed by the Clinical Services and Standards Committee of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) under the auspices of the oesophageal section of the BSG. The original guidelines have undergone extensive revision by the 16 members of the Guideline Development Group with representation from individuals across all relevant disciplines, including the Heartburn Cancer UK charity, a nursing representative and a patient representative. The methodological rigour and transparency of the guideline development processes were appraised using the revised Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool. Dilatation of the oesophagus is a relatively high-risk intervention, and is required by an increasing range of disease states. Moreover, there is scarcity of evidence in the literature to guide clinicians on how to safely perform this procedure. These guidelines deal specifically with the dilatation procedure using balloon or bougie devices as a primary treatment strategy for non-malignant narrowing of the oesophagus. The use of stents is outside the remit of this paper; however, for cases of dilatation failure, alternative techniques—including stents—will be listed. The guideline is divided into the following subheadings: (1) patient preparation; (2) the dilatation procedure; (3) aftercare and (4) disease-specific considerations. A systematic literature search was performed. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Develop­ment and Evaluation (GRADE) tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence and decide on the strength of recommendations made. PMID:29478034

  13. The development of oncology treatment guidelines: an analysis of the National Guidelines Clearinghouse.

    PubMed

    Palta, Manisha; Lee, W Robert

    2011-01-01

    In the last 2 decades, guidelines have been developed to improve quality of patient care. A recent editorial of guideline development procedures suggested the process has significant limitations that affect their scientific validity.(1) This prompted us to review oncology treatment guidelines to determine if such limitations are widespread. We performed a review of oncology treatment guidelines registered at the National Guidelines Clearinghouse (www.guideline.gov). Each guideline was independently reviewed by 2 authors and the following criteria were assessed: coordinating organization, guideline panel composition, reporting conflict of interest, peer review, dissent, expiration date, PubMed citation, and evidence-based scoring and grading of recommendations. Disagreements were resolved by consensus in subsequent discussions. Sixty-four guidelines were reviewed (39 [61%] were developed by a medical specialty society and 25 [39%] were developed by government agencies). Fifty (78%) guideline panels were multidisciplinary and 44 (69%) included individuals with epidemiologic and health services research expertise. Potential conflicts of interest were disclosed in 43 (67%) guidelines. Sixty (94%) guidelines underwent peer review, with external review in 31 (48%). Seventeen (27%) guidelines are indexed by PubMed. Fifty-one (80%) guidelines included evidence-based methodologies and 46 (72%) used evidence-based scoring of recommendations. Significant differences were observed according to coordinating organization (eg, disclosure of conflict of interest in 46% of guidelines developed by medical specialty societies versus 100% authored by government agencies [P <.0001]). The majority of oncology-related treatment guidelines registered at the National Guidelines Clearinghouse satisfy most of the criteria for sound guideline development. Significant differences in these criteria were observed according to the coordinating organization that developed the guideline. Copyright

  14. User systems guidelines for software projects

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Abrahamson, L.

    1986-04-01

    This manual presents guidelines for software standards which were developed so that software project-development teams and management involved in approving the software could have a generalized view of all phases in the software production procedure and the steps involved in completing each phase. Guidelines are presented for six phases of software development: project definition, building a user interface, designing software, writing code, testing code, and preparing software documentation. The discussions for each phase include examples illustrating the recommended guidelines. 45 refs. (DWL)

  15. 78 FR 40507 - Appendix B Guidelines for Reviewing Applications for Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-05

    ... AGENCY: Executive Office for United States Trustees, Justice. ACTION: Notice of internal procedural... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Appendix B Guidelines for Reviewing Applications for Compensation and... internal procedural guidelines in the Federal Register of June 17, 2013, concerning guidelines for...

  16. 28 CFR 513.32 - Guidelines for disclosure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 28 Judicial Administration 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Guidelines for disclosure. 513.32 Section 513.32 Judicial Administration BUREAU OF PRISONS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION ACCESS TO RECORDS Release of Information General Provisions and Procedures § 513.32 Guidelines for...

  17. 41 CFR 105-54.304 - Cost guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Cost guidelines. 105-54.304 Section 105-54.304 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management... Administration 54-ADVISORY COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT 54.3-Advisory Committee Procedures § 105-54.304 Cost guidelines...

  18. 32 CFR 199.10 - Appeal and hearing procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... issues shall be bound by policy manuals, instructions, procedures, and other guidelines issued by the ASD..., procedures, instructions or guidelines by the ASD(HA), or a designee, when the final decision is issued in... Department of Defense in the administration of CHAMPUS. (ii) Referral for review by ASD(HA). The Director...

  19. 28 CFR 55.24 - Procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (CONTINUED) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT REGARDING LANGUAGE MINORITY GROUPS Comment on This Part § 55.24 Procedure. These guidelines may be modified... parties. The Attorney General therefore invites public comments and suggestions on these guidelines. Any...

  20. 28 CFR 55.24 - Procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (CONTINUED) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT REGARDING LANGUAGE MINORITY GROUPS Comment on This Part § 55.24 Procedure. These guidelines may be modified... parties. The Attorney General therefore invites public comments and suggestions on these guidelines. Any...

  1. 28 CFR 55.24 - Procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (CONTINUED) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT REGARDING LANGUAGE MINORITY GROUPS Comment on This Part § 55.24 Procedure. These guidelines may be modified... parties. The Attorney General therefore invites public comments and suggestions on these guidelines. Any...

  2. PM Evaluation Guidelines.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bauch, Jerold P.

    This paper presents guidelines for the evaluation of candidate performance, the basic function of the evaluation component of the Georgia program model for the preparation of elementary school teachers. The three steps in the evaluation procedure are outlined: (1) proficiency module (PM) entry appraisal (pretest); (2) self evaluation and the…

  3. Periodontics and the new CDC guidelines.

    PubMed

    Basquill, Linda C; Basquill, Patrick J

    2004-07-01

    On December 19, 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings--2003. The publication was the first comprehensive dental infection control update since 1993. Although the guidelines are not directed toward a particular dental specialty, some recommendations may have a significant impact on the practice of periodontics because of the nature of the procedures that are considered routine to the specialty. This article deals with some of the issues addressed in the guidelines, highlighting topics of special interest to periodontists.

  4. Are BTS guidelines followed?

    PubMed

    2002-03-01

    In 1993, the British Thoracic Society (BTS) issued guidelines for the management of spontaneous pneumothorax. The study's aim was to determine the level of adherence to these guidelines at a London teaching hospital. A retrospective case note audit of 59 episodes was performed. In patients undergoing intervention, the initial procedure was simple aspiration in 32 (73 per cent) and chest tube insertion in 12 (27 per cent) cases, contrasting with the BTS recommendation that aspiration should be attempted first in all such patients. Simple aspiration was successful on 34 per cent of occasions. Successful aspiration was associated with a significantly shorter hospital stay (median 3, range 1-11 days) than either failed aspiration (7, 3-66 days) or chest tube insertion without aspiration (9, 3-16 days). Other areas where practice differed from the BTS guidelines were clamping of chest tubes and use of a pursestring suture for wound closure. A follow up questionnaire suggested a lack of familiarity with the guidelines. These findings indicate that current management of spontaneous pneumothorax deviates from the BTS guidelines in potentially important respects.

  5. Noise Assessment Guidelines.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schultz, Theodore J.; McMahon, Nancy M.

    The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in its efforts to provide decent housing and a suitable living environment, is concerned with noise as a major source of environmental pollution. To this end, these guidelines are presented to provide site screening techniques. The procedures described have been developed so that people…

  6. The wound/burn guidelines - 6: Guidelines for the management of burns.

    PubMed

    Yoshino, Yuichiro; Ohtsuka, Mikio; Kawaguchi, Masakazu; Sakai, Keisuke; Hashimoto, Akira; Hayashi, Masahiro; Madokoro, Naoki; Asano, Yoshihide; Abe, Masatoshi; Ishii, Takayuki; Isei, Taiki; Ito, Takaaki; Inoue, Yuji; Imafuku, Shinichi; Irisawa, Ryokichi; Ohtsuka, Masaki; Ogawa, Fumihide; Kadono, Takafumi; Kawakami, Tamihiro; Kukino, Ryuichi; Kono, Takeshi; Kodera, Masanari; Takahara, Masakazu; Tanioka, Miki; Nakanishi, Takeshi; Nakamura, Yasuhiro; Hasegawa, Minoru; Fujimoto, Manabu; Fujiwara, Hiroshi; Maekawa, Takeo; Matsuo, Koma; Yamasaki, Osamu; Le Pavoux, Andres; Tachibana, Takao; Ihn, Hironobu

    2016-09-01

    Burns are a common type of skin injury encountered at all levels of medical facilities from private clinics to core hospitals. Minor burns heal by topical treatment alone, but moderate to severe burns require systemic management, and skin grafting is often necessary also for topical treatment. Inappropriate initial treatment or delay of initial treatment may exert adverse effects on the subsequent treatment and course. Therefore, accurate evaluation of the severity and initiation of appropriate treatment are necessary. The Guidelines for the Management of Burn Injuries were issued in March 2009 from the Japanese Society for Burn Injuries as guidelines concerning burns, but they were focused on the treatment for extensive and severe burns in the acute period. Therefore, we prepared guidelines intended to support the appropriate diagnosis and initial treatment for patients with burns that are commonly encountered including minor as well as moderate and severe cases. Because of this intention of the present guidelines, there is no recommendation of individual surgical procedures. © 2016 Japanese Dermatological Association.

  7. Consensus guidelines for lumbar puncture in patients with neurological diseases.

    PubMed

    Engelborghs, Sebastiaan; Niemantsverdriet, Ellis; Struyfs, Hanne; Blennow, Kaj; Brouns, Raf; Comabella, Manuel; Dujmovic, Irena; van der Flier, Wiesje; Frölich, Lutz; Galimberti, Daniela; Gnanapavan, Sharmilee; Hemmer, Bernhard; Hoff, Erik; Hort, Jakub; Iacobaeus, Ellen; Ingelsson, Martin; Jan de Jong, Frank; Jonsson, Michael; Khalil, Michael; Kuhle, Jens; Lleó, Alberto; de Mendonça, Alexandre; Molinuevo, José Luis; Nagels, Guy; Paquet, Claire; Parnetti, Lucilla; Roks, Gerwin; Rosa-Neto, Pedro; Scheltens, Philip; Skårsgard, Constance; Stomrud, Erik; Tumani, Hayrettin; Visser, Pieter Jelle; Wallin, Anders; Winblad, Bengt; Zetterberg, Henrik; Duits, Flora; Teunissen, Charlotte E

    2017-01-01

    Cerebrospinal fluid collection by lumbar puncture (LP) is performed in the diagnostic workup of several neurological brain diseases. Reluctance to perform the procedure is among others due to a lack of standards and guidelines to minimize the risk of complications, such as post-LP headache or back pain. We provide consensus guidelines for the LP procedure to minimize the risk of complications. The recommendations are based on (1) data from a large multicenter LP feasibility study (evidence level II-2), (2) systematic literature review on LP needle characteristics and post-LP complications (evidence level II-2), (3) discussion of best practice within the Joint Programme Neurodegenerative Disease Research Biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's Disease and Biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis consortia (evidence level III). Our consensus guidelines address contraindications, as well as patient-related and procedure-related risk factors that can influence the development of post-LP complications. When an LP is performed correctly, the procedure is well tolerated and accepted with a low complication rate.

  8. [Patient's individuality and application of guidelines in surgery].

    PubMed

    Schulte, Michael

    2005-01-01

    Individual treatment decisions can become considerably conflictual in view of the co-existence of medical professional guidelines, recommendations based on evidence-based medicine (EBM), and juridical and economical directions. Medical guidelines are not subject to an external review process; also, due to reduced practicability, the surgeons' compliance with guidelines remains relatively low. Surgical treatment strategies can rely on randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in approximately 20% of the surgical procedures and on non-randomized trials in approximately 70% of the cases. No evidence is given in approximately 10% of the cases. Specific problems of implementation of EBM in surgical disciplines are represented by the difficulty of standardized procedures, the heterogeneity of the population, the impossibility to conduct double-blinded RCTs, a low statistical power, and a publication bias. Since individual diseases cannot be reduced to surgical cases manageable only by the application of guidelines, adequate treatment of individual patients requires the critical application of both external evidence and surgeon expertise (internal evidence).

  9. 5 CFR 2601.202 - Procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Procedure. 2601.202 Section 2601.202 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS STATUTORY GIFT ACCEPTANCE AUTHORITY Guidelines for Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts...

  10. 5 CFR 2601.202 - Procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Procedure. 2601.202 Section 2601.202 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS STATUTORY GIFT ACCEPTANCE AUTHORITY Guidelines for Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts...

  11. 5 CFR 2601.202 - Procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Procedure. 2601.202 Section 2601.202 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS STATUTORY GIFT ACCEPTANCE AUTHORITY Guidelines for Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts...

  12. 5 CFR 2601.202 - Procedure.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Procedure. 2601.202 Section 2601.202 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS STATUTORY GIFT ACCEPTANCE AUTHORITY Guidelines for Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts...

  13. European guidelines for workplace drug testing in oral fluid.

    PubMed

    Brcak, Michaela; Beck, Olof; Bosch, Tessa; Carmichael, Duncan; Fucci, Nadia; George, Claire; Piper, Mark; Salomone, Alberto; Schielen, Wim; Steinmeyer, Stefan; Taskinen, Sanna; Weinmann, Wolfgang

    2018-03-01

    These guidelines for Legally Defensible Workplace Drug Testing have been prepared and updated by the European Workplace Drug Testing Society (EWDTS). The European Guidelines are designed to establish best practice procedures whilst allowing individual countries to operate within the requirements of national customs and legislation. The EWDTS recommends that all European laboratories that undertake legally defensible workplace drug testing should use these guidelines as a template for accreditation. These guidelines are relevant to laboratory-based testing only. These guidelines follow current best practices and are constantly under review. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  14. 48 CFR 915.404-4-70-8 - Weighted guidelines application considerations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Weighted guidelines....404-4-70-8 Weighted guidelines application considerations. The Department has developed internal procedures to aid the contracting officer in the application of weighted guidelines and to assure a...

  15. Guidelines for Theatre Safety.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Texas Education Agency, Austin. Div. of Curriculum Development.

    Prepared to help school administrators and theatre arts teachers establish and maintain a safe environment for the actors, technicians, and audience members who participate in educational theatre programs, this guide is divided into two major sections. The first section presents administrative guidelines covering recommended procedures, teacher…

  16. Bariatric Surgery Procedures

    MedlinePlus

    ... Meetings of Interest Online Education Job Board CME Policies CBN Fellowship Certificate Research Grant Program Resources All Resources Approved Procedures Patient Safety Vignettes Dr. Mason Historical Library Governing Documents Guidelines Access and Insurance Position and ...

  17. Guidelines for Acoustical Measurements Inside Historical Opera Houses: Procedures and Validation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    POMPOLI, ROBERTO; PRODI, NICOLA

    2000-04-01

    The acoustics of Italian historical theatres is to be regarded as a cultural heritage, which is to be preserved and studied. These actions are imperative for handing down the heritage to future generations and to avoid its loss. In this paper, the technical means for scientific quantification of the acoustical heritage are presented in the form of operative guidelines for acoustical measurements inside historical theatres. The document includes the advice of international experts and is being employed during an extended measurement campaign inside renaissance and baroque historical theatres. A relevant part of the paper deals with the experimental validation of the recommendations given in the guidelines, achieved by a dedicated test session inside the Municipal Theatre of Ferrara.

  18. Guidelines for Reproductive Toxicity Risk Assessment

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    These guidelines discuss the scientific basis for concern about exposure to agents that cause reproductive toxicity and describe the principles and procedures to be followed in conducting risk assessments for reproductive toxicity.

  19. 41 CFR 109-27.5007-1 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...-INVENTORY MANAGEMENT 27.50-Inventory Management Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines § 109-27.5007-1 Procedures. The following procedures shall be established for taking physical inventory of stocks subjected to quantity controls as well as those under financial control: (a) Completion of a physical inventory...

  20. A guideline for adults with an indwelling urinary catheter in different health care Settings - methodological procedures

    PubMed

    Barbezat, Isabelle; Willener, Rita; Jenni, Giovanna; Hürlimann, Barbara; Geese, Franziska; Spichiger, Elisabeth

    2017-07-01

    Background: People with an indwelling urinary catheter often suffer from complications and health care professionals are regularly confronted with questions about catheter management. Clinical guidelines are widely accepted to promote evidence-based practice. In the literature, the adaptation of a guideline is described as a valid alternative to the development of a new one. Aim: To translate a guideline for the care for adults with an indwelling urinary catheter in the acute and long term care setting as well as for home care. To adapt the guideline to the Swiss context. Method: In a systematic and pragmatic process, clinical questions were identified, guidelines were searched and evaluated regarding clinical relevance and quality. After each step, the next steps were defined. Results: An English guideline was translated, adapted to the local context and supplemented. The adapted guideline was reviewed by experts, adapted again and approved. After 34 months and an investment of a total of 145 man working days, a guideline for the care for people with an indwelling urinary catheter is available for both institutions. Conclusions: Translation and adaptation of a guideline was a valuable alternative to the development of a new one; nevertheless, the efforts necessary should not be underestimated. For such a project, sufficient professional and methodological resources should be made available to achieve efficient guideline work by a constant team.

  1. Effect on hospital-wide sedation practices after implementation of the 2001 JCAHO procedural sedation and analgesia guidelines.

    PubMed

    Pitetti, Raymond; Davis, Peter J; Redlinger, Robert; White, Jean; Wiener, Eugene; Calhoun, Karen H

    2006-02-01

    To describe the effect of implementing the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization's guidelines for procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) on the frequency of adverse events occurring during sedation. Prospective, descriptive study. Urban, tertiary care children's hospital. Patients requiring PSA. A PSA committee and a standardized protocol for PSA were developed during a 6-month period. Institutional oversight was initiated to monitor practitioner compliance with the program. Data were abstracted from the sedation record. The change in incidence of adverse events during PSA during the study. The strength of the association was determined by computing the Pearson product moment correlation. A total of 14 386 patients received PSA between July 1, 2001, and June 30, 2004. During the study, 7.6% of patients had an adverse event, with the most common being hypoxemia (39.7% of all adverse events). A trend toward a decrease in the incidence of adverse events was found during the study (Pearson product moment correlation, -0.68; P<.001). Implementation of the 2001 Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations guidelines for the provision of PSA appeared to lead to a decrease in the incidence of adverse events during the study. Implementation of uniform standards of monitoring and care for the provision of PSA may lead to safer conditions for pediatric patients undergoing PSA.

  2. No. 247-Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Obstetric Procedures.

    PubMed

    van Schalkwyk, Julie; Van Eyk, Nancy

    2017-09-01

    To review the evidence and provide recommendations on antibiotic prophylaxis for obstetrical procedures. Outcomes evaluated include need and effectiveness of antibiotics to prevent infections in obstetrical procedures. Published literature was retrieved through searches of Medline and The Cochrane Library on the topic of antibiotic prophylaxis in obstetrical procedures. Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies. Searches were updated on a regular basis and articles published from January 1978 to June2009 were incorporated in the guideline. Current guidelines published by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology were also incorporated. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and health technology assessment-related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies. The evidence obtained was reviewed and evaluated by the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada under the leadership of the principal authors, and recommendations were made according to guidelines developed by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Table 1). Implementation of this guideline should reduce the cost and harm resulting from the administration of antibiotics when they are not required and the harm resulting from failure to administer antibiotics when they would be beneficial. RECOMMENDATIONS. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  3. 28 CFR 42.404 - Guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 28 Judicial Administration 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Guidelines. 42.404 Section 42.404 Judicial Administration DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NONDISCRIMINATION; EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY; POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Coordination of Enforcement of Non-discrimination in Federally Assisted Programs § 42.404...

  4. 28 CFR 50.14 - Guidelines on employee selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... out are: Assumptions of validity based on a procedure's name or descriptive labels; all forms of... relationship (e.g., correlation coefficient) between performance on a selection procedure and one or more... upon a study involving a large number of subjects and has a low correlation coefficient will be subject...

  5. 28 CFR 50.14 - Guidelines on employee selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... out are: Assumptions of validity based on a procedure's name or descriptive labels; all forms of... relationship (e.g., correlation coefficient) between performance on a selection procedure and one or more... upon a study involving a large number of subjects and has a low correlation coefficient will be subject...

  6. 28 CFR 50.14 - Guidelines on employee selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... out are: Assumptions of validity based on a procedure's name or descriptive labels; all forms of... relationship (e.g., correlation coefficient) between performance on a selection procedure and one or more... upon a study involving a large number of subjects and has a low correlation coefficient will be subject...

  7. 28 CFR 50.14 - Guidelines on employee selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... out are: Assumptions of validity based on a procedure's name or descriptive labels; all forms of... relationship (e.g., correlation coefficient) between performance on a selection procedure and one or more... upon a study involving a large number of subjects and has a low correlation coefficient will be subject...

  8. 28 CFR 50.14 - Guidelines on employee selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... out are: Assumptions of validity based on a procedure's name or descriptive labels; all forms of... relationship (e.g., correlation coefficient) between performance on a selection procedure and one or more... upon a study involving a large number of subjects and has a low correlation coefficient will be subject...

  9. Automated Essay Scoring: Psychometric Guidelines and Practices

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ramineni, Chaitanya; Williamson, David M.

    2013-01-01

    In this paper, we provide an overview of psychometric procedures and guidelines Educational Testing Service (ETS) uses to evaluate automated essay scoring for operational use. We briefly describe the e-rater system, the procedures and criteria used to evaluate e-rater, implications for a range of potential uses of e-rater, and directions for…

  10. Space station pressurized laboratory safety guidelines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mcgonigal, Les

    1990-01-01

    Before technical safety guidelines and requirements are established, a common understanding of their origin and importance must be shared between Space Station Program Management, the User Community, and the Safety organizations involved. Safety guidelines and requirements are driven by the nature of the experiments, and the degree of crew interaction. Hazard identification; development of technical safety requirements; operating procedures and constraints; provision of training and education; conduct of reviews and evaluations; and emergency preplanning are briefly discussed.

  11. Reconciling Pairs of Concurrently Used Clinical Practice Guidelines Using Constraint Logic Programming

    PubMed Central

    Wilk, Szymon; Michalowski, Martin; Michalowski, Wojtek; Hing, Marisela Mainegra; Farion, Ken

    2011-01-01

    This paper describes a new methodological approach to reconciling adverse and contradictory activities (called points of contention) occurring when a patient is managed according to two or more concurrently used clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). The need to address these inconsistencies occurs when a patient with more than one disease, each of which is a comorbid condition, has to be managed according to different treatment regimens. We propose an automatic procedure that constructs a mathematical guideline model using the Constraint Logic Programming (CLP) methodology, uses this model to identify and mitigate encountered points of contention, and revises the considered CPGs accordingly. The proposed procedure is used as an alerting mechanism and coupled with a guideline execution engine warns the physician about potential problems with the concurrent application of two or more guidelines. We illustrate the operation of our procedure in a clinical scenario describing simultaneous use of CPGs for duodenal ulcer and transient ischemic attack. PMID:22195153

  12. Reconciling pairs of concurrently used clinical practice guidelines using Constraint Logic Programming.

    PubMed

    Wilk, Szymon; Michalowski, Martin; Michalowski, Wojtek; Hing, Marisela Mainegra; Farion, Ken

    2011-01-01

    This paper describes a new methodological approach to reconciling adverse and contradictory activities (called points of contention) occurring when a patient is managed according to two or more concurrently used clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). The need to address these inconsistencies occurs when a patient with more than one disease, each of which is a comorbid condition, has to be managed according to different treatment regimens. We propose an automatic procedure that constructs a mathematical guideline model using the Constraint Logic Programming (CLP) methodology, uses this model to identify and mitigate encountered points of contention, and revises the considered CPGs accordingly. The proposed procedure is used as an alerting mechanism and coupled with a guideline execution engine warns the physician about potential problems with the concurrent application of two or more guidelines. We illustrate the operation of our procedure in a clinical scenario describing simultaneous use of CPGs for duodenal ulcer and transient ischemic attack.

  13. Interventional Spine and Pain Procedures in Patients on Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medications (Second Edition): Guidelines From the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the International Neuromodulation Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and the World Institute of Pain.

    PubMed

    Narouze, Samer; Benzon, Honorio T; Provenzano, David; Buvanendran, Asokumar; De Andres, José; Deer, Timothy; Rauck, Richard; Huntoon, Marc A

    2018-04-01

    The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) 2012 survey of meeting attendees showed that existing ASRA anticoagulation guidelines for regional anesthesia were insufficient for their needs. Those surveyed agreed that procedure-specific and patient-specific factors required separate guidelines for pain and spine procedures. In response, a guidelines committee was formed. After preliminary review of published complications reports and studies, the committee stratified interventional spine and pain procedures according to potential bleeding risk: low-, intermediate-, and high-risk procedures. The ASRA regional anesthesia anticoagulation guidelines were largely deemed appropriate for the low- and intermediate-risk categories, but the high-risk category required further investigation. The first guidelines specific to interventional spine and pain procedures were published in 2015. Recent reviews evaluating bleeding complications in patients undergoing specific interventional pain procedures, the development of new regional anesthesia and acute pain guidelines, and the development of new anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications necessitate complementary updated guidelines. The authors desired coordination with the authors of the recently updated regional and acute pain anticoagulation guidelines. The latest evidence was sought through extensive database search strategies and the recommendations were evidence based when available and pharmacology driven otherwise. We could not provide strength and grading of these recommendations because there are not enough well-designed large studies concerning interventional pain procedures to support such grading. Although the guidelines could not always be based on randomized studies or on large numbers of patients from pooled databases, it is hoped that they will provide sound recommendations and the evidentiary basis for such recommendations. This publication is intended as a living document to be updated

  14. When is good, good enough? Methodological pragmatism for sustainable guideline development.

    PubMed

    Browman, George P; Somerfield, Mark R; Lyman, Gary H; Brouwers, Melissa C

    2015-03-06

    Continuous escalation in methodological and procedural rigor for evidence-based processes in guideline development is associated with increasing costs and production delays that threaten sustainability. While health research methodologists are appropriately responsible for promoting increasing rigor in guideline development, guideline sponsors are responsible for funding such processes. This paper acknowledges that other stakeholders in addition to methodologists should be more involved in negotiating trade-offs between methodological procedures and efficiency in guideline production to produce guidelines that are 'good enough' to be trustworthy and affordable under specific circumstances. The argument for reasonable methodological compromise to meet practical circumstances is consistent with current implicit methodological practice. This paper proposes a conceptual tool as a framework to be used by different stakeholders in negotiating, and explicitly reporting, reasonable compromises for trustworthy as well as cost-worthy guidelines. The framework helps fill a transparency gap in how methodological choices in guideline development are made. The principle, 'when good is good enough' can serve as a basis for this approach. The conceptual tool 'Efficiency-Validity Methodological Continuum' acknowledges trade-offs between validity and efficiency in evidence-based guideline development and allows for negotiation, guided by methodologists, of reasonable methodological compromises among stakeholders. Collaboration among guideline stakeholders in the development process is necessary if evidence-based guideline development is to be sustainable.

  15. European guidelines for workplace drug testing in urine.

    PubMed

    Taskinen, Sanna; Beck, Olof; Bosch, Tessa; Brcak, Michaela; Carmichael, Duncan; Fucci, Nadia; George, Claire; Piper, Mark; Salomone, Alberto; Schielen, Wim; Steinmeyer, Stefan; Weinmann, Wolfgang

    2017-06-01

    These European Guidelines for Workplace Drug Testing in Urine have been prepared and updated by the European Workplace Drug Testing Society (EWDTS). The first version of these urine guidelines was published in 2002. Since then, the guidelines have been followed by many laboratories in different European countries and their role has been essential particularly in countries lacking legislation for workplace drug testing. In 2014, the EWDTS started a guidelines updating project and published a new version of the urine guidelines in 2015. Here we represent this updated version of the urine guidelines. The European Guidelines are designed to establish best practice procedures whilst allowing individual countries to operate within the requirements of national customs and legislation. The EWDTS recommends that all European laboratories that undertake legally defensible workplace drug testing should use these guidelines as a template for accreditation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  16. Standard operating procedures, water immersion facility, revision B

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1979-01-01

    General guideline procedures to identify those factors that are common to all spacecraft design laboratory support group emergency procedures and to establish the basic rescue plan are presented. This eliminates needless repetition of the fundamentals from the other, more specific procedures.

  17. Clinical decision guidelines for NHS cosmetic surgery: analysis of current limitations and recommendations for future development.

    PubMed

    Cook, S A; Rosser, R; Meah, S; James, M I; Salmon, P

    2003-07-01

    Because of increasing demand for publicly funded elective cosmetic surgery, clinical decision guidelines have been developed to select those patients who should receive it. The aims of this study were to identify: the main characteristics of such guidelines; whether and how they influence clinical decision making; and ways in which they should be improved. UK health authorities were asked for their current guidelines for elective cosmetic surgery and, in a single plastic surgery unit, we examined the impact of its guidelines by observing consultations and interviewing surgeons and managers. Of 115 authorities approached, 32 reported using guidelines and provided sufficient information for analysis. Guidelines mostly concerned arbitrary sets of cosmetic procedures and lacked reference to an evidence base. They allowed surgery for specified anatomical, functional or symptomatic reasons, but these indications varied between guidelines. Most guidelines also permitted surgery 'exceptionally' for psychological reasons. The guidelines that were studied in detail did not appreciably influence surgeons' decisions, which reflected criteria that were not cited in the guidelines, including cost of the procedure and whether patients sought restoration or improvement of their appearance. Decision guidelines in this area have several limitations. Future guidelines should: include all cosmetic procedures; be informed by a broad range of evidence; and, arguably, include several nonclinical criteria that currently inform surgeons' decision-making.

  18. How to Write Effective Procedure Manuals.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wold, Geoffrey H.

    1987-01-01

    Describes six key guidelines for developing usable procedure manuals, including defining the audience; designing a standard format; preparing an outline; using a clear, concise writing style; testing the procedures; and "finalizing" the product with indices, glossaries, appendices, and section tabs. Well-written manuals can increase…

  19. 42 CFR 422.202 - Participation procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... procedures. (a) Notice and appeal rights. An MA organization that operates a coordinated care plan or network... of groups of physicians, through reasonable procedures that include the following: (1) Written notice... guidelines. (c) Subcontracted groups. An MA organization that operates an MA plan through subcontracted...

  20. Systematic Review of Guidelines for the Management of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis.

    PubMed

    Abbott, Anne L; Paraskevas, Kosmas I; Kakkos, Stavros K; Golledge, Jonathan; Eckstein, Hans-Henning; Diaz-Sandoval, Larry J; Cao, Longxing; Fu, Qiang; Wijeratne, Tissa; Leung, Thomas W; Montero-Baker, Miguel; Lee, Byung-Chul; Pircher, Sabine; Bosch, Marije; Dennekamp, Martine; Ringleb, Peter

    2015-11-01

    We systematically compared and appraised contemporary guidelines on management of asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. We systematically searched for guideline recommendations on carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid angioplasty/stenting (CAS) published in any language between January 1, 2008, and January 28, 2015. Only the latest guideline per writing group was selected. Each guideline was analyzed independently by 2 to 6 authors to determine clinical scenarios covered, recommendations given, and scientific evidence used. Thirty-four eligible guidelines were identified from 23 different regions/countries in 6 languages. Of 28 guidelines with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis procedural recommendations, 24 (86%) endorsed CEA (recommended it should or may be provided) for ≈50% to 99% average-surgical-risk asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, 17 (61%) endorsed CAS, 8 (29%) opposed CAS, and 1 (4%) endorsed medical treatment alone. For asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis patients considered high-CEA-risk because of comorbidities, vascular anatomy, or undefined reasons, CAS was endorsed in 13 guidelines (46%). Thirty-one of 33 guidelines (94%) with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis procedural recommendations endorsed CEA for patients with ≈50% to 99% average-CEA-risk symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, 19 (58%) endorsed CAS and 9 (27%) opposed CAS. For high-CEA-risk symptomatic carotid artery stenosis because of comorbidities, vascular anatomy, or undefined reasons, CAS was endorsed in 27 guidelines (82%). Guideline procedural recommendations were based only on results of trials in which patients were randomized 12 to 34 years ago, rarely reflected medical treatment improvements and often understated potential CAS hazards. Qualifying terminology summarizing recommendations or evidence lacked standardization, impeding guideline interpretation, and comparison. This systematic review has identified many opportunities to modernize and

  1. Guidelines for Professional Staff Selection. A Guide to Job Responsibilities of the School Personnel Administrator.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    American Association of School Personnel Administrators, Seven Hills, OH.

    These guidelines are intended to provide personnel administrators with a means of evaluating their current practices and procedures in teacher selection. The guidelines cover recruitment, hiring criteria, employment interviews, and the follow-up to selection. A suggested personnel selection procedure outlines application, file preparation, and the…

  2. 29 CFR 1606.6 - Selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 29 Labor 4 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Selection procedures. 1606.6 Section 1606.6 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION... the use of the following selection procedures may be discriminatory on the basis of national origin...

  3. 29 CFR 1606.6 - Selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 29 Labor 4 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Selection procedures. 1606.6 Section 1606.6 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION... the use of the following selection procedures may be discriminatory on the basis of national origin...

  4. 29 CFR 1606.6 - Selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 29 Labor 4 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Selection procedures. 1606.6 Section 1606.6 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION... the use of the following selection procedures may be discriminatory on the basis of national origin...

  5. 29 CFR 1606.6 - Selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 29 Labor 4 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Selection procedures. 1606.6 Section 1606.6 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION... the use of the following selection procedures may be discriminatory on the basis of national origin...

  6. 29 CFR 1606.6 - Selection procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 29 Labor 4 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Selection procedures. 1606.6 Section 1606.6 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION... the use of the following selection procedures may be discriminatory on the basis of national origin...

  7. 40 CFR 401.13 - Test procedures for measurement.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 29 2011-07-01 2009-07-01 true Test procedures for measurement. 401.13 Section 401.13 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS GENERAL PROVISIONS § 401.13 Test procedures for measurement. The test procedures for...

  8. Tokyo Guidelines 2018: management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis.

    PubMed

    Mayumi, Toshihiko; Okamoto, Kohji; Takada, Tadahiro; Strasberg, Steven M; Solomkin, Joseph S; Schlossberg, David; Pitt, Henry A; Yoshida, Masahiro; Gomi, Harumi; Miura, Fumihiko; Garden, O James; Kiriyama, Seiki; Yokoe, Masamichi; Endo, Itaru; Asbun, Horacio J; Iwashita, Yukio; Hibi, Taizo; Umezawa, Akiko; Suzuki, Kenji; Itoi, Takao; Hata, Jiro; Han, Ho-Seong; Hwang, Tsann-Long; Dervenis, Christos; Asai, Koji; Mori, Yasuhisa; Huang, Wayne Shih-Wei; Belli, Giulio; Mukai, Shuntaro; Jagannath, Palepu; Cherqui, Daniel; Kozaka, Kazuto; Baron, Todd H; de Santibañes, Eduardo; Higuchi, Ryota; Wada, Keita; Gouma, Dirk J; Deziel, Daniel J; Liau, Kui-Hin; Wakabayashi, Go; Padbury, Robert; Jonas, Eduard; Supe, Avinash Nivritti; Singh, Harjit; Gabata, Toshifumi; Chan, Angus C W; Lau, Wan Yee; Fan, Sheung Tat; Chen, Miin-Fu; Ker, Chen-Guo; Yoon, Yoo-Seok; Choi, In-Seok; Kim, Myung-Hwan; Yoon, Dong-Sup; Kitano, Seigo; Inomata, Masafumi; Hirata, Koichi; Inui, Kazuo; Sumiyama, Yoshinobu; Yamamoto, Masakazu

    2018-01-01

    Management bundles that define items or procedures strongly recommended in clinical practice have been used in many guidelines in recent years. Application of these bundles facilitates the adaptation of guidelines and helps improve the prognosis of target diseases. In Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13), we proposed management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Here, in Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18), we redefine the management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Critical parts of the bundles in TG18 include the diagnostic process, severity assessment, transfer of patients if necessary, and therapeutic approach at each time point. Observance of these items and procedures should improve the prognosis of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Studies are now needed to evaluate the dissemination of these TG18 bundles and their effectiveness. Free full articles and mobile app of TG18 are available at: http://www.jshbps.jp/modules/en/index.php?content_id=47. Related clinical questions and references are also included. © 2017 Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.

  9. Guideline Implementation: Hand Hygiene.

    PubMed

    Goldberg, Judith L

    2017-02-01

    Performing proper hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis is essential to reducing the rates of health care-associated infections, including surgical site infections. The updated AORN "Guideline for hand hygiene" provides guidance on hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis, the wearing of fingernail polish and artificial nails, proper skin care to prevent dermatitis, the wearing of jewelry, hand hygiene product selection, and quality assurance and performance improvement considerations. This article focuses on key points of the guideline to help perioperative personnel make informed decisions about hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis. The key points address the necessity of keeping fingernails and skin healthy, not wearing jewelry on the hands or wrists in the perioperative area, properly performing hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis, and involving patients and visitors in hand hygiene initiatives. Perioperative RNs should review the complete guideline for additional information and for guidance when writing and updating policies and procedures. Copyright © 2017 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. 40 CFR 240.200-3 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures § 240.200-3 Recommended procedures: Operations. (a) Storage areas for special wastes should be... acceptance of Special Wastes. ...

  11. 40 CFR 240.200-3 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures § 240.200-3 Recommended procedures: Operations. (a) Storage areas for special wastes should be... acceptance of Special Wastes. ...

  12. A survey on the methodological processes and policies of renal guideline groups as a first step to harmonize renal guidelines.

    PubMed

    Haller, Maria C; van der Veer, Sabine N; Nagler, Evi V; Tomson, Charlie; Lewington, Andrew; Hemmelgarn, Brenda R; Gallagher, Martin; Rocco, Michael; Obrador, Gregorio; Vanholder, Raymond; Craig, Jonathan C; van Biesen, Wim

    2015-07-01

    guideline development groups and six make their methods public. All try to avoid overlapping topics already planned or published by others. There is no common conflict of interest policy. Overall, there is considerable commonality in methods and approaches in renal guideline development by the different organizations, although some procedural differences remain. As the financial and human resource costs of guideline production are high, a collaborative approach is required to maximize impact and develop a sustainable work plan. Coming to consensus on methods and procedures is the first step and appears feasible. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.

  13. Measure Guideline: Buried and/or Encapsulated Ducts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shapiro, C.; Zoeller, W.; Mantha, P.

    2013-08-01

    Buried and/or encapsulated ducts (BEDs) are a class of advanced, energy-efficiency strategies intended to address the significant ductwork thermal losses associated with ducts installed in unconditioned attics. BEDs are ducts installed in unconditioned attics that are covered in loose-fill insulation and/or encapsulated in closed cell polyurethane spray foam insulation. This Measure Guideline covers the technical aspects of BEDs as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of BEDs compared to other alternative strategies. This guideline also provides detailed guidance on installation of BEDs strategies in new and existing homes through step-by-step installation procedures. Some of the procedures presented here, however,more » require specialized equipment or expertise. In addition, some alterations to duct systems may require a specialized license.« less

  14. Immediate Implants: Clinical Guidelines for Esthetic Outcomes

    PubMed Central

    Javaid, Mohammad A.; Khurshid, Zohaib; Zafar, Muhammad S.; Najeeb, Shariq

    2016-01-01

    Research has shown that tooth loss results in morphological changes in alveolar ridge that may influence the subsequent implant placement. Immediate implant placement was introduced as a possible means to limit bone resorption and reduce the number of surgical procedures following tooth extraction. Histological and clinical evidence from human clinical studies showing efficacy of immediate implants has come to light over the last decade or so. However, immediate implant placement is a challenging surgical procedure and requires proper case selection and surgical technique. Furthermore, there appears to be a lack of clinical guidelines for immediate implant placement case selection. Therefore, the aim of this mini-review is to analyze critical evidence from human studies in order to establish clinical guidelines which may help clinicians in case selection when considering immediate implant placement protocol. PMID:29563463

  15. Guideline Implementation: Energy-Generating Devices, Part 2-Lasers.

    PubMed

    Burlingame, Byron L

    2017-04-01

    Lasers have been used in the OR for many years and are essential tools in many different types of procedures. However, laser beams that come into contact with unintended targets directly or via reflection can cause injury to patients or personnel or pose other hazards, such as fires. The new AORN "Guideline for safe use of energy-generating devices" provides guidance on the use of all energy-generating devices in the OR. This article focuses on key points of the guideline that address the safe use of lasers. These include the components of the laser safety program, the responsibilities of the personnel in roles specific to use of a laser, laser safety measures, and documentation of laser use. Perioperative RNs should review the complete guideline for additional information and for guidance when writing and updating policies and procedures. Copyright © 2017 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Library Automation: Guidelines to Costing.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ford, Geoffrey

    As with all new programs, the costs associated with library automation must be carefully considered before implementation. This document suggests guidelines to be followed and areas to be considered in the costing of library procedures. An existing system model has been suggested as a standard (Appendix A) and a classification of library tasks…

  17. Child Health Guidelines: Health, Nutrition, Infants and Toddlers. Revised Edition.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Allison, Ursula; And Others

    Forms and guidelines presented in this manual were compiled and/or developed by staff of agencies serving nursery schools, group day care centers, and family day care homes. The health and safety guidelines focus on excluding ill children and staff, caring for ill children, safety policies, emergency procedures, fire emergencies, pets, bites, and…

  18. [Guideline development for rehabilitation of breast cancer patients - phase 2: findings from the classification of therapeutic procedures, KTL-data-analysis].

    PubMed

    Domann, U; Brüggemann, S; Klosterhuis, H; Weis, J

    2007-08-01

    Aim of this project is the development of an evidence based guideline for the rehabilitation of breast cancer patients, funded by the German Pension Insurance scheme. The project consists of four phases. This paper is focused on the 2nd phase, i.e., analysis of procedures in rehabilitation based on evidence based therapeutic modules. As a result of a systematic literature review 14 therapeutic modules were defined. From a total of 840 possible KTL Codes (Klassifikation Therapeutischer Leistungen, Classification of therapeutic procedures), 229 could be assigned to these modules. These analyses are based on 24685 patients in 57 rehabilitation clinics, who had been treated in 2003. For these modules the number of patients having received those interventions as well as the duration of the modules were calculated. The data were analysed with respect to the influence of age and comorbidity. Moreover, differences between rehabilitation clinics were investigated according to the category of interventions. Our findings show great variability in the use of the therapeutic modules. Therapeutic modules like Physiotherapy (91.6%), Training Therapy (85.2%) and Information (97.8%) are provided to most of the patients. Younger patients receive more treatments than older patients, and patients with higher comorbidity receive more Physiotherapie, Lymphoedema Therapy and Psychological Interventions than patients without comorbidities. Data analysis shows wide interindividual variability with regard to the therapeutic modules. This variability is related to age and comorbidity of the patients. Furthermore, great differences were found between the rehabilitation clinics concerning the use of the various interventions. This variability supports the necessity of developing and implementing an evidence based guideline for the rehabilitation of breast cancer patients. The next step will be discussing these findings with experts from science and clinical practice.

  19. Guidelines and Standards for Proprietary Schools.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Georgia State Board of Education, Atlanta.

    This guide contains information pertaining to Georgia law, rules, regulations, and standards of practice for regulating proprietary schools in Georgia. Section 1 of the guide presents operation guidelines, including definitions, exemptions, general provisions, certificates of approval of schools, and appeals procedures. Section 2 presents minimum…

  20. Guidelines for mission integration, a summary report

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1979-01-01

    Guidelines are presented for instrument/experiment developers concerning hardware design, flight verification, and operations and mission implementation requirements. Interface requirements between the STS and instruments/experiments are defined. Interface constraints and design guidelines are presented along with integrated payload requirements for Spacelab Missions 1, 2, and 3. Interim data are suggested for use during hardware development until more detailed information is developed when a complete mission and an integrated payload system are defined. Safety requirements, flight verification requirements, and operations procedures are defined.

  1. Introducing guidelines into clinical practice.

    PubMed

    Fowkes, F G; Roberts, C J

    1984-04-01

    The impetus for guidelines of practice has been accelerated by a worldwide trend towards insurance based systems of health care. In the past it has been the tradition for the clinician to order all the diagnostic procedures that conceivably might help to clarify what is wrong with a patient, or what course of treatment should be followed. This traditional view ignores the stubborn economic reality that resources are finite and that it is no longer possible to be both endlessly generous and continually fair. Making judgements about the need for, and value of, services now forms an important part of coping with this problem. Clinical practice has to strive to be as safe as possible and to produce a given benefit at a socially acceptable cost. Guidelines are recommendations, preferably developed by clinicians themselves, which describe how and when individual clinical activities should be offered in order to achieve these objectives. Utilisation review of current practice is a valuable source of information for the development of guidelines. In the United Kingdom the Royal College of Radiologists attempted to do this in connection with the use of pre-operative chest X-rays. In 1979 they published the findings of a multicentre review of 10,619 consecutive cases of elective non-cardiopulmonary surgery undertaken in 8 centres throughout the United Kingdom. Substantial variations were found in national practice. Use of pre-operative chest X-rays varied from 11.5% of patients in one centre to 54.2% of patients in another centre. The study also found that the chest X-ray report did not seem to have much influence on the decision to operate nor on the decision to use inhalation anaesthesia. The College study failed to find "any evidence at all for the effectiveness of pre-operative chest X-ray when used routinely" and it was estimated that even if the procedure was 10% effective the costs of avoiding one death would be approximately 1 million pounds. These findings provided

  2. Guidelines for evaluating fish habitat in Wisconsin streams.

    Treesearch

    Timothy D. Simonson; John Lyons; Paul D. Kanehl

    1993-01-01

    Describes procedures for evaluating the quality and quantity of habitat for fish in small and medium streams of Wisconsin. Provides detailed guidelines for collecting and analyzing specific quantitative habitat information.

  3. Guidelines for producing training films and videos.

    PubMed

    Harper, P B

    1991-01-01

    Drawing from experience in producing a film on the surgical procedure of female sterilization, 4 guidelines to technical film production for training purposes are presented and discussed in this paper. In order of presentation in the text, the paper 1st encourages identifying and securing a technical expert, then clearly identifying steps of the technical procedure, involving trainees and trainers in the production process, and working with experienced producers, scriptwriters, and crew members. Returning to the 1st guideline, the technical advisor will have a central presence during all photography and editing, and ideally should not have any personal investment in the procedure being shown. Prior to script finalization and sorting, research is urged to ensure concrete procedural steps. Printed materials, slides, interviews of experienced clinicians, procedure observation, and test videotape shooting may be called upon and employed as parts of the research phase. Trainees should participate during preliminary research, script development, and pretesting of early film versions, their suggestions for change incorporated where appropriate in the final version. On the final point of securing experienced workers, country nationals sensitive to relevant cultural and background dynamics should be included in the team. The special concerns of airport security regulation and customs requirements knowledge are essential, as well as their attention to assuring adequate on-site electricity for camera equipment.

  4. 42 CFR 81.22 - General guidelines for use of NIOSH-IREP.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... SAFETY AND HEALTH RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING PROBABILITY OF CAUSATION... Probability of Causation § 81.22 General guidelines for use of NIOSH-IREP. DOL will use procedures specified in the NIOSH-IREP Operating Guide to calculate probability of causation estimates under EEOICPA. The...

  5. Prefabricated vertical drains, vol. I : engineering guidelines.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1986-09-01

    This volume presents procedures and guidelines applicable to the design and instal tion of prefabricated vertical drains to accelerate consolidation of soils. The contents represent the Consultant's interpretation of the state-of-the-art as of August...

  6. Summary of the British Transplantation Society UK Guidelines for Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

    PubMed

    Manas, Derek; Burnapp, Lisa; Andrews, Peter Antony

    2016-06-01

    The British Transplantation Society Guidelines for Living Donor Liver Transplantation was published in July 2015 and is the first national guideline in the field of living donor liver transplantation. The guideline aims to review the evidence relating to the evaluation process of both recipient and donor candidates; address the moral and ethical issues surrounding the procedure; outline the technical aspects of the procedure, including the middle hepatic vein controversy and the "small for size syndrome"; review donor and recipient outcomes and complications including donor mortality; and examine evidence relating to the advantages and disadvantages of living donor liver transplantation. In line with previous guidelines published by the BTS, the guideline has used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system to rate the strength of evidence and recommendations. This article summarizes the Statements of Recommendation contained in the guideline, which provide a framework for the delivery of living liver donation in the United Kingdom and may be of wide international interest. It is recommended that the full guideline document is consulted for details of the relevant references and evidence base. This may be accessed at http://www.bts.org.uk/BTS/Guidelines_Standards/Current/BTS/Guidelines_Standards/Current_Guidelines.aspx?hkey=e285ca32-5920-4613-ac08-fa9fd90915b5.

  7. Towards local implementation of Dutch health policy guidelines: a concept-mapping approach.

    PubMed

    Kuunders, Theo J M; van Bon-Martens, Marja J H; van de Goor, Ien A M; Paulussen, Theo G W M; van Oers, Hans A M

    2017-02-22

    To develop a targeted implementation strategy for a municipal health policy guideline, implementation targets of two guideline users [Regional Health Services (RHSs)] and guideline developers of leading national health institutes were made explicit. Therefore, characteristics of successful implementation of the guideline were identified. Differences and similarities in perceptions of these characteristics between RHSs and developers were explored. Separate concept mapping procedures were executed in two RHSs, one with representatives from partner local health organizations and municipalities, the second with RHS members only. A third map was conducted with the developers of the guideline. All mapping procedures followed the same design of generating statements up to interpretation of results with participants. Concept mapping, as a practical implementation tool, will be discussed in the context of international research literature on guideline implementation in public health. Guideline developers consider implementation successful when substantive components (health issues) of the guidelines, content are visible in local policy practice. RHSs, local organizations and municipalities view the implementation process itself within and between organizations as more relevant, and state that usability of the guideline for municipal policy and commitment by officials and municipal managers are critical targets for successful implementation. Between the RHSs, differences in implementation targets were smaller than between RHSs and guideline developers. For successful implementation, RHSs tend to focus on process targets while developers focus more on the thematic contents of the guideline. Implications of these different orientations for implementation strategies are dealt with in the discussion. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

  8. State Guidelines for School Athletic Programs.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    California State Dept. of Education, Sacramento.

    The guidelines presented here are designed to assist school personnel in developing, administering, and evaluating school athletic programs in California. Topics include: (1) the basic philosophy for school athletic programs; (2) procedures for evaluating school athletic programs; (3) the three-phase school athletic program; (4) resources to…

  9. Strategy Guideline. Proper Water Heater Selection

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hoeschele, M.; Springer, D.; German, A.

    2015-04-09

    This Strategy Guideline on proper water heater selection was developed by the Building America team Alliance for Residential Building Innovation to provide step-by-step procedures for evaluating preferred cost-effective options for energy efficient water heater alternatives based on local utility rates, climate, and anticipated loads.

  10. Strategy Guideline: Proper Water Heater Selection

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hoeschele, M.; Springer, D.; German, A.

    2015-04-01

    This Strategy Guideline on proper water heater selection was developed by the Building America team Alliance for Residential Building Innovation to provide step-by-step procedures for evaluating preferred cost-effective options for energy efficient water heater alternatives based on local utility rates, climate, and anticipated loads.

  11. Children Assisted by Medical Technology in Educational Settings: Guidelines for Care.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Haynie, Marilynn; And Others

    The guidelines are written to assist school systems in establishing an environment for the safe and well-adapted functioning of children with chronic illness, physically disabling conditions, and medical dependency. The guidelines provide a basic structure for operations and suggested procedures intended to help schools and families as they…

  12. 10 CFR 205.375 - Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. 205.375 Section 205.375 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OIL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS Electric... Electric Power § 205.375 Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. An inadequate utility system...

  13. 10 CFR 205.375 - Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. 205.375 Section 205.375 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OIL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS Electric... Electric Power § 205.375 Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. An inadequate utility system...

  14. 10 CFR 205.375 - Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 3 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. 205.375 Section 205.375 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OIL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS Electric... Electric Power § 205.375 Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. An inadequate utility system...

  15. 10 CFR 205.375 - Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 3 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. 205.375 Section 205.375 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OIL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS Electric... Electric Power § 205.375 Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. An inadequate utility system...

  16. 10 CFR 205.375 - Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 10 Energy 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. 205.375 Section 205.375 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OIL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND SANCTIONS Electric... Electric Power § 205.375 Guidelines defining inadequate fuel or energy supply. An inadequate utility system...

  17. Procedures and Policies Manual

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Davis, Jane M.

    2006-01-01

    This document was developed by the Middle Tennessee State University James E. Walker Library Collection Management Department to provide policies and procedural guidelines for the cataloging and processing of bibliographic materials. This document includes policies for cataloging monographs, serials, government documents, machine-readable data…

  18. Proposal Guidelines for Standardized Operating Procedures of Brain Autopsy: Brain Bank in South Korea.

    PubMed

    Lee, Kyung Hwa; Seo, Sang Won; Lim, Tae Sung; Kim, Eun Joo; Kim, Byeong Chae; Kim, Yeshin; Lee, Ho Won; Jeon, Jae Pil; Shim, Sung Mi; Na, Duk L; Huh, Gi Yeong; Lee, Min Cheol; Suh, Yeon Lim

    2017-09-01

    To obtain an in-depth understanding of brain diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric illnesses, and neoplasms, scientific approach and verification using postmortem human brain tissue with or without disease are essential. Compared to other countries that have run brain banks for decades, South Korea has limited experience with brain banking; nationwide brain banks started only recently. The goal of this study is to provide provisional guidelines for brain autopsy for hospitals and institutes that have not accumulated sufficient expertise. We hope that these provisional guidelines will serve as a useful reference for pathologists and clinicians who are involved and interested in the brain bank system. Also, we anticipate updating the provisional guidelines in the future based on collected data and further experience with the practice of brain autopsy in South Korea. © Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2017.

  19. Evaluation of implementation of fasting guidelines for enterally fed critical care patients.

    PubMed

    Jenkins, Bethan; Calder, Philip C; Marino, Luise V

    2018-02-15

    Critically ill adults have increased nutrition risk. Prior to procedures patients are often fasted, leading to nutritional deficits. The use of fasting guidelines may therefore help reduce deficits from accumulating. The aim of this work was to determine the impact on nutrition support delivery following the implementation of fasting guidelines in addition to characterizing staff knowledge of the guidelines. Retrospective data were collected on n = 74 patients at two different time points; prior to launch of fasting guidelines and post launch, with regards to estimated nutritional requirements, nutritional targets, volume of enteral nutrition (EN) delivered and periods of fasting. Clinical variables of interest were collected for up to 14 days. Questionnaires assessing staff knowledge/barriers to usage of the fasting guidelines were administered to ICU staff. 3 ICUs (General, Cardiac and Neurosciences) within University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Mechanically ventilated adults in an ICU and receiving exclusive EN. Comparison was made between pre- and post-guideline implementation with statistically significant improvements in the % EN delivered (76.4 ± 11.8 vs. 84.1 ± 10.8 (p = 0.0009)) and duration of feeds withheld (41.5 ± 26.6 vs. 27.6 ± 20.8 h (p = 0.02)). There were non-significant improvements pre- and post-implementation in the % of energy and protein delivered (80.7 ± 16.4 vs. 86.5 ± 17.3 (p = 0.15 (NS)); 74 ± 18.3 vs. 79 ± 18.5 (p = 0.15 (NS))). 77% of staff were familiar with the guidelines, whilst 42% requested further education. The main barriers to guideline compliance were delays and unpredictable timing of procedures, and differing guidance from senior staff and non-ICU teams. Implementation of fasting guidelines led to significant improvements in EN delivery and reduced duration of feed breaks. The use of fasting guidelines is a positive step towards increasing nutrition delivery in the ICU. Further

  20. The updating of clinical practice guidelines: insights from an international survey

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have become increasingly popular, and the methodology to develop guidelines has evolved enormously. However, little attention has been given to the updating process, in contrast to the appraisal of the available literature. We conducted an international survey to identify current practices in CPG updating and explored the need to standardize and improve the methods. Methods We developed a questionnaire (28 items) based on a review of the existing literature about guideline updating and expert comments. We carried out the survey between March and July 2009, and it was sent by email to 106 institutions: 69 members of the Guidelines International Network who declared that they developed CPGs; 30 institutions included in the U.S. National Guideline Clearinghouse database that published more than 20 CPGs; and 7 institutions selected by an expert committee. Results Forty-four institutions answered the questionnaire (42% response rate). In the final analysis, 39 completed questionnaires were included. Thirty-six institutions (92%) reported that they update their guidelines. Thirty-one institutions (86%) have a formal procedure for updating their guidelines, and 19 (53%) have a formal procedure for deciding when a guideline becomes out of date. Institutions describe the process as moderately rigorous (36%) or acknowledge that it could certainly be more rigorous (36%). Twenty-two institutions (61%) alert guideline users on their website when a guideline is older than three to five years or when there is a risk of being outdated. Twenty-five institutions (64%) support the concept of "living guidelines," which are continuously monitored and updated. Eighteen institutions (46%) have plans to design a protocol to improve their guideline-updating process, and 21 (54%) are willing to share resources with other organizations. Conclusions Our study is the first to describe the process of updating CPGs among prominent guideline

  1. Clinical Guideline for Treatment of Symptomatic Thoracic Spinal Stenosis.

    PubMed

    Chen, Zhong-qiang; Sun, Chui-guo

    2015-08-01

    Thoracic spinal stenosis is a relatively common disorder causing paraplegia in the population of China. Until nowadays, the clinical management of thoracic spinal stenosis is still demanding and challenging with lots of questions remaining to be answered. A clinical guideline for the treatment of symptomatic thoracic spinal stenosis has been created by reaching the consensus of Chinese specialists using the best available evidence as a tool to aid practitioners involved with the care of this disease. In this guideline, many fundamental questions about thoracic spinal stenosis which were controversial have been explained clearly, including the definition of thoracic spinal stenosis, the standard procedure for diagnosing symptomatic thoracic spinal stenosis, indications for surgery, and so on. According to the consensus on the definition of thoracic spinal stenosis, the soft herniation of thoracic discs has been excluded from the pathological factors causing thoracic spinal stenosis. The procedure for diagnosing thoracic spinal stenosis has been quite mature, while the principles for selecting operative procedures remain to be improved. This guideline will be updated on a timely schedule and adhering to its recommendations should not be mandatory because it does not have the force of law. © 2015 Chinese Orthopaedic Association and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

  2. Could accreditation bodies facilitate the implementation of medical guidelines in laboratories?

    PubMed

    Aakre, Kristin M; Oosterhuis, Wytze P; Misra, Shivani; Langlois, Michel R; Joseph, Watine; Twomey, Patrick J; Barth, Julian H

    2017-05-01

    Several studies have shown that recommendations related to how laboratory testing should be performed and results interpreted are limited in medical guidelines and that the uptake and implementation of the recommendations that are available need improvement. The EFLM/UEMS Working Group on Guidelines conducted a survey amongst the national societies for clinical chemistry in Europe regarding development of laboratory-related guidelines. The results showed that most countries have guidelines that are specifically related to laboratory testing; however, not all countries have a formal procedure for accepting such guidelines and few countries have guideline committees. Based on this, the EFLM/UEMS Working Group on Guidelines conclude that there is still room for improvement regarding these processes in Europe and raise the question if the accreditation bodies could be a facilitator for an improvement.

  3. 40 CFR 240.202-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 25 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Design. 240.202-2 Section 240.202-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures...

  4. 40 CFR 240.211-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Design. 240.211-2 Section 240.211-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures...

  5. 40 CFR 240.200-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ....200-2 Section 240.200-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures § 240.200-2 Recommended procedures: Design. (a) In addition to the residential and commercial wastes...

  6. 40 CFR 240.200-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ....200-2 Section 240.200-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures § 240.200-2 Recommended procedures: Design. (a) In addition to the residential and commercial wastes...

  7. 40 CFR 240.209-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Design. 240.209-2 Section 240.209-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures...

  8. 40 CFR 240.202-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Design. 240.202-2 Section 240.202-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures...

  9. 40 CFR 240.210-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Design. 240.210-2 Section 240.210-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures...

  10. 40 CFR 240.206-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Design. 240.206-2 Section 240.206-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures...

  11. 40 CFR 240.200-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... processing. These include: Certain bulky wastes (e.g., combustible demolition and construction debris, tree... WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures § 240.200-2 Recommended procedures: Design. (a) In addition to the residential and commercial wastes...

  12. Measure Guideline: Buried and/or Encapsulated Ducts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shapiro, C.; Zoeller, W.; Mantha, P.

    2013-08-01

    Buried and/or encapsulated ducts (BEDs) are a class of advanced, energy-efficiency strategies intended to address the significant ductwork thermal losses associated with ducts installed in unconditioned attics. BEDs are ducts installed in unconditioned attics that are covered in loose-fill insulation and/or encapsulated in closed cell polyurethane spray foam insulation. This Measure Guideline covers the technical aspects of BEDs as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of BEDs compared to other alternative strategies. This guideline also provides detailed guidance on installation of BEDs strategies in new and existing homes through step-by-step installation procedures. This Building America Measure Guideline synthesizes previouslymore » published research on BEDs and provides practical information to builders, contractors, homeowners, policy analysts, building professions, and building scientists. Some of the procedures presented here, however, require specialized equipment or expertise. In addition, some alterations to duct systems may require a specialized license. Persons implementing duct system improvements should not go beyond their expertise or qualifications. This guideline provides valuable information for a building industry that has struggled to address ductwork thermal losses in new and existing homes. As building codes strengthen requirements for duct air sealing and insulation, flexibility is needed to address energy efficiency goals. While ductwork in conditioned spaces has been promoted as the panacea for addressing ductwork thermal losses, BEDs installations approach - and sometimes exceed - the performance of ductwork in conditioned spaces.« less

  13. Evidence-based practice guidelines: a survey of subcutaneous dexamethasone administration.

    PubMed

    Walker, Jackie; Lane, Pauline; McKenzie, Clare

    2010-10-01

    Searching for good evidence to develop clinical practice guidelines can be challenging, as research may not be published or available. A simple question set the authors on a journey to find evidence related to the nursing administration of subcutaneous dexamethasone in the palliative setting. This article outlines the search for evidence and discusses the survey results to gather expert opinion about the nursing administration of dexamethasone. Survey results indicated that only 39% of community services gave dexamethasone via a bolus injection and 88% gave it via a continuous infusion, mainly for site preservation. The diluents used were water for injection or normal saline. Many procedural aspects were supported by current guidelines, with several services using the New Zealand Waitemata District Health Board's (2008) clinical guidelines. Developing and implementing procedural recommendations for nurses to administer this subcutaneous medication will form the next stage of the project.

  14. An Agency with a Mind of Its Own: The EEOC's Guidelines on Employment Testing.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lyons, Phil

    1985-01-01

    Analyzes the legislative and judicial background of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC)'s 1978 Uniform Guidelines on Employment Selection Procedures. Argues that the guidelines' apparent objectives are at odds with those of the legislators who created the EEOC in the 1960s: the guidelines force employers to discriminate by race.…

  15. Guidelines for guidelines.

    PubMed

    Amerling, Richard; Winchester, James F; Ronco, Claudio

    2007-01-01

    Practice guidelines are proliferating in medicine. In addition to methodological problems that cause guidelines to be outdated rapidly, they are plagued by conflicts of interest. They are largely consensus opinions of panels of experts, most of whom are supported by industry. Professional societies, health insurers, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and dialysis providers also benefit from guidelines. Little attention is paid to the potential for harm to patients, and to the profession of medicine, from the widespread use of guidelines. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  16. European guidelines for workplace drug and alcohol testing in hair.

    PubMed

    Salomone, A; Tsanaclis, L; Agius, R; Kintz, P; Baumgartner, M R

    2016-10-01

    Guidelines for Legally Defensible Workplace Drug Testing have been prepared and updated by the European Workplace Drug Testing Society (EWDTS). They are based on the 2010 version published by Pascal Kintz and Ronald Agius (Guidelines for European workplace drug and alcohol testing in hair. Drug Test. Anal. 2010, 2, 367) and in concordance with the Society of Hair Testing guidelines (Society of Hair Testing guidelines for drug testing in hair. Forensic Sci. Int. 2012, 218, 20-24). The European Guidelines are designed to establish best practice procedures whilst allowing individual countries to operate within the requirements of national customs and legislation. The EWDTS recommends that all European laboratories that undertake legally defensible workplace drug testing use these guidelines as a template for accreditation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  17. Interventional spine and pain procedures in patients on antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications: guidelines from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the International Neuromodulation Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and the World Institute of Pain.

    PubMed

    Narouze, Samer; Benzon, Honorio T; Provenzano, David A; Buvanendran, Asokumar; De Andres, José; Deer, Timothy R; Rauck, Richard; Huntoon, Marc A

    2015-01-01

    Interventional spine and pain procedures cover a far broader spectrum than those for regional anesthesia, reflecting diverse targets and goals. When surveyed, interventional pain and spine physicians attending the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) 11th Annual Pain Medicine Meeting exhorted that existing ASRA guidelines for regional anesthesia in patients on antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications were insufficient for their needs. Those surveyed agreed that procedure-specific and patient-specific factors necessitated separate guidelines for pain and spine procedures. In response, ASRA formed a guidelines committee. After preliminary review of published complication reports and studies, committee members stratified interventional spine and pain procedures according to potential bleeding risk as low-, intermediate-, and high-risk procedures. The ASRA guidelines were deemed largely appropriate for the low- and intermediate-risk categories, but it was agreed that the high-risk targets required an intensive look at issues specific to patient safety and optimal outcomes in pain medicine. The latest evidence was sought through extensive database search strategies and the recommendations were evidence-based when available and pharmacology-driven otherwise. We could not provide strength and grading of these recommendations as there are not enough well-designed large studies concerning interventional pain procedures to support such grading. Although the guidelines could not always be based on randomized studies or on large numbers of patients from pooled databases, it is hoped that they will provide sound recommendations and the evidentiary basis for such recommendations.

  18. EURONET: Guidelines for Cooperation between Data Base Suppliers and Host Organizations.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Commission des Communautes Europeennes (Luxembourg). Bureau de Terminologie.

    The purpose of the guidelines is to focus on the mutual benefits which arise from close cooperation between Data Base Suppliers (DBS) and Hosts, and to identify some of the individual responsibilities. The guidelines have been assembled from accepted policies and procedures in information supply activities to assist EURONET Hosts and DBS to work…

  19. Guidelines of the Design of Electropyrotechnic Firing Circuit for Unmanned Flight and Ground Test Projects

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gonzalez, Guillermo A.; Lucy, Melvin H.; Massie, Jeffrey J.

    2013-01-01

    The NASA Langley Research Center, Engineering Directorate, Electronic System Branch, is responsible for providing pyrotechnic support capabilities to Langley Research Center unmanned flight and ground test projects. These capabilities include device selection, procurement, testing, problem solving, firing system design, fabrication and testing; ground support equipment design, fabrication and testing; checkout procedures and procedure?s training to pyro technicians. This technical memorandum will serve as a guideline for the design, fabrication and testing of electropyrotechnic firing systems. The guidelines will discuss the entire process beginning with requirements definition and ending with development and execution.

  20. Guidelines for Out-of-School Experiences.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Queen's Univ., Kingston (Ontario). Science Resource Centre.

    As a mechanism by which policy for out-of-school experiences is carried out, these guidelines developed for Bruce County Schools, Canada, in 1972-73 are intended to insure pupil safety and set forth teacher responsibility during educational outings and excursions for students of all levels. Included are administrative procedures for obtaining…

  1. Can 'Cascades' make guidelines global?

    PubMed

    Fried, Michael; Krabshuis, Justus

    2008-10-01

    Why are guidelines in medicine so important today? What role do they have? Why and how did the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) choose a global focus? What does this mean for guidelines? These are the underlying questions addressed by our article. We argue that the addition of 'Cascades' to guidelines will increase their impact in large parts of the world. By so doing, we hope to add a new dimension to the 'knowledge into action' debate. A number of illustrations shows how raised expectations and resource restrictions pose - or should pose - an enormous challenge for guideline makers. Furthermore, the emphasis on evidence also creates problems for guideline making. If resources are limited it is unlikely gold-standard technologies are available. We believe Cascades can help. A Cascade is a selection of two or more hierarchical diagnostic or therapeutic options, based on proven medical procedures, methods, tools or products for the same disease, condition or diagnosis, aiming to achieve the same outcome and ranked by available resources. The construction of such a cascade is a hazardous intellectual journey that goes, to some extent, against established practice. But lives can be saved by matching options for diagnosis and treatment to available resources. While the optimal strategy, defined through an evidence-based approach, should always be the goal, one must be aware of the resource limitations that confront our colleagues in certain parts of the world and we should endeavour to work with them in the guideline development process to develop strategies that are clinically sound yet economically feasible and dacceptable to their populace.

  2. High-occupancy vehicle guidelines for planning, design and operations

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2003-08-01

    These guidelines are not intended to supersede Caltrans : Transportation Planning Manual, Project Development : Procedures Manual, Highway Design Manual, Manual : on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and : California Supplement to the MUTCD ...

  3. Basic Guidelines for Victims of Rape and Sexual Offenses. Revised Edition.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Maryland State Commission for Women, Baltimore.

    This brochure presents guidelines for victims of rape and sexual offenses in preparation for the legal and medical procedures which will follow the reporting of such an assault. The brochure states the hope that these guidelines will be useful to a victim in regaining control over the situation and in managing a difficult situation effectively.…

  4. Clinical Cell Therapy Guidelines for Neurorestoration (IANR/CANR 2017)

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Hongyun; Young, Wise; Chen, Lin; Feng, Shiqing; Zoubi, Ziad M. Al; Sharma, Hari Shanker; Saberi, Hooshang; Moviglia, Gustavo A.; He, Xijing; Muresanu, Dafin F.; Sharma, Alok; Otom, Ali; Andrews, Russell J.; Al-Zoubi, Adeeb; Bryukhovetskiy, Andrey S.; Chernykh, Elena R.; Domańska-Janik, Krystyna; Jafar, Emad; Johnson, W. Eustace; Li, Ying; Li, Daqing; Luan, Zuo; Mao, Gengsheng; Shetty, Ashok K.; Siniscalco, Dario; Skaper, Stephen; Sun, Tiansheng; Wang, Yunliang; Wiklund, Lars; Xue, Qun; You, Si-Wei; Zheng, Zuncheng; Dimitrijevic, Milan R.; Masri, W. S. El; Sanberg, Paul R.; Xu, Qunyuan; Luan, Guoming; Chopp, Michael; Cho, Kyoung-Suok; Zhou, Xin-Fu; Wu, Ping; Liu, Kai; Mobasheri, Hamid; Ohtori, Seiji; Tanaka, Hiroyuki; Han, Fabin; Feng, Yaping; Zhang, Shaocheng; Lu, Yingjie; Zhang, Zhicheng; Rao, Yaojian; Tang, Zhouping; Xi, Haitao; Wu, Liang; Shen, Shunji; Xue, Mengzhou; Xiang, Guanghong; Guo, Xiaoling; Yang, Xiaofeng; Hao, Yujun; Hu, Yong; Li, Jinfeng; AO, Qiang; Wang, Bin; Zhang, Zhiwen; Lu, Ming; Li, Tong

    2018-01-01

    Cell therapy has been shown to be a key clinical therapeutic option for central nervous system diseases or damage. Standardization of clinical cell therapy procedures is an important task for professional associations devoted to cell therapy. The Chinese Branch of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) completed the first set of guidelines governing the clinical application of neurorestoration in 2011. The IANR and the Chinese Association of Neurorestoratology (CANR) collaborated to propose the current version “Clinical Cell Therapy Guidelines for Neurorestoration (IANR/CANR 2017)”. The IANR council board members and CANR committee members approved this proposal on September 1, 2016, and recommend it to clinical practitioners of cellular therapy. These guidelines include items of cell type nomenclature, cell quality control, minimal suggested cell doses, patient-informed consent, indications for undergoing cell therapy, contraindications for undergoing cell therapy, documentation of procedure and therapy, safety evaluation, efficacy evaluation, policy of repeated treatments, do not charge patients for unproven therapies, basic principles of cell therapy, and publishing responsibility. PMID:29637817

  5. Guidelines proposal for clinical recognition of mouth breathing children.

    PubMed

    Pacheco, Maria Christina Thomé; Casagrande, Camila Ferreira; Teixeira, Lícia Pacheco; Finck, Nathalia Silveira; de Araújo, Maria Teresa Martins

    2015-01-01

    Mouth breathing (MB) is an etiological factor for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) during childhood. The habit of breathing through the mouth may be perpetuated even after airway clearance. Both habit and obstruction may cause facial muscle imbalance and craniofacial changes. The aim of this paper is to propose and test guidelines for clinical recognition of MB and some predisposing factors for SDB in children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 110 orthodontists regarding their procedures for clinical evaluation of MB and their knowledge about SDB during childhood. Thereafter, based on their answers, guidelines were developed and tested in 687 children aged between 6 and 12 years old and attending elementary schools. There was no standardization for clinical recognition of MB among orthodontists. The most common procedures performed were inefficient to recognize differences between MB by habit or obstruction. The guidelines proposed herein facilitate clinical recognition of MB, help clinicians to differentiate between habit and obstruction, suggest the most appropriate treatment for each case, and avoid maintenance of mouth breathing patterns during adulthood.

  6. [Legal relevance of guidelines : Contextualization exemplified by international recommendations for treatment of inguinal hernia in adults].

    PubMed

    Weyhe, D; Uslar, V N; Mählmeyer, C; Oehlers, H

    2018-06-21

    Guidelines aim to standardize treatment concepts based on evidence from the literature and may thus be viewed as collegial support; however, there is a lack of clarity about the legal relevance and legal validity of international guidelines compared to the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) recommendations. A literature search was conducted on German AWMF guidelines and on international guidelines for inguinal hernia in adults. Differences in the structure of the guidelines were analyzed and legal terms, such as the medical standard, the Patients' Rights Act and the current legal literature are defined and commented on with respect to guideline-compliant treatment. Since 2003 a total of 15 guidelines and recommendations for the treatment of inguinal hernia have been published. There are no AWMF guidelines on one of the procedures most frequently performed in Germany. Among the relevant judgments and laws passed from 1994 onwards, § 630 of the German Civil Code (BGB) passed in 2013 seems to be particularly significant, since it standardizes the term "medical standard" and explicitly allows values falling short of the standard after clarification. From a legal point of view, the basic prerequisites for medical treatment are patient consent and intervention education. In principle, a non-guideline-compliant treatment procedure can be agreed. The patient must be informed about the treatment options that are relevant to the medical standard, the procedure must be indicated according to the medical standard and the operation must be performed in accordance with the national medical specialist standard. Thus, international guidelines cannot a priori claim to be followed unobserved and are therefore not legally comparable to the German S3 guidelines of the AWMF. It is strongly advised to expressly point out and explicitly explain anything falling short of the standard, individual healing attempts and so-called outsider methods.

  7. 32 CFR 148.14 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RECIPROCITY OF FACILITIES Guidelines for the Implementation and Oversight of the Policy on Reciprocity of use and Inspections of Facilities § 148.14 Procedures. (a) Agencies that... maximize interagency reciprocity shall be based primarily upon existing organizational reporting channels...

  8. 32 CFR 148.14 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RECIPROCITY OF FACILITIES Guidelines for the Implementation and Oversight of the Policy on Reciprocity of use and Inspections of Facilities § 148.14 Procedures. (a) Agencies that... maximize interagency reciprocity shall be based primarily upon existing organizational reporting channels...

  9. 32 CFR 148.14 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RECIPROCITY OF FACILITIES Guidelines for the Implementation and Oversight of the Policy on Reciprocity of use and Inspections of Facilities § 148.14 Procedures. (a) Agencies that... maximize interagency reciprocity shall be based primarily upon existing organizational reporting channels...

  10. 32 CFR 148.14 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RECIPROCITY OF FACILITIES Guidelines for the Implementation and Oversight of the Policy on Reciprocity of use and Inspections of Facilities § 148.14 Procedures. (a) Agencies that... maximize interagency reciprocity shall be based primarily upon existing organizational reporting channels...

  11. 32 CFR 148.14 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RECIPROCITY OF FACILITIES Guidelines for the Implementation and Oversight of the Policy on Reciprocity of use and Inspections of Facilities § 148.14 Procedures. (a) Agencies that... maximize interagency reciprocity shall be based primarily upon existing organizational reporting channels...

  12. Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure

    PubMed Central

    Raschle, Nora M.; Lee, Michelle; Buechler, Roman; Christodoulou, Joanna A.; Chang, Maria; Vakil, Monica; Stering, Patrice L.; Gaab, Nadine

    2009-01-01

    's compliance during MR imaging sessions 19,20. In the current video report, we present a pediatric neuroimaging protocol with guidelines and procedures that have proven to be successful to date in young children. PMID:19684560

  13. Policy and Procedures, University of Rhode Island Foundation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Leslie, James W.

    A guide to policies and procedures of the University of Rhode Island Foundation is presented. Attention is directed to the following concerns: fund-raising policies, the act incorporating the University of Rhode Island Foundation, by-laws, dual signature system, nominating committee responsibilities and procedures, policy and guidelines for the…

  14. Robotic kidney transplantation with regional hypothermia: evolution of a novel procedure utilizing the IDEAL guidelines (IDEAL phase 0 and 1).

    PubMed

    Menon, Mani; Abaza, Ronney; Sood, Akshay; Ahlawat, Rajesh; Ghani, Khurshid R; Jeong, Wooju; Kher, Vijay; Kumar, Ramesh K; Bhandari, Mahendra

    2014-05-01

    Surgical innovation is essential for progress of surgical science, but its implementation comes with potential harms during the learning phase. The Balliol Collaboration has recommended a set of guidelines (Innovation, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term study [IDEAL]) that permit innovation while minimizing complications. To utilize the IDEAL model of surgical innovation in the development of a novel surgical technique, robotic kidney transplantation (RKT) with regional hypothermia, and describe the process of discovery and development. Phase 0 (simulation) studies included the establishment of techniques for pelvic cooling, graft placement in a robotic prostatectomy model, and simulation of the RKT procedure in a cadaveric model. Phase 1 (innovation) studies began in January 2013 and involved treatment of a highly selective small group of patients (n=7), using the principles utilized in the phase 0 studies, at a tertiary referral center. IDEAL model implementation in the development of RKT with regional hypothermia. For phase 0 studies, the outcomes evaluated included pelvic and body temperature measurements, and technical feasibility assessment. The primary outcome during phase 1 was post-transplant graft function. Other outcomes measured were operative and ischemic times, perioperative complications, and intracorporeal graft surface temperature. Phase 0 (simulation phase): Pelvic cooling to 15-20(o)C was achieved reproducibly. Using the surgical approach developed for robotic radical prostatectomy, vascular and ureterovesical anastomoses could be done without redocking the robot. Phase 1 (innovation phase): All patients underwent live-donor RKT in the lithotomy position. All grafts functioned immediately. Mean console, anastomotic, and warm ischemia times were 154 min, 29 min, and 2 min, respectively. One patient was re-explored on postoperative day 1. Adherence to the IDEAL guidelines put forth by the Balliol Collaboration provided a practical

  15. Guidelines for cone penetration test : performance and design

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1978-07-01

    This manual presents procedures and guidelines applicable to the use of the cone penetration test. Dr. Schmertmann prepared this manual in February 1977 and made minor additions in May 1978. It represents his interpretation of the state-of-the-art in...

  16. Procedures for setting curve advisory speed.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2009-08-01

    The procedures described in this handbook are intended to improve consistency in curve signing and driver compliance with the advisory speed. The handbook describes guidelines for determining when an advisory speed is needed, criteria for identifying...

  17. Guidelines for Curriculum Review and Development

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sedere, Upali M.

    2011-01-01

    This is curriculum review guideline that was used by the author to review the Primary School Curriculum of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) in Bangladesh. This includes the procedures and formats those were employed and would serve as a guide to any other user. (Contains 2 figures.) [This report was prepared with the Institute of…

  18. Developmental procedures for the clinical practice guidelines for conscious sedation in dentistry for the Korean Academy of Dental Sciences.

    PubMed

    An, So-Youn; Seo, Kwang-Suk; Kim, Seungoh; Kim, Jongbin; Lee, Deok-Won; Hwang, Kyung-Gyun; Kim, Hyun Jeong

    2016-12-01

    Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are defined as "statements that are scientifically reviewed about evidence and systematically developed to assist in the doctors' and patients' decision making in certain clinical situations." This recommendation aims to promote good clinical practice for the provision of safe and effective practices of conscious sedation in dentistry. The development of this clinical practice guideline was conducted by performing a systematic search of the literature for evidence-based CPGs. Existing guidelines, relevant systematic reviews, policy documents, legislation, or other recommendations were reviewed and appraised. To supplement this information, key questions were formulated by the Guideline Development Group and used as the basis for designing systematic literature search strategies to identify literature that may address these questions. Guideline documents were evaluated through a review of domestic and international databases for the development of a renewing of existing conscious sedation guidelines for dentistry. Clinical practice guidelines were critically appraised for their methodologies using Appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation (AGREE) II. A total of 12 existing CPGs were included and 13 recommendations were made in a range of general, adult, and pediatric areas. The clinical practice guidelines for conscious sedation will be reviewed in 5 years' time for further updates to reflect significant changes in the field.

  19. Radiation Safety in Nuclear Medicine Procedures.

    PubMed

    Cho, Sang-Geon; Kim, Jahae; Song, Ho-Chun

    2017-03-01

    Since the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, radiation safety has become an important issue in nuclear medicine. Many structured guidelines or recommendations of various academic societies or international campaigns demonstrate important issues of radiation safety in nuclear medicine procedures. There are ongoing efforts to fulfill the basic principles of radiation protection in daily nuclear medicine practice. This article reviews important principles of radiation protection in nuclear medicine procedures. Useful references, important issues, future perspectives of the optimization of nuclear medicine procedures, and diagnostic reference level are also discussed.

  20. EAU guidelines on penile curvature.

    PubMed

    Hatzimouratidis, Konstantinos; Eardley, Ian; Giuliano, François; Hatzichristou, Dimitrios; Moncada, Ignacio; Salonia, Andrea; Vardi, Yoram; Wespes, Eric

    2012-09-01

    Penile curvature can be congenital or acquired. Acquired curvature is secondary due to La Peyronie (Peyronie's) disease. To provide clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of penile curvature. A systematic literature search on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of penile curvature was performed. Articles with the highest evidence available were selected and formed the basis for assigning levels of evidence and grades of recommendations. The pathogenesis of congenital penile curvature is unknown. Peyronie's disease is a poorly understood connective tissue disorder most commonly attributed to repetitive microvascular injury or trauma during intercourse. Diagnosis is based on medical and sexual histories, which are sufficient to establish the diagnosis. Physical examination includes assessment of palpable nodules and penile length. Curvature is best documented by a self-photograph or pharmacologically induced erection. The only treatment option for congenital penile curvature is surgery based on plication techniques. Conservative treatment for Peyronie's disease is associated with poor outcomes. Pharmacotherapy includes oral potassium para-aminobenzoate, intralesional treatment with verapamil, clostridial collagenase or interferon, topical verapamil gel, and iontophoresis with verapamil and dexamethasone. They can be efficacious in some patients, but none of these options carry a grade A recommendation. Steroids, vitamin E, and tamoxifen cannot be recommended. Extracorporeal shock wave treatment and penile traction devices may only be used to treat penile pain and reduce penile deformity, respectively. Surgery is indicated when Peyronie's disease is stable for at least 3 mo. Tunical shortening procedures, especially plication techniques, are the first treatment options. Tunical lengthening procedures are preferred in more severe curvatures or in complex deformities. Penile prosthesis implantation is recommended in patients with erectile dysfunction

  1. Extended use of the GuideLiner in complex coronary interventions.

    PubMed

    Chan, Pak Hei; Alegria-Barrero, Eduardo; Foin, Nicholas; Paulo, Manuel; Lindsay, Alistair C; Viceconte, Nicola; Di Mario, Carlo

    2015-07-01

    Challenging coronary anatomies including chronic total occlusions (CTO), extreme vessel tortuosity, diseased bypass grafts, and anomalous coronary arteries pose difficulties in coronary interventions. The GuideLiner is a monorail catheter originally developed to facilitate delivery of stents to target lesions in tortuous vessels. We conducted a study on the feasibility and safety of utilising this catheter in a wider array of complex coronary interventions. Consecutive patients undergoing coronary or peripheral interventions where a GuideLiner was used were recruited into this study. Patient demographics, lesion and vessel characteristics, procedural details and outcomes were prospectively entered into our database and analysed. From September 2009 to October 2011, 54 consecutive patients underwent coronary intervention in our institution using a GuideLiner; 21 out of 54 coronary applications were motivated by the need to increase support to cross CTOs, predominantly of the RCA. Anomalous or angulated take-off of the treatment vessels (31%), previously deployed proximal stents (15%), heavy proximal calcification (9%) and tortuosity (7%) accounted for the remaining reasons. One patient had successful renal denervation with the aid of a GuideLiner catheter. Procedural success was 98% in our series with no device-related periprocedural complications such as ostial dissection or myocardial necrosis. The use of a GuideLiner facilitates the approach to complex coronary interventions including chronic total occlusion and saphenous vein graft intervention by providing greater back-up support and easier engagement of coronary ostia.

  2. Application of industry-standard guidelines for the validation of avionics software

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hayhurst, Kelly J.; Shagnea, Anita M.

    1990-01-01

    The application of industry standards to the development of avionics software is discussed, focusing on verification and validation activities. It is pointed out that the procedures that guide the avionics software development and testing process are under increased scrutiny. The DO-178A guidelines, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification, are used by the FAA for certifying avionics software. To investigate the effectiveness of the DO-178A guidelines for improving the quality of avionics software, guidance and control software (GCS) is being developed according to the DO-178A development method. It is noted that, due to the extent of the data collection and configuration management procedures, any phase in the life cycle of a GCS implementation can be reconstructed. Hence, a fundamental development and testing platform has been established that is suitable for investigating the adequacy of various software development processes. In particular, the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the development method recommended by the DO-178A guidelines are being closely examined.

  3. Antibiotic prophylaxis in obstetric procedures.

    PubMed

    van Schalkwyk, Julie; Van Eyk, Nancy

    2010-09-01

    To review the evidence and provide recommendations on antibiotic prophylaxis for obstetrical procedures. Outcomes evaluated include need and effectiveness of antibiotics to prevent infections in obstetrical procedures. Published literature was retrieved through searches of Medline and The Cochrane Library on the topic of antibiotic prophylaxis in obstetrical procedures. Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies. Searches were updated on a regular basis and articles published from January 1978 to June 2009 were incorporated in the guideline. Current guidelines published by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology were also incorporated. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and health technology assessment-related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies. The evidence obtained was reviewed and evaluated by the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada under the leadership of the principal authors, and recommendations were made according to guidelines developed by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Table 1). Implementation of this guideline should reduce the cost and harm resulting from the administration of antibiotics when they are not required and the harm resulting from failure to administer antibiotics when they would be beneficial. SUMMARY STATEMENTS: 1. Available evidence does not support the use of prophylactic antibiotics to reduce infectious morbidity following operative vaginal delivery. (II-1) 2. There is insufficient evidence to argue for or against the use of prophylactic antibiotics to reduce infectious morbidity for manual removal of the placenta. (III) 3. There is insufficient evidence to argue for or against the use of

  4. [Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy - short form of the German guideline].

    PubMed

    Lindner, O; Burchert, W; Hacker, M; Schaefer, W; Schmidt, M; Schober, O; Schwaiger, M; vom Dahl, J; Zimmermann, R; Schäfers, M

    2013-01-01

    This guideline is a short summary of the guideline for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy published by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Ger-many (AWMF). The purpose of this guideline is to provide practical assistance for indication and examination procedures as well as image analysis and to present the state-of-the-art of myocardial-perfusion-scintigraphy. After a short introduction on the fundamentals of imaging, precise and detailed information is given on the indications, patient preparation, stress testing, radiopharmaceuticals, examination protocols and techniques, radiation exposure, data reconstruction as well as information on visual and quantitative image analysis and interpretation. In addition possible pitfalls, artefacts and key elements of reporting are described.

  5. Guidelines for the Administration of Matching Gift Programs.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Business Officer, 1984

    1984-01-01

    Guidelines are presented to help colleges consider their matching gift program, to develop clear policies and procedures, and communicate them to interested and appropriate parties. Responsibilities of companies sponsoring matching gift programs are outlined with attention to policy and program administration. The eight policy recommendations…

  6. Guidelines for Site Supervisors: A Tool Kit

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Caldwell, Charmaine D.; Geltner, Jill A.; Cunningham, Teddi J.

    2012-01-01

    Site supervisors rarely receive training at the master's level in the supervisory skills required for the supervision of intern students. General guidelines for site supervisors are presented in this article. The article suggests steps for a site supervisor to take prior to accepting an intern, procedures to follow during the internship, and…

  7. Guidelines to Student Activity Fund Accounting. Revised.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Association of School Business Officials International, Reston, VA.

    This booklet provides guidelines to help school business officials develop sound procedures for keeping proper accounts of and managing the money raised and spent in the course of conducting student activity programs. The booklet notes the roles of the administrators and activity advisers related to management of the student activity fund, then…

  8. Using Three-Dimensional Interactive Graphics To Teach Equipment Procedures.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hamel, Cheryl J.; Ryan-Jones, David L.

    1997-01-01

    Focuses on how three-dimensional graphical and interactive features of computer-based instruction can enhance learning and support human cognition during technical training of equipment procedures. Presents guidelines for using three-dimensional interactive graphics to teach equipment procedures based on studies of the effects of graphics, motion,…

  9. A combined hands-on teaching programme and clinical pathway focused on pleural ultrasound and procedure supervision transforms pleural procedure outcomes.

    PubMed

    Edwards, Timothy; Cook, Alistair; Salamonsen, Matthew; Bashirzadeh, Farzad; Fielding, David

    2017-11-01

    Management of pleural effusions is a common diagnostic and management problem. We reviewed the outcomes from pleural procedures after the instigation of pleural effusion management guidelines, focusing on pleural ultrasound and a hands-on teaching programme followed by procedure supervision that enabled many operators to perform such procedures. This is a retrospective analysis of all procedures performed for pleural effusions on medical patients. Outcomes were assessed prior to the instigation of pleural effusion management guidelines (pleural pathway) and hands-on teaching (January 2010 to June 2011) and following these interventions (January 2012 to June 2013). A total of 171 procedures involving 129 patients (pre-pathway group) and 146 procedures involving 115 patients (post-pathway group) was analysed. The rate of complications prior to the pleural pathway was 22.2% (38 of 171 procedures). Following the pathway, the rate of complications declined to 7.5% (11 of 146 procedures, P < 0.003). The use of pleural ultrasound increased dramatically (72.5 vs 90.2%). The number of patients who underwent repeated procedures (defined as ≥3) reduced dramatically (21 vs 7, P < 0.01). This improvement occurred using many supervised operators who completed the hands-on teaching programme (n = 32) and followed the pleural pathway (127 of 146 procedures). The instigation of a clinical pathway focused on the use of bedside pleural ultrasound, and teaching of drainage techniques with procedure supervision vastly improved patient outcomes. This not only allowed better quality of care for patients, it also provided the acquisition of new skills to medical staff, not limiting these skills to specialised staff. © 2017 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

  10. [Methodological fundamentals for the development of the guideline].

    PubMed

    Bernardy, K; Klose, P; Uçeyler, N; Kopp, I; Häuser, W

    2008-06-01

    The guideline was developed by 10 scientific societies and 2 patient self-help organizations and coordinated by the German Association of Pain Therapy (DIVS). The guideline was approved by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany AWMF (AWMF number 041/004), april 17, 2008. No direct or indirect financial support by pharmaceutical companies was involved and there were no potential conflicts of interest for any of the 58 participants of the guideline group. The results of a systematic search of the literature (Cochrane Library [1993-12/2006], Medline [1980-12/2006], PsychInfo [1966-12/2006] and Scopus [1980-12/2006]) were analyzed by 8 working groups. A balanced composition of the working groups as to sex, level of medical care and position in medical or scientific hierarchy of their members was realized. Levels of evidence were assigned according to the classification system of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Grading of the strengths of recommendations was done according to the German program for disease management guidelines. Standardized, formal procedures to reach a consensus on recommendations were used. The guideline was reviewed by the board of directors of the societies engaged in the development of the guideline. The guideline will be published in complete and short scientific versions, clinical practice and patient versions.

  11. Measure Guideline: Combustion Safety for Natural Draft Appliances Using Indoor Air

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Brand, L.

    2014-04-01

    This measure guideline covers how to assess and carry out the combustion safety procedures for appliances and heating equipment that uses indoor air for combustion in low-rise residential buildings. Only appliances installed in the living space, or in an area freely communicating with the living space, vented alone or in tandem with another appliance are considered here. A separate measure guideline addresses combustion appliances located either within the living space in enclosed closets or side rooms or outside the living space in an adjacent area like an attic or garage that use outdoor air for combustion. This document is formore » inspectors, auditors, and technicians working in homes where energy upgrades are being conducted whether or not air infiltration control is included in the package of measures being applied. In the indoor combustion air case, guidelines summarized here are based on language provided in several of the codes to establish minimum requirements for the space using simplified prescriptive measures. In addition, building performance testing procedures are provided by testing agencies. The codes in combination with the test procedures offer comprehensive combustion safety coverage to address safety concerns, allowing inexperienced residential energy retrofit inspectors to effectively address combustion safety issues and allow energy retrofits to proceed.« less

  12. Guidelines for spaceborne microwave remote sensors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Litman, V.; Nicholas, J.

    1982-01-01

    A handbook was developed to provide information and support to the spaceborne remote sensing and frequency management communities: to guide sensor developers in the choice of frequencies; to advise regulators on sensor technology needs and sharing potential; to present sharing analysis models and, through example, methods for determining sensor sharing feasibility; to introduce developers to the regulatory process; to create awareness of proper assignment procedures; to present sensor allocations; and to provide guidelines on the use and limitations of allocated bands. Controlling physical factors and user requirements and the regulatory environment are discussed. Sensor frequency allocation achievable performance and usefulness are reviewed. Procedures for national and international registration, the use of non-allocated bands and steps for obtaining new frequency allocations, and procedures for reporting interference are also discussed.

  13. Guidelines for developing or supplementing natural photo series.

    Treesearch

    Wayne G. Maxwell; Franklin Ward

    1980-01-01

    These guidelines provide the land manager with procedures for making local supplements to General Technical Report PNW-105, "Photo Series for Quantifying Natural Forest Residues in Common Vegetation Types of the Pacific Northwest"; the process used to photograph and measure residues and summarize the data is described.

  14. Readability of Invasive Procedure Consent Forms.

    PubMed

    Eltorai, Adam E M; Naqvi, Syed S; Ghanian, Soha; Eberson, Craig P; Weiss, Arnold-Peter C; Born, Christopher T; Daniels, Alan H

    2015-12-01

    Informed consent is a pillar of ethical medicine which requires patients to fully comprehend relevant issues including the risks, benefits, and alternatives of an intervention. Given the average reading skill of US adults is at the 8th grade level, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend patient information materials should not exceed a 6th grade reading level. We hypothesized that text provided in invasive procedure consent forms would exceed recommended readability guidelines for medical information. To test this hypothesis, we gathered procedure consent forms from all surgical inpatient hospitals in the state of Rhode Island. For each consent form, readability analysis was measured with the following measures: Flesch Reading Ease Formula, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Fog Scale, SMOG Index, Coleman-Liau Index, Automated Readability Index, and Linsear Write Formula. These readability scores were used to calculate a composite Text Readability Consensus Grade Level. Invasive procedure consent forms were found to be written at an average of 15th grade level (i.e., third year of college), which is significantly higher than the average US adult reading level of 8th grade (p < 0.0001) and the AMA/NIH recommended readability guidelines for patient materials of 6th grade (p < 0.0001). Invasive procedure consent forms have readability levels which makes comprehension difficult or impossible for many patients. Efforts to improve the readability of procedural consent forms should improve patient understanding regarding their healthcare decisions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Designing, Developing, and Implementing Diversity Training: Guidelines for Practitioners.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kincaid, Tanna M.; Horner, Erin R.

    1997-01-01

    Discusses diversity in the workplace and offers guidelines for practitioners in designing, developing, and implementing diversity training. Highlights include linking the diversity initiative to the organization's mission, cultural climate assessments, reviewing policies and procedures, needs assessment, learner analysis, establishing objectives,…

  16. 40 CFR 246.202-3 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... techniques. (b) Directly contacting buyers and determining the buyers' quality specifications, potential...

  17. 40 CFR 246.201-4 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... research techniques. (b) Directly contacting buyers and determining the buyers' quality specifications...

  18. 40 CFR 246.202-3 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... techniques. (b) Directly contacting buyers and determining the buyers' quality specifications, potential...

  19. 40 CFR 246.202-3 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... techniques. (b) Directly contacting buyers and determining the buyers' quality specifications, potential...

  20. 40 CFR 246.201-4 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... research techniques. (b) Directly contacting buyers and determining the buyers' quality specifications...

  1. 40 CFR 246.201-4 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... research techniques. (b) Directly contacting buyers and determining the buyers' quality specifications...

  2. Can we achieve a radionuclide radiation dose equal to or less than that of 99mTc-hydroxymethane diphosphonate bone scintigraphy with a low-dose 18F-sodium fluoride time-of-flight PET of diagnostic quality?

    PubMed

    Ohnona, Jessica; Michaud, Laure; Balogova, Sona; Paycha, Frédéric; Nataf, Valérie; Chauchat, Paul; Talbot, Jean-Noël; Kerrou, Khaldoun

    2013-05-01

    18F-Sodium fluoride is a bone tracer with a high signal-to-noise ratio, but its dosimetry is higher than that of 99mTc-labeled phosphonates at the recommended activities. The study's purpose was to determine whether the reduction by half of F-sodium fluoride-injected activity, mimicked by a short-timed reconstruction image, simulating a total dose less than or equal to that of 99mTc-hydroxymethane diphosphonate scintigraphy, had an impact on the accuracy of PET semiquantitative measurements and image quality. Whole-body time-of-flight 18F-sodium fluoride PET/computed tomography (CT) images were acquired prospectively from 40 adult patients for detection of bone metastases. 18F-Sodium fluoride was administered according to the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) practice guidelines. From the acquired 1 min/bed position list-mode data, 30-s reconstructions were extracted. Measurements of maximum standard uptake value were recorded with a region of interest applied to the same location on the 1-min and 30-s images, which were displayed side by side, and were analyzed using Bland-Altman plots. A masked reading was performed by two senior nuclear medicine physicians who counted the foci of visually increased uptake. Bland-Altman plots showed an excellent agreement between the maximum standard uptake value measurements of the 60- and 30-s images. The paired Wilcoxon test results between the corresponding 60- and 30-s images read by masked readers A and B were not significant (P=0.15 and 0.19, respectively). Reducing acquisition duration by half or injecting half of the activity recommended by the EANM and SNM practice guidelines can lead to 18F-sodium fluoride time-of-flight PET images of diagnostic quality, achieving a radiation dose less than or equal to that of 99mTc-labeled phosphonates.

  3. [Exploration of how to formulate guidelines on post-marketing traditional Chinese medicine surveillance].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Wen; Xie, Yan-Ming; Yu, Wen-Ya

    2013-09-01

    Combining the world health organization's (WHO), the United States and the European union's relevant laws and guidelines on post-marketing drug surveillance to judge the status of post-marketing surveillance of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in China. We found that due to the late start of post-marketing surveillance of traditional Chinese medicine, the appropriate guidelines are yet to be developed. Hence, hospitals, enterprises and research institutions do not have a shared foundation from which to compare their research results. Therefore there is an urgent need to formulate such post-marketing surveillance guidelines. This paper has used as guidance various technical documents such as, "procedures to formulate national standards" and "testing methods of management in formulating traditional Chinese medicine standards" and has combined these to produce a version of post-marketing surveillance particular to Chinese medicine in China. How to formulate these guidelines is discussed and procedures and methods to formulate technical specifications are introduced. These provide a reference for future technical specifications and will assist in the development of TCM.

  4. GUIDELINES FOR TRAINING SITUATION ANALYSIS (TSA). FINAL REPORT.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    CHENZOFF, ANDREW P.; FOLLEY, JOHN D., JR.

    THESE GUIDELINES REPRESENT A TEXTBOOK FOR INSTRUCTION IN THREE PHASES OF TRAINING SITUATION ANALYSIS (TSA), A STANDARDIZED PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY THE NAVAL TRAINING DEVICE CENTER FOR SYSTEMATICALLY GATHERING AND INTERPRETING THE INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE PLANNING OF TRAINING AND TRAINING DEVICES. THREE PHASES OF TSA ARE DESCRIBED IN…

  5. 40 CFR 246.200-3 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... techniques; (b) Directly contacting buyers, and determining the buyers' quality specifications, the exact...

  6. 40 CFR 246.200-3 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... techniques; (b) Directly contacting buyers, and determining the buyers' quality specifications, the exact...

  7. 40 CFR 246.200-3 - Recommended procedures: Market study.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... techniques; (b) Directly contacting buyers, and determining the buyers' quality specifications, the exact...

  8. Ethical and Professional Guidelines for Use of Crisis Procedures

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Simonsen, Brandi; Sugai, George; Freeman, Jennifer; Kern, Laura; Hampton, Jane

    2014-01-01

    The use of crisis procedures, such as seclusion and physical restraint, in U.S. schools has garnered a great deal of national attention, resulting in reports from professional organizations, proposed legislation, and recent recommendations from the U.S. Department of Education (U.S. DOE; 2012). In this paper, we review the recommendations from the…

  9. Cutaneous Lyme borreliosis: Guideline of the German Dermatology Society.

    PubMed

    Hofmann, Heidelore; Fingerle, Volker; Hunfeld, Klaus-Peter; Huppertz, Hans-Iko; Krause, Andreas; Rauer, Sebastian; Ruf, Bernhard

    2017-01-01

    This guideline of the German Dermatology Society primarily focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. It has received consensus from 22 German medical societies and 2 German patient organisations. It is the first part of an AWMF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V.) interdisciplinary guideline: "Lyme Borreliosis - Diagnosis and Treatment, development stage S3". The guideline is directed at physicians in private practices and clinics who treat Lyme borreliosis. Objectives of this guideline are recommendations for confirming a clinical diagnosis, recommendations for a stage-related laboratory diagnosis (serological detection of IgM and IgG Borrelia antibodies using the 2-tiered ELISA/immunoblot process, sensible use of molecular diagnostic and culture procedures) and recommendations for the treatment of the localised, early-stage infection (erythema migrans, erythema chronicum migrans, and borrelial lymphocytoma), the disseminated early-stage infection (multiple erythemata migrantia, flu-like symptoms) and treatment of the late-stage infection (acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans with and without neurological manifestations). In addition, an information sheet for patients containing recommendations for the prevention of Lyme borreliosis is attached to the guideline.

  10. PROCEDURES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC 2-YEAR COLLEGES.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    MORRISON, D.G.; WITHERSPOON, CLINETTE F.

    A SURVEY OF EXISTING LEGISLATION, PLANS, AND PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING JUNIOR COLLEGES LED TO THE PREPARATION OF A SET OF SIX SUGGESTED GUIDELINES--(1) NEED FOR ENABLING LEGISLATION, CRITERIA FOR ESTABLISHMENT, AND PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHMENT, (2) 15 SEQUENTIAL STEPS, NOT ALL OF WHICH MAY BE NEEDED IN EVERY SITUATION, (3) DEVELOPMENT BY THE…

  11. Team-based Service Delivery for Students with Disabilities: Practice Options and Guidelines for Success.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ogletree, Billy T.; Bull, Jeannette; Drew, Ruby; Lunnen, Karen Y.

    2001-01-01

    This article reviews the assessment procedures, treatment procedures, and the advantages and disadvantages of three professional-family team models: multidisciplinary teams, interdisciplinary teams, and transdisciplinary teams. Guidelines for optimal team participation are provided. The importance of mission statements, communication, trust,…

  12. Endoscopy and antiplatelet agents. European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline.

    PubMed

    Boustière, C; Veitch, A; Vanbiervliet, G; Bulois, P; Deprez, P; Laquiere, A; Laugier, R; Lesur, G; Mosler, P; Nalet, B; Napoleon, B; Rembacken, B; Ajzenberg, N; Collet, J P; Baron, T; Dumonceau, J-M

    2011-05-01

    With the increasing use of antiplatelet agents (APA), their management during the periendoscopic period has become a more common and more difficult problem. The increase in use is due to the availability of new drugs and the widespread use of drug-eluting coronary stents. Acute coronary syndromes can occur when APA therapy is withheld for noncardiovascular interventions. Guidelines about APA management during the periendoscopic period are traditionally based on assessments of the procedure-related risk of bleeding and the risk of thrombosis if APA are stopped. New data allow better assessment of these risks, of the necessary duration of APA discontinuation before endoscopy, of the use of alternative procedures (mostly for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP]), and of endoscopic methods that can be used to prevent bleeding (following colonic polypectomy). This guideline makes graded, evidence-based, recommendations for the management of APA for all currently performed endoscopic procedures. A short summary and two tables are included for quick reference. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  13. Immediate Adverse Events in Interventional Pain Procedures: A Multi-Institutional Study.

    PubMed

    Carr, Carrie M; Plastaras, Christopher T; Pingree, Matthew J; Smuck, Matthew; Maus, Timothy P; Geske, Jennifer R; El-Yahchouchi, Christine A; McCormick, Zachary L; Kennedy, David J

    2016-12-01

    Interventional procedures directed toward sources of pain in the axial and appendicular musculoskeletal system are performed with increasing frequency. Despite the presence of evidence-based guidelines for such procedures, there are wide variations in practice. Case reports of serious complications such as spinal cord infarction or infection from spine injections lack appropriate context and create a misleading view of the risks of appropriately performed interventional pain procedures. To evaluate adverse event rate for interventional spine procedures performed at three academic interventional spine practices. Quality assurance databases at three academic interventional pain management practices that utilize evidence-based guidelines [1] were interrogated for immediate complications from interventional pain procedures. Review of the electronic medical record verified or refuted the occurrence of a complication. Same-day emergency department transfers or visits were also identified by a records search. Immediate complication data were available for 26,061 consecutive procedures. A radiology practice performed 19,170 epidural steroid (primarily transforaminal), facet, sacroiliac, and trigger point injections (2006-2013). A physiatry practice performed 6,190 spine interventions (2004-2009). A second physiatry practice performed 701 spine procedures (2009-2010). There were no major complications (permanent neurologic deficit or clinically significant bleeding [e.g., epidural hematoma]) with any procedure. Overall complication rate was 1.9% (493/26,061). Vasovagal reactions were the most frequent event (1.1%). Nineteen patients (<0.1%) were transferred to emergency departments for: allergic reactions, chest pain, symptomatic hypertension, and a vasovagal reaction. This study demonstrates that interventional pain procedures are safely performed with extremely low immediate adverse event rates when evidence-based guidelines are observed. © 2016 American Academy of Pain

  14. Procedural Due Process for Students at Public Colleges and Universities.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Golden, Edward J.

    1982-01-01

    Reports the findings of a study to determine what procedural protections are afforded students at public colleges and universities who are faced with disciplinary or academic dismissal. The data are from 62 of the 85 public postsecondary institutions asked to provide published procedural guidelines. (Author/MLF)

  15. Ethical guidelines for the evaluation of living organ donors

    PubMed Central

    Wright, Linda; Faith, Karen; Richardson, Robert; Grant, David

    2004-01-01

    Transplantation is an effective, life-prolonging treatment for organ failure. Demand has steadily increased over the past decade, creating a shortage in the supply of organs. In addition, the number of deceased organ donors has reached a plateau. Living-donor transplantation is increasingly an option, influenced by favourable clinical outcomes and increased waiting times at most transplant centres across North America. Living-donor kidney transplants have exceeded deceased-donor transplant rates at some centres. Organ donations from living donors have challenged transplant programs to develop a framework for determining donor acceptability. After a multidisciplinary consensus-building process of discussion and debate, the Multi-Organ Transplant Program of the University Health Network in Toronto has developed ethical guidelines for these procedures. These proposed guidelines address ethical concerns related to selection criteria and procedures, voluntariness, informed consent and disclosure of risks and benefits to both donor and recipient. PMID:15646438

  16. Computerization of guidelines: towards a "guideline markup language".

    PubMed

    Dart, T; Xu, Y; Chatellier, G; Degoulet, P

    2001-01-01

    Medical decision making is one of the most difficult daily tasks for physicians. Guidelines have been designed to reduce variance between physicians in daily practice, to improve patient outcomes and to control costs. In fact, few physicians use guidelines in daily practice. A way to ease the use of guidelines is to implement computerised guidelines (computer reminders). We present in this paper a method of computerising guidelines. Our objectives were: 1) to propose a generic model that can be instantiated for any specific guidelines; 2) to use eXtensible Markup Language (XML) as a guideline representation language to instantiate the generic model for a specific guideline. Our model is an object representation of a clinical algorithm, it has been validated by running two different guidelines issued by a French official Agency. In spite of some limitations, we found that this model is expressive enough to represent complex guidelines devoted to diabetes and hypertension management. We conclude that XML can be used as a description format to structure guidelines and as an interface between paper-based guidelines and computer applications.

  17. From guideline modeling to guideline execution: defining guideline-based decision-support services.

    PubMed Central

    Tu, S. W.; Musen, M. A.

    2000-01-01

    We describe our task-based approach to defining the guideline-based decision-support services that the EON system provides. We categorize uses of guidelines in patient-specific decision support into a set of generic tasks--making of decisions, specification of work to be performed, interpretation of data, setting of goals, and issuance of alert and reminders--that can be solved using various techniques. Our model includes constructs required for representing the knowledge used by these techniques. These constructs form a toolkit from which developers can select modeling solutions for guideline task. Based on the tasks and the guideline model, we define a guideline-execution architecture and a model of interactions between a decision-support server and clients that invoke services provided by the server. These services use generic interfaces derived from guideline tasks and their associated modeling constructs. We describe two implementations of these decision-support services and discuss how this work can be generalized. We argue that a well-defined specification of guideline-based decision-support services will facilitate sharing of tools that implement computable clinical guidelines. PMID:11080007

  18. Guidelines for Preparation of a Scientific Paper

    PubMed Central

    Kosiba, Margaret M.

    1988-01-01

    Even the experienced scientific writer may have difficulty transferring research results to clear, concise, publishable words. To assist the beginning scientific writer, guidelines are proposed that will provide direction for determining a topic, developing protocols, collecting data, using computers for analysis and word processing, incorporating copyediting notations, consulting scientific writing manuals, and developing sound writing habits. Guidelines for writing each section of a research paper are described to help the writer prepare the title page, introduction, materials and methods, results, and discussion sections of the paper, as well as the acknowledgments and references. Procedures for writing the first draft and subsequent revisions include a checklist of structural and stylistic problems and common errors in English usage. PMID:3339646

  19. Latin-American guidelines for cancer pain management.

    PubMed

    Lara-Solares, Argelia; Ahumada Olea, Marisol; Basantes Pinos, Amparito de Los Ángeles; Bistre Cohén, Sara; Bonilla Sierra, Patricia; Duarte Juárez, Eva Rossina; Símon Escudero, Omar A; Santacruz Escudero, Juan Guillermo; Flores Cantisani, José Alberto

    2017-07-01

    Cancer is a major public health issue. Poor pain management has devastating consequences that seriously affect quality of life, diminish functionality and place a huge emotional burden on patients and their relatives. A group of Latin American opinion leaders were invited to participate in a meeting to discuss areas associated with cancer pain. The expert panel reviewed the latest literature to draft region-specific guidelines for effective pain management. The guidelines make recommendations on tailoring treatment to the specific type of pain and provide local physicians with the state-of-the art findings in the field. Management should be with pharmacological approaches (nonopioid, adjuvant and opioid analgesics, as well as oncologic therapies and interventional procedures) and nonpharmacological approaches.

  20. Guidelines for chemical peeling in Japan (3rd edition).

    PubMed

    2012-04-01

    Chemical peeling may be defined as the therapies, procedures and techniques used for the treatment of certain cutaneous diseases or conditions, and for aesthetic improvement. The procedures include the application of one or more chemical agents to the skin. Chemical peeling has been very popular in both medical and aesthetic fields. Because neither its scientific background is well understood nor a systematic approach established, medical and social problems have taken place. This prompted us to establish and distribute a standard guideline of care for chemical peeling. Previous guidelines such as the 2001 and 2004 versions included minimum standards of care such as indications, chemicals, applications, and any associated precautions, including post-peeling care. The principles in this updated version of chemical peeling are as follows: (i) chemical peeling should be performed under the strict technical control and responsibility of a physician; (ii) the physician should have sufficient knowledge of the structure and physiology of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, and understand the mechanisms of wound-healing induced by chemical peeling; (iii) the physician should be board-certified in an appropriate specialty such as dermatology; and (iv) the ultimate judgment regarding the appropriateness of any specific chemical peeling procedure must be made by the physician while considering all standard therapeutic protocols, which should be presented to each individual patient. Keeping these concepts in mind, this new version of the guidelines includes a more scientific and detailed approach from the viewpoint of evidence-based medicine. © 2011 Japanese Dermatological Association.

  1. NHEXAS PHASE I ARIZONA STUDY--STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR ARCHIVE PROCEDURE FOR STUDY SAMPLES (UA-G-4.0)

    EPA Science Inventory

    The purpose of this SOP is to outline the archive/custody guidelines used by the NHEXAS Arizona research project. This procedure was followed to maintain and locate samples, extracts, tracings and hard copy results after laboratory analysis during the Arizona NHEXAS project and ...

  2. A scalable architecture for incremental specification and maintenance of procedural and declarative clinical decision-support knowledge.

    PubMed

    Hatsek, Avner; Shahar, Yuval; Taieb-Maimon, Meirav; Shalom, Erez; Klimov, Denis; Lunenfeld, Eitan

    2010-01-01

    Clinical guidelines have been shown to improve the quality of medical care and to reduce its costs. However, most guidelines exist in a free-text representation and, without automation, are not sufficiently accessible to clinicians at the point of care. A prerequisite for automated guideline application is a machine-comprehensible representation of the guidelines. In this study, we designed and implemented a scalable architecture to support medical experts and knowledge engineers in specifying and maintaining the procedural and declarative aspects of clinical guideline knowledge, resulting in a machine comprehensible representation. The new framework significantly extends our previous work on the Digital electronic Guidelines Library (DeGeL) The current study designed and implemented a graphical framework for specification of declarative and procedural clinical knowledge, Gesher. We performed three different experiments to evaluate the functionality and usability of the major aspects of the new framework: Specification of procedural clinical knowledge, specification of declarative clinical knowledge, and exploration of a given clinical guideline. The subjects included clinicians and knowledge engineers (overall, 27 participants). The evaluations indicated high levels of completeness and correctness of the guideline specification process by both the clinicians and the knowledge engineers, although the best results, in the case of declarative-knowledge specification, were achieved by teams including a clinician and a knowledge engineer. The usability scores were high as well, although the clinicians' assessment was significantly lower than the assessment of the knowledge engineers.

  3. Readability of Invasive Procedure Consent Forms

    PubMed Central

    Eltorai, Adam E. M.; Naqvi, Syed S.; Ghanian, Soha; Eberson, Craig P.; Weiss, Arnold‐Peter C.; Born, Christopher T.

    2015-01-01

    Abstract Background Informed consent is a pillar of ethical medicine which requires patients to fully comprehend relevant issues including the risks, benefits, and alternatives of an intervention. Given the average reading skill of US adults is at the 8th grade level, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend patient information materials should not exceed a 6th grade reading level. We hypothesized that text provided in invasive procedure consent forms would exceed recommended readability guidelines for medical information. Materials and methods To test this hypothesis, we gathered procedure consent forms from all surgical inpatient hospitals in the state of Rhode Island. For each consent form, readability analysis was measured with the following measures: Flesch Reading Ease Formula, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Fog Scale, SMOG Index, Coleman–Liau Index, Automated Readability Index, and Linsear Write Formula. These readability scores were used to calculate a composite Text Readability Consensus Grade Level. Results Invasive procedure consent forms were found to be written at an average of 15th grade level (i.e., third year of college), which is significantly higher than the average US adult reading level of 8th grade (p < 0.0001) and the AMA/NIH recommended readability guidelines for patient materials of 6th grade (p < 0.0001). Conclusion Invasive procedure consent forms have readability levels which makes comprehension difficult or impossible for many patients. Efforts to improve the readability of procedural consent forms should improve patient understanding regarding their healthcare decisions. PMID:26678039

  4. EANM-EORTC general recommendations for sentinel node diagnostics in melanoma.

    PubMed

    Chakera, Annette H; Hesse, Birger; Burak, Zeynep; Ballinger, James R; Britten, Allan; Caracò, Corrado; Cochran, Alistair J; Cook, Martin G; Drzewiecki, Krzysztof T; Essner, Richard; Even-Sapir, Einat; Eggermont, Alexander M M; Stopar, Tanja Gmeiner; Ingvar, Christian; Mihm, Martin C; McCarthy, Stanley W; Mozzillo, Nicola; Nieweg, Omgo E; Scolyer, Richard A; Starz, Hans; Thompson, John F; Trifirò, Giuseppe; Viale, Giuseppe; Vidal-Sicart, Sergi; Uren, Roger; Waddington, Wendy; Chiti, Arturo; Spatz, Alain; Testori, Alessandro

    2009-10-01

    The accurate diagnosis of a sentinel node in melanoma includes a sequence of procedures from different medical specialities (nuclear medicine, surgery, oncology, and pathology). The items covered are presented in 11 sections and a reference list: (1) definition of a sentinel node, (2) clinical indications, (3) radiopharmaceuticals and activity injected, (4) dosimetry, (5) injection technique, (6) image acquisition and interpretation, (7) report and display, (8) use of dye, (9) gamma probe detection, (10) surgical techniques in sentinel node biopsy, and (11) pathological evaluation of melanoma-draining sentinel lymph nodes. If specific recommendations given cannot be based on evidence from original, scientific studies, referral is given to "general consensus" and similar expressions. The recommendations are designed to assist in the practice of referral to, performance, interpretation and reporting of all steps of the sentinel node procedure in the hope of setting state-of-the-art standards for good-quality evaluation of possible spread to the lymphatic system in intermediate-to-high risk melanoma without clinical signs of dissemination.

  5. 29 CFR 1607.3 - Discrimination defined: Relationship between use of selection procedures and discrimination.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... selection procedures and discrimination. 1607.3 Section 1607.3 Labor Regulations Relating to Labor (Continued) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION UNIFORM GUIDELINES ON EMPLOYEE SELECTION PROCEDURES (1978) General Principles § 1607.3 Discrimination defined: Relationship between use of selection procedures and...

  6. First Aid Procedures for Dental Emergencies.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Barsky, Nancy Happel; Londeree, Kathy

    1982-01-01

    Guidelines for first aid procedures for temporary relief of dental emergencies include information on: (1) dental first aid supplies; (2) treatment of oral injuries; (3) orthodontic emergencies; (4) toothaches; and (5) prolonged bleeding due to an extraction. Consulting a dentist as soon as possible is strongly recommended. (JN)

  7. Guidelines for innovation in pediatric surgery.

    PubMed

    Kastenberg, Zachary; Dutta, Sanjeev

    2011-05-01

    Surgical innovation involves the conceptualization, research, and translation of a novel idea into a viable procedure or device. The technological advancements made within the field of pediatric surgery over the last century have led to major improvements in patient care and outcomes. There has, however, been a parallel increase in the complexity of the regulatory bodies governing research and device implementation. This article briefly outlines the history of innovation in pediatric surgery, describes the existing regulatory bodies governing surgical research and device development (i.e., Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration), and offers a set of guidelines for the pediatric surgeon planning to incorporate a new procedure or device into clinical practice.

  8. The transfer of analytical procedures.

    PubMed

    Ermer, J; Limberger, M; Lis, K; Wätzig, H

    2013-11-01

    Analytical method transfers are certainly among the most discussed topics in the GMP regulated sector. However, they are surprisingly little regulated in detail. General information is provided by USP, WHO, and ISPE in particular. Most recently, the EU emphasized the importance of analytical transfer by including it in their draft of the revised GMP Guideline. In this article, an overview and comparison of these guidelines is provided. The key to success for method transfers is the excellent communication between sending and receiving unit. In order to facilitate this communication, procedures, flow charts and checklists for responsibilities, success factors, transfer categories, the transfer plan and report, strategies in case of failed transfers, tables with acceptance limits are provided here, together with a comprehensive glossary. Potential pitfalls are described such that they can be avoided. In order to assure an efficient and sustainable transfer of analytical procedures, a practically relevant and scientifically sound evaluation with corresponding acceptance criteria is crucial. Various strategies and statistical tools such as significance tests, absolute acceptance criteria, and equivalence tests are thoroughly descibed and compared in detail giving examples. Significance tests should be avoided. The success criterion is not statistical significance, but rather analytical relevance. Depending on a risk assessment of the analytical procedure in question, statistical equivalence tests are recommended, because they include both, a practically relevant acceptance limit and a direct control of the statistical risks. However, for lower risk procedures, a simple comparison of the transfer performance parameters to absolute limits is also regarded as sufficient. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Introduction to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections.

    PubMed

    Solomkin, Joseph S; Mazuski, John; Blanchard, Joan C; Itani, Kamal M F; Ricks, Philip; Dellinger, E Patchen; Allen, George; Kelz, Rachel; Reinke, Caroline E; Berríos-Torres, Sandra I

    Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common type of health-care-associated infection (HAI) and adds considerably to the individual, social, and economic costs of surgical treatment. This document serves to introduce the updated Guideline for the Prevention of SSI from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). The Core section of the guideline addresses issues relevant to multiple surgical specialties and procedures. The second procedure-specific section focuses on a high-volume, high-burden procedure: Prosthetic joint arthroplasty. While many elements of the 1999 guideline remain current, others warrant updating to incorporate new knowledge and changes in the patient population, operative techniques, emerging pathogens, and guideline development methodology.

  10. 50 CFR 600.747 - Guidelines and procedures for determining new fisheries and gear.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... turtles, sea birds, or species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. (H) How the gear will be... prepare a list of all fisheries under the authority of each Council, or the Director in the case of Atlantic highly migratory species, and all gear used in such fisheries. This section contains guidelines in...

  11. 50 CFR 600.747 - Guidelines and procedures for determining new fisheries and gear.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... turtles, sea birds, or species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. (H) How the gear will be... prepare a list of all fisheries under the authority of each Council, or the Director in the case of Atlantic highly migratory species, and all gear used in such fisheries. This section contains guidelines in...

  12. 50 CFR 600.747 - Guidelines and procedures for determining new fisheries and gear.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... turtles, sea birds, or species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. (H) How the gear will be... prepare a list of all fisheries under the authority of each Council, or the Director in the case of Atlantic highly migratory species, and all gear used in such fisheries. This section contains guidelines in...

  13. 50 CFR 600.747 - Guidelines and procedures for determining new fisheries and gear.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... turtles, sea birds, or species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. (H) How the gear will be... prepare a list of all fisheries under the authority of each Council, or the Director in the case of Atlantic highly migratory species, and all gear used in such fisheries. This section contains guidelines in...

  14. Development of an improved overlay procedure for Oregon : volume III, field manual.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1987-12-01

    This report is the third in a three-volume series dealing with the development of an improved overlay design procedure for Oregon. This report presents technical guidelines for using the proposed overlay design procedure. Four areas are described, in...

  15. Using Qualitative Research to Inform Development of Professional Guidelines: A Case Study of the Society of Critical Care Medicine Family-Centered Care Guidelines.

    PubMed

    Coombs, Maureen A; Davidson, Judy E; Nunnally, Mark E; Wickline, Mary A; Curtis, J Randall

    2017-08-01

    To explore the importance, challenges, and opportunities using qualitative research to enhance development of clinical practice guidelines, using recent guidelines for family-centered care in the ICU as an example. In developing the Society of Critical Care Medicine guidelines for family-centered care in the neonatal ICU, PICU, and adult ICU, we developed an innovative adaptation of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Development and Evaluations approach to explicitly incorporate qualitative research. Using Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Development and Evaluations and the Council of Medical Specialty Societies principles, we conducted a systematic review of qualitative research to establish family-centered domains and outcomes. Thematic analyses were undertaken on study findings and used to support Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome question development. We identified and employed three approaches using qualitative research in these guidelines. First, previously published qualitative research was used to identify important domains for the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome questions. Second, this qualitative research was used to identify and prioritize key outcomes to be evaluated. Finally, we used qualitative methods, member checking with patients and families, to validate the process and outcome of the guideline development. In this, a novel report, we provide direction for standardizing the use of qualitative evidence in future guidelines. Recommendations are made to incorporate qualitative literature review and appraisal, include qualitative methodologists in guideline taskforce teams, and develop training for evaluation of qualitative research into guideline development procedures. Effective methods of involving patients and families as members of guideline development represent opportunities for future work.

  16. Guideline Implementation: Energy-Generating Devices, Part 1-Electrosurgery.

    PubMed

    Eder, Sheryl P

    2017-03-01

    Energy-generating devices are standard equipment in the surgical suite, with electrosurgical units being the most common type of electrical device used in the OR. Prevention of injuries to patients and personnel related to the use of energy-generating devices is a key component of the perioperative nurse's role. The AORN "Guideline for safe use of energy-generating devices" provides guidance on the use and maintenance of devices that deliver energy in the forms of radiofrequency waves, ultrasound waves, or lasers. This article focuses on key points of the guideline, which address precautions specific to electrosurgical units, patients with implanted electronic devices, and minimally invasive surgery, and documentation of the use of energy-generating devices. Perioperative RNs should review the complete guideline for additional information and for guidance when writing and updating policies and procedures. Copyright © 2017 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. PREPARE: guidelines for planning animal research and testing

    PubMed Central

    Smith, Adrian J; Clutton, R Eddie; Lilley, Elliot; Hansen, Kristine E Aa; Brattelid, Trond

    2017-01-01

    There is widespread concern about the quality, reproducibility and translatability of studies involving research animals. Although there are a number of reporting guidelines available, there is very little overarching guidance on how to plan animal experiments, despite the fact that this is the logical place to start ensuring quality. In this paper we present the PREPARE guidelines: Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence. PREPARE covers the three broad areas which determine the quality of the preparation for animal studies: formulation, dialogue between scientists and the animal facility, and quality control of the various components in the study. Some topics overlap and the PREPARE checklist should be adapted to suit specific needs, for example in field research. Advice on use of the checklist is available on the Norecopa website, with links to guidelines for animal research and testing, at https://norecopa.no/PREPARE. PMID:28771074

  18. PREPARE: guidelines for planning animal research and testing.

    PubMed

    Smith, Adrian J; Clutton, R Eddie; Lilley, Elliot; Hansen, Kristine E Aa; Brattelid, Trond

    2018-04-01

    There is widespread concern about the quality, reproducibility and translatability of studies involving research animals. Although there are a number of reporting guidelines available, there is very little overarching guidance on how to plan animal experiments, despite the fact that this is the logical place to start ensuring quality. In this paper we present the PREPARE guidelines: Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence. PREPARE covers the three broad areas which determine the quality of the preparation for animal studies: formulation, dialogue between scientists and the animal facility, and quality control of the various components in the study. Some topics overlap and the PREPARE checklist should be adapted to suit specific needs, for example in field research. Advice on use of the checklist is available on the Norecopa website, with links to guidelines for animal research and testing, at https://norecopa.no/PREPARE .

  19. Clinical practice guidelines for psychiatrists: Indian Psychiatric Society guidelines vs. international guidelines: A critical appraisal.

    PubMed

    Goel, Dishanter; Trivedi, Jitendra Kumar

    2007-10-01

    Various guidelines have been proposed to assist psychiatrists all over the world in making appropriate health-care decisions. Though the fundamental premises of all guidelines are the same, yet they differ in certain important aspects; this hampers the universality of these guidelines. There are many internationally accepted guidelines which are based on robust research; still they do not necessarily address the geographical and cultural differences. This necessitates the formulation of regional guidelines, which usually lack the background of robust regional research. The Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) guidelines were also formulated to cater to the needs of the Indian population. It is now almost three years old, and it is high time it should be compared to the international guidelines, so as to appraise ourselves of the success or shortcomings of the guidelines. This article critically analyzes the IPS guidelines in comparison with the available international guidelines and schematically brings out the positive points, as well as the shortcomings, with the aim of further improvement in our indigenous guidelines.

  20. Guidelines for randomized clinical trial protocol content: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Tetzlaff, Jennifer M; Chan, An-Wen; Kitchen, Jessica; Sampson, Margaret; Tricco, Andrea C; Moher, David

    2012-09-24

    All randomized clinical trials (RCTs) require a protocol; however, numerous studies have highlighted protocol deficiencies. Reporting guidelines may improve the content of research reports and, if developed using robust methods, may increase the utility of reports to stakeholders. The objective of this study was to systematically identify and review RCT protocol guidelines, to assess their characteristics and methods of development, and to compare recommendations. We conducted a systematic review of indexed literature (MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Methodology Register from inception to September 2010; reference lists; related article features; forward citation searching) and a targeted search of supplementary sources, including a survey of major trial funding agencies in six countries. Records were eligible if they described a content guideline in English or French relevant to RCT protocols. Guidelines were excluded if they specified content for protocols for trials of specific procedures or conditions or were intended to assess trial quality. We extracted guideline characteristics and methods. Content was mapped for a subset of guidelines that described development methods or had institutional endorsement. Forty guidelines published in journals, books and institutional reports were included in the review; seven were specific to RCT protocols. Only eight (20%) described development methods which included informal consensus methods, pilot testing and formal validation; no guideline described all of these methods. No guideline described formal consensus methods or a systematic retrieval of empirical evidence to inform its development. The guidelines included a median of 23 concepts per guideline (interquartile range (IQR) = 14 to 34; range = 7 to 109). Among the subset of guidelines (n = 23) for which content was mapped, approximately 380 concepts were explicitly addressed (median concepts per guideline IQR = 31 (24,80); range = 16 to 150

  1. Guideline.gov: A Database of Clinical Specialty Guidelines.

    PubMed

    El-Khayat, Yamila M; Forbes, Carrie S; Coghill, Jeffrey G

    2017-01-01

    The National Guidelines Clearinghouse (NGC), also known as Guideline.gov, is a database of resources to assist health care providers with a central depository of guidelines for clinical specialty areas in medicine. The database is provided free of charge and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The guidelines for treatment are updated regularly, with new guidelines replacing older guidelines every five years. There are hundreds of current guidelines with more added each week. The purpose and goal of NGC is to provide physicians, nurses, and other health care providers, insurance companies, and others in the field of health care with a unified database of the most current, detailed, relevant, and objective clinical practice guidelines.

  2. Cutaneous Lyme borreliosis: Guideline of the German Dermatology Society

    PubMed Central

    Hofmann, Heidelore; Fingerle, Volker; Hunfeld, Klaus-Peter; Huppertz, Hans-Iko; Krause, Andreas; Rauer, Sebastian; Ruf, Bernhard

    2017-01-01

    This guideline of the German Dermatology Society primarily focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. It has received consensus from 22 German medical societies and 2 German patient organisations. It is the first part of an AWMF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V.) interdisciplinary guideline: “Lyme Borreliosis – Diagnosis and Treatment, development stage S3”. The guideline is directed at physicians in private practices and clinics who treat Lyme borreliosis. Objectives of this guideline are recommendations for confirming a clinical diagnosis, recommendations for a stage-related laboratory diagnosis (serological detection of IgM and IgG Borrelia antibodies using the 2-tiered ELISA/immunoblot process, sensible use of molecular diagnostic and culture procedures) and recommendations for the treatment of the localised, early-stage infection (erythema migrans, erythema chronicum migrans, and borrelial lymphocytoma), the disseminated early-stage infection (multiple erythemata migrantia, flu-like symptoms) and treatment of the late-stage infection (acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans with and without neurological manifestations). In addition, an information sheet for patients containing recommendations for the prevention of Lyme borreliosis is attached to the guideline. PMID:28943834

  3. [Methodology report of the 2017 guidelines on fibromyalgia syndrome].

    PubMed

    Häuser, W; Nothacker, M

    2017-06-01

    The regular update of the guidelines on fibromyalgia syndrome, AWMF number 145/004, was planned for April 2017. The guidelines were developed by 13 scientific societies and 2 patient self-help organizations coordinated by the German Pain Society. Working groups (n = 8) with a total of 42 members were formed balanced with respect to gender, medical expertise, position in the medical or scientific hierarchy and potential conflicts of interest. A systematic search of the literature from December 2010 to May 2016 was performed in the Cochrane library, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus databases. Levels of evidence were assigned according to the classification system of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine version 2009. The strength of recommendations was achieved by multiple step formalized procedures to reach a consensus. Efficacy, risks, patient preferences and applicability of therapies available were weighed up against each other. The guidelines were reviewed and approved by the board of directors of the societies engaged in the development of the guidelines. The guidelines are published in several forms, i.e. complete and short scientific versions and clinical practice and patient versions.

  4. Fetal monitoring during nonobstetric surgery: revisiting guidelines: a case report.

    PubMed

    Rothschild, Tod J; Morel, Bruce; Pace, Benjamin; Fuks, Aleksandr M

    2015-01-01

    Nonobstetric surgery during pregnancy is not an infrequent occurrence. Guidelines for fetal monitoring during nonobstetric surgery are limited. We describe a case of appendectomy during third trimester, complicated by in utero fetal demise (IUFD). A 30-year-old, Caucasian woman underwent open appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis. The procedure was complicated by IUFD. Fetal monitoring was done prior to but not during surgery. Guidelines for fetal monitoring were revised, recommending continuous electronic fetal monitoring when possible during third trimester nonobstetric surgery after appropriate patient counseling. A subsequent series of 5 uncomplicated appendectomies demonstrated no difficulty in implementing these guidelines. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring during third trimester nonobstetric surgery should be available and implemented after appropriate patient counseling. This approach reduces the risk of fetal mortality.

  5. [Hybrid operating rooms: only for advanced endovascular procedures?].

    PubMed

    Verhoeven, E; Katsargyris, A; Töpel, I; Steinbauer, M

    2013-10-01

    The evolution of endovascular techniques has led to the concept of the "hybrid operating room" (hybrid OR). A hybrid OR combines the sterility of an OR in an operating theatre environment with a high-quality fixed imaging system. On the basis of these advantages it would be desirable that an angio-hybrid OR becomes a standard requirement for endovascular surgery. In Great Britain guidelines have already been published that require a hybrid OR even for normal endovascular management of the infrarenal aorta. However, in Germany there are no guidelines from professional societies or formal rules from the federal joint committee, thus in this article a classification of endovascular procedures according to their complexity and the necessary infrastructures are proposed in order to define particular procedures that should only be performed in an angio-hybrid OR. According to our experience, endovascular procedures can be classified into four categories based on their complexity and the requirements regarding fluoroscopy: level 1: standard EVAR, TEVAR, iliac and popliteal artery procedures; level 2: iliac branched (IBD) and standard (2 fenestrations for the renal arteries and a scallop for the superior mesenteric artery) fenestrated stent-grafting; level 3: more complex fenestrated procedures (three or four fenestrations); and level 4: branched stent-grafting for TAAA. At this moment it is still acceptable to perform level 1 and level 2 procedures outside of a hybrid OR. In our opinion, it is not recommended to perform level 3 and level 4 endovascular procedures without a hybrid OR. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  6. Revised guidelines for good practice in IVF laboratories (2015).

    PubMed

    De los Santos, Maria José; Apter, Susanna; Coticchio, Giovanni; Debrock, Sophie; Lundin, Kersti; Plancha, Carlos E; Prados, Fernando; Rienzi, Laura; Verheyen, Greta; Woodward, Bryan; Vermeulen, Nathalie

    2016-04-01

    Which recommendations can be provided by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology Special Interest Group (ESHRE SIG) Embryology to support laboratory specialists in the organization and management of IVF laboratories and the optimization of IVF patient care? Structured in 13 sections, the guideline development group formulated recommendations for good practice in the organization and management of IVF laboratories, and for good practice of the specific procedures performed within the IVF laboratory. NA. The guideline was produced by a group of 10 embryologists representing different European countries, settings and levels of expertise. The group evaluated the document of 2008, and based on this assessment, each group member rewrote one or more sections. Two 2-day meetings were organized during which each of the recommendations was discussed and rewritten until consensus within the guideline group was reached. After finalizing the draft, the members of the ESHRE SIG embryology were invited to review the guideline. NA. The guideline provides recommendations on the general organization of an IVF laboratory (staffing and direction, quality management, laboratory safety), and on the specific aspects of the procedures performed in IVF laboratories (Identification of patients and traceability of their reproductive cells, consumables, handling of biological material, oocyte retrieval, sperm preparation, insemination of oocytes, scoring for fertilization, embryo culture and transfer, and cryopreservation). A last section provides recommendations regarding an Emergency plan for IVF laboratories. Evidence on most of the issues described is scarce, and therefore it was decided not to perform a formal search for and assessment of scientific evidence. However, recommendations published in the EUTCD and relevant and recent documents, manuals and consensus papers were taken into account when formulating the recommendations. Despite the limitations, the guideline

  7. Laboratory diagnosis of creatine deficiency syndromes: a technical standard and guideline of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.

    PubMed

    Sharer, J Daniel; Bodamer, Olaf; Longo, Nicola; Tortorelli, Silvia; Wamelink, Mirjam M C; Young, Sarah

    2017-02-01

    Disclaimer: These ACMG Standards and Guidelines are intended as an educational resource for clinical laboratory geneticists to help them provide quality clinical laboratory genetic services. Adherence to these standards and guidelines is voluntary and does not necessarily assure a successful medical outcome. These Standards and Guidelines should not be considered inclusive of all proper procedures and tests or exclusive of others that are reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. In determining the propriety of any specific procedure or test, clinical laboratory geneticists should apply their professional judgment to the specific circumstances presented by the patient or specimen. Clinical laboratory geneticists are encouraged to document in the patient's record the rationale for the use of a particular procedure or test, whether or not it is in conformance with these Standards and Guidelines. They also are advised to take notice of the date any particular guideline was adopted, and to consider other relevant medical and scientific information that becomes available after that date. It also would be prudent to consider whether intellectual property interests may restrict the performance of certain tests and other procedures.Cerebral creatine deficiency syndromes are neurometabolic conditions characterized by intellectual disability, seizures, speech delay, and behavioral abnormalities. Several laboratory methods are available for preliminary and confirmatory diagnosis of these conditions, including measurement of creatine and related metabolites in biofluids using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, enzyme activity assays in cultured cells, and DNA sequence analysis. These guidelines are intended to standardize these procedures to help optimize the diagnosis of creatine deficiency syndromes. While biochemical methods are emphasized, considerations for confirmatory molecular testing are also discussed

  8. Safety in earth orbit study. Volume 5: Space shuttle payloads: Safety requirements and guidelines on-orbit phase

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1972-01-01

    Safety requirements and guidelines are listed for the sortie module, upper stage vehicle, and space station for the earth orbit operations of the space shuttle program. The requirements and guidelines are for vehicle design, safety devices, warning devices, operational procedures, and residual hazards.

  9. The Puestow procedure: how I do it.

    PubMed

    Adams, David B

    2013-06-01

    The Puestow procedure, also called lateral pancreaticojejunostomy, has been the mainstay of surgical therapy for dilated duct chronic pancreatitis for decades. Principles that Puestow and Gillesby described in 1958 are pertinent to the modern conduct of this operation that is described with current practice guidelines.

  10. Cognitive Task Analysis of Experts in Designing Multimedia Learning Object Guideline (M-LOG)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Razak, Rafiza Abdul; Palanisamy, Punithavathy

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to design and develop a set of guidelines for multimedia learning objects to inform instructional designers (IDs) about the procedures involved in the process of content analysis. This study was motivated by the absence of standardized procedures in the beginning phase of the multimedia learning object design which is…

  11. Metal wastage design guidelines for bubbling fluidized-bed combustors. Final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lyczkowski, R.W.; Podolski, W.F.; Bouillard, J.X.

    These metal wastage design guidelines identify relationships between metal wastage and (1) design parameters (such as tube size, tube spacing and pitch, tube bundle and fluidized-bed height to distributor, and heat exchanger tube material properties) and (2) operating parameters (such as fluidizing velocity, particle size, particle hardness, and angularity). The guidelines are of both a quantitative and qualitative nature. Simplified mechanistic models are described, which account for the essential hydrodynamics and metal wastage processes occurring in bubbling fluidized beds. The empirical correlational approach complements the use of these models in the development of these design guidelines. Data used for modelmore » and guideline validation are summarized and referenced. Sample calculations and recommended design procedures are included. The influences of dependent variables on metal wastage, such as solids velocity, bubble size, and in-bed pressure fluctuations, are discussed.« less

  12. How anaesthesiologists understand difficult airway guidelines-an interview study.

    PubMed

    Knudsen, Kati; Pöder, Ulrika; Nilsson, Ulrica; Högman, Marieann; Larsson, Anders; Larsson, Jan

    2017-11-01

    In the practice of anaesthesia, clinical guidelines that aim to improve the safety of airway procedures have been developed. The aim of this study was to explore how anaesthesiologists understand or conceive of difficult airway management algorithms. A qualitative phenomenographic design was chosen to explore anaesthesiologists' views on airway algorithms. Anaesthesiologists working in three hospitals were included. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted. Four different ways of understanding were identified, describing airway algorithms as: (A) a law-like rule for how to act in difficult airway situations; (B) a cognitive aid, an action plan for difficult airway situations; (C) a basis for developing flexible, personal action plans for the difficult airway; and (D) the experts' consensus, a set of scientifically based guidelines for handling the difficult airway. The interviewed anaesthesiologists understood difficult airway management guidelines/algorithms very differently.

  13. 41 CFR 60-3.6 - Use of selection procedures which have not been validated.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... validation techniques contemplated by these guidelines. In such circumstances, the user should utilize... a formal and scored selection procedure is used which has an adverse impact, the validation... user cannot or need not follow the validation techniques anticipated by these guidelines, the user...

  14. 41 CFR 60-3.6 - Use of selection procedures which have not been validated.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... validation techniques contemplated by these guidelines. In such circumstances, the user should utilize... a formal and scored selection procedure is used which has an adverse impact, the validation... user cannot or need not follow the validation techniques anticipated by these guidelines, the user...

  15. 41 CFR 60-3.6 - Use of selection procedures which have not been validated.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... validation techniques contemplated by these guidelines. In such circumstances, the user should utilize... a formal and scored selection procedure is used which has an adverse impact, the validation... user cannot or need not follow the validation techniques anticipated by these guidelines, the user...

  16. 41 CFR 60-3.6 - Use of selection procedures which have not been validated.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... validation techniques contemplated by these guidelines. In such circumstances, the user should utilize... a formal and scored selection procedure is used which has an adverse impact, the validation... user cannot or need not follow the validation techniques anticipated by these guidelines, the user...

  17. Implications of the new EEOC guidelines.

    PubMed

    Dhanens, T P

    1979-01-01

    How can employers exercise their right to select employees without running afoul of the new guidelines? Are interviews best? Pencil and paper tests? "Nonrandom selection procedures are inevitable for most jobs," says Dr. Thomas Dhanens, a management psychologist. "Therefore, employers will always be open to charges of discrimination or favoritism from some quarter. Organizations that avoid their responsibility for examining and validating their selection procedures will be forced into a costly catch-up effort before long." The author shows employers how to collect data systematically, analyze job functions, evaluate applicants, record data, handle performance appraisals, maintain records, and identify priorities. Since a lack of data is no defense in an EEOC action, Dhanens suggests that these are the minimum steps wise employers should follow.

  18. Guidelines of the First International Consensus Conference on Endovenous Thermal Ablation for Varicose Vein Disease--ETAV Consensus Meeting 2012.

    PubMed

    Pavlović, Miloš D; Schuller-Petrović, Sanja; Pichot, Olivier; Rabe, Eberhard; Maurins, Uldis; Morrison, Nick; Pannier, Felizitas

    2015-05-01

    Endovenous thermal ablation (ETA) procedures are catheter-directed, ultrasound (US)-guided thermal methods for treatment in varicose veins disease. Radiofrequency, laser or steam energy thermally denatures vein wall collagen, leading first to vein wall inflammation, then fibrosis and finally to occlusion. The aim of this guideline is to give evidence-based recommendations for ETA procedures. These guidelines were drafted during a consensus meeting of a group of experts in the field of ETA in June 2012 (Hvar, Croatia) under the auspices of the International Union of Phlebology (IUP). These guidelines review the present state of knowledge as reflected in peer-reviewed published medical literature. The recommendations of these guidelines are graded according to the American College of Chest Physicians Task Force recommendations on Grading Strength of Recommendations and Quality of Evidence in Clinical Guidelines. Recommendations on the use of ETA procedures were made based on the quality of evidence for efficacy, safety, tolerability, cosmetic outcome, patient satisfaction/preference and, where appropriate, on the experts' opinion. Health economics were not considered, since differences in national health systems and pricing make it difficult to form general conclusions that are relevant at an international level. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

  19. 2017 WSES guidelines for the management of iatrogenic colonoscopy perforation.

    PubMed

    de'Angelis, Nicola; Di Saverio, Salomone; Chiara, Osvaldo; Sartelli, Massimo; Martínez-Pérez, Aleix; Patrizi, Franca; Weber, Dieter G; Ansaloni, Luca; Biffl, Walter; Ben-Ishay, Offir; Bala, Miklosh; Brunetti, Francesco; Gaiani, Federica; Abdalla, Solafah; Amiot, Aurelien; Bahouth, Hany; Bianchi, Giorgio; Casanova, Daniel; Coccolini, Federico; Coimbra, Raul; de'Angelis, Gian Luigi; De Simone, Belinda; Fraga, Gustavo P; Genova, Pietro; Ivatury, Rao; Kashuk, Jeffry L; Kirkpatrick, Andrew W; Le Baleur, Yann; Machado, Fernando; Machain, Gustavo M; Maier, Ronald V; Chichom-Mefire, Alain; Memeo, Riccardo; Mesquita, Carlos; Salamea Molina, Juan Carlos; Mutignani, Massimiliano; Manzano-Núñez, Ramiro; Ordoñez, Carlos; Peitzman, Andrew B; Pereira, Bruno M; Picetti, Edoardo; Pisano, Michele; Puyana, Juan Carlos; Rizoli, Sandro; Siddiqui, Mohammed; Sobhani, Iradj; Ten Broek, Richard P; Zorcolo, Luigi; Carra, Maria Clotilde; Kluger, Yoram; Catena, Fausto

    2018-01-01

    Iatrogenic colonoscopy perforation (ICP) is a severe complication that can occur during both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Although 45-60% of ICPs are diagnosed by the endoscopist while performing the colonoscopy, many ICPs are not immediately recognized but are instead suspected on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms that occur after the endoscopic procedure. There are three main therapeutic options for ICPs: endoscopic repair, conservative therapy, and surgery. The therapeutic approach must vary based on the setting of the diagnosis (intra- or post-colonoscopy), the type of ICP, the characteristics and general status of the patient, the operator's level of experience, and surgical device availability. Although ICPs have been the focus of numerous publications, no guidelines have been created to standardize the management of ICPs. The aim of this article is to present the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for the management of ICP, which are intended to be used as a tool to promote global standards of care in case of ICP. These guidelines are not meant to substitute providers' clinical judgment for individual patients, and they may need to be modified based on the medical team's level of experience and the availability of local resources.

  20. The Japanese Society of Pathology Guidelines on the handling of pathological tissue samples for genomic research: Standard operating procedures based on empirical analyses.

    PubMed

    Kanai, Yae; Nishihara, Hiroshi; Miyagi, Yohei; Tsuruyama, Tatsuhiro; Taguchi, Kenichi; Katoh, Hiroto; Takeuchi, Tomoyo; Gotoh, Masahiro; Kuramoto, Junko; Arai, Eri; Ojima, Hidenori; Shibuya, Ayako; Yoshida, Teruhiko; Akahane, Toshiaki; Kasajima, Rika; Morita, Kei-Ichi; Inazawa, Johji; Sasaki, Takeshi; Fukayama, Masashi; Oda, Yoshinao

    2018-02-01

    Genome research using appropriately collected pathological tissue samples is expected to yield breakthroughs in the development of biomarkers and identification of therapeutic targets for diseases such as cancers. In this connection, the Japanese Society of Pathology (JSP) has developed "The JSP Guidelines on the Handling of Pathological Tissue Samples for Genomic Research" based on an abundance of data from empirical analyses of tissue samples collected and stored under various conditions. Tissue samples should be collected from appropriate sites within surgically resected specimens, without disturbing the features on which pathological diagnosis is based, while avoiding bleeding or necrotic foci. They should be collected as soon as possible after resection: at the latest within about 3 h of storage at 4°C. Preferably, snap-frozen samples should be stored in liquid nitrogen (about -180°C) until use. When intending to use genomic DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, 10% neutral buffered formalin should be used. Insufficient fixation and overfixation must both be avoided. We hope that pathologists, clinicians, clinical laboratory technicians and biobank operators will come to master the handling of pathological tissue samples based on the standard operating procedures in these Guidelines to yield results that will assist in the realization of genomic medicine. © 2018 The Authors. Pathology International published by Japanese Society of Pathology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  1. Environmental Education: River Policy and Procedures.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Snyder, Glenn; And Others

    Accurate as of October 1975, the guidebook establishes detailed procedures and policies to be used by all persons engaged in white water rafting trips involving students from Jefferson County (Colorado) Public Schools, and provides a general guide and set of instructions for anyone planning and carrying out such a trip. The guidelines are drawn…

  2. Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices for Occupational and Environmental Epidemiologic Research. The Chemical Manufacturers Association's Epidemiology Task Group.

    PubMed

    1991-12-01

    The Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices (GEPs) for Occupational and Environmental Epidemiologic Research address the conduct of studies generally undertaken to answer questions about human health in relationship to the work place or the environment. The GEPs propose minimum practices and procedures that should be considered to help ensure the quality and integrity of data used in epidemiologic research and to provide adequate documentation of the research methods. The GEPs address the process of conducting individual epidemiologic studies and do not prescribe specific research methods. The Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices propose minimum practices and procedures in the following areas: I. Organization and Personnel II. Facilities, Resource Commitment, and Contractors III. Protocol IV. Review and Approval V. Study Conduct VI. Communication VII. Archiving VIII. Quality Assurance Although the Guidelines for Good Epidemiology Practices will not guarantee good epidemiology, they do provide a useful framework for ensuring that all research issues are adequately addressed. This framework is proposed as a first step in improving epidemiologic research practices through adherence to sound scientific research principles. Appendices provide an overview of standard operating procedures, a glossary of terms used in the Guidelines, and suggested references on occupational epidemiology methods.

  3. Formalizing Evaluation Procedures for Marketing Faculty Research Performance.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McDermott, Dennis R.; And Others

    1994-01-01

    Results of a national survey of marketing department heads (n=142) indicate that few marketing departments have formalized the development and communication of research performance standards to faculty. Guidelines and methods to accomplish those procedures most efficiently were proposed. (Author/JOW)

  4. 40 CFR 240.205-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ....205-2 Section 240.205-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... air pollution control technology. (b) All emissions, including dust from vents, should be controlled. ...

  5. 40 CFR 240.205-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ....205-2 Section 240.205-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... air pollution control technology. (b) All emissions, including dust from vents, should be controlled. ...

  6. Antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated prior to dental procedures for prevention of periprosthetic joint infections.

    PubMed

    Rademacher, Willem M H; Walenkamp, Geert H I M; Moojen, Dirk Jan F; Hendriks, Johannes G E; Goedendorp, Theo A; Rozema, Frederik R

    2017-10-01

    Background and purpose - To minimize the risk of hematogenous periprosthetic joint infection (HPJI), international and Dutch guidelines recommended antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures. Unclear definitions and contradictory recommendations in these guidelines have led to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. To formulate new guidelines, a joint committee of the Dutch Orthopaedic and Dental Societies conducted a systematic literature review to answer the following question: can antibiotic prophylaxis be recommended for patients (with joint prostheses) undergoing dental procedures in order to prevent dental HPJI? Methods - The Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), reviews, and observational studies up to July 2015. Studies were included if they involved patients with joint implants undergoing dental procedures, and either considered HPJI as an outcome measure or described a correlation between HPJI and prophylactic antibiotics. A guideline was formulated using the GRADE method and AGREE II guidelines. Results - 9 studies were included in this systematic review. All were rated "very low quality of evidence". Additional literature was therefore consulted to address clinical questions that provide further insight into pathophysiology and risk factors. The 9 studies did not provide evidence that use of antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the incidence of dental HPJI, and the additional literature supported the conclusion that antibiotic prophylaxis should be discouraged in dental procedures. Interpretation - Prophylactic antibiotics in order to prevent dental HPJI should not be prescribed to patients with a normal or an impaired immune system function. Patients are recommended to maintain good oral hygiene and visit the dentist regularly.

  7. Palliative Sedation: An Analysis of International Guidelines and Position Statements.

    PubMed

    Gurschick, Lauren; Mayer, Deborah K; Hanson, Laura C

    2015-09-01

    To describe the suggested clinical practice of palliative sedation as it is presented in the literature and discuss available guidelines for its use. CINAHL, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for publications since 1997 for recommended guidelines and position statements on palliative sedation as well as data on its provision. Keywords included palliative sedation, terminal sedation, guidelines, United States, and end of life. Inclusion criteria were palliative sedation policies, frameworks, guidelines, or discussion of its practice, general or oncology patient population, performance of the intervention in an inpatient unit, for humans, and in English. Exclusion criteria were palliative sedation in children, acute illness, procedural, or burns, and predominantly ethical discussions. Guidelines were published by American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (2000), Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (2003), American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (2006), American Medical Association (2008), Royal Dutch Medical Association (2009), European Association for Palliative Care (2009), National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (2010), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2012). Variances throughout guidelines include definitions of the practice, indications for its use, continuation of life-prolonging therapies, medications used, and timing/prognosis. The development and implementation of institutional-based guidelines with clear stance on the discussed variances is necessary for consistency in practice. Data on provision of palliative sedation after implementation of guidelines needs to be collected and disseminated for a better understanding of the current practice in the United States. © The Author(s) 2014.

  8. Implementation of ICU palliative care guidelines and procedures: a quality improvement initiative following an investigation of alleged euthanasia.

    PubMed

    Kuschner, Ware G; Gruenewald, David A; Clum, Nancy; Beal, Alice; Ezeji-Okoye, Stephen C

    2009-01-01

    Ethical conflicts are commonly encountered in the course of delivering end-of-life care in the ICU. Some ethical concerns have legal dimensions, including concerns about inappropriate hastening of death. Despite these concerns, many ICUs do not have explicit policies and procedures for withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments. We describe a US Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation of end-of-life care practices in our ICU. The investigation focused on care delivered to four critically ill patients with terminal diseases and an ICU nurse's concern that the patients had been subjected to euthanasia. The OIG investigation also assessed the validity of allegations that patient flow in and out of our ICU was inappropriately influenced by scheduled surgeries and that end-of-life care policies in our ICU were not clear. Although the investigation did not substantiate the allegations of euthanasia or inappropriate ICU patient flow, it did find that the policies that discuss end-of-life care issues were not clear and allowed for wide-ranging interpretations. Acting on the OIG recommendations, we developed a quality improvement initiative addressing end-of-life care in our ICU, intended to enhance communication and understanding about palliative care practices in our ICU, to prevent ethical conflicts surrounding end-of-life care, and to improve patient care. The initiative included the introduction of newly developed ICU comfort care guidelines, a physician order set, and a physician template note. Additionally, we implemented an educational program for ICU staff. Staff feedback regarding the initiative has been highly favorable, and the nurse whose concerns led to the investigation was satisfied not only with the investigation but also the policies and procedures that were subsequently introduced in our ICU.

  9. Development of guidelines for the surveillance of invasive mosquitoes in Europe

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background The recent notifications of autochthonous cases of dengue and chikungunya in Europe prove that the region is vulnerable to these diseases in areas where known mosquito vectors (Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti) are present. Strengthening surveillance of these species as well as other invasive container-breeding aedine mosquito species such as Aedes atropalpus, Aedes japonicus, Aedes koreicus and Aedes triseriatus is therefore required. In order to support and harmonize surveillance activities in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) launched the production of ‘Guidelines for the surveillance of invasive mosquitoes in Europe’. This article describes these guidelines in the context of the key issues surrounding invasive mosquitoes surveillance in Europe. Methods Based on an open call for tender, ECDC granted a pan-European expert team to write the guidelines draft. It content is founded on published and grey literature, contractor’s expert knowledge, as well as appropriate field missions. Entomologists, public health experts and end users from 17 EU/EEA and neighbouring countries contributed to a reviewing and validation process. The final version of the guidelines was edited by ECDC (Additional file 1). Results The guidelines describe all procedures to be applied for the surveillance of invasive mosquito species. The first part addresses strategic issues and options to be taken by the stakeholders for the decision-making process, according to the aim and scope of surveillance, its organisation and management. As the strategy to be developed needs to be adapted to the local situation, three likely scenarios are proposed. The second part addresses all operational issues and suggests options for the activities to be implemented, i.e. key procedures for field surveillance of invasive mosquito species, methods of identification of these mosquitoes, key and optional procedures for field collection of population parameters

  10. Increasing nursing treatment for pediatric procedural pain.

    PubMed

    Bice, April A; Gunther, Mary; Wyatt, Tami

    2014-03-01

    Procedural pain management is an underused practice in children. Despite the availability of efficacious treatments, many nurses do not provide adequate analgesia for painful interventions. Complementary therapies and nonpharmacologic interventions are additionally essential to managing pain. Owing to the increasing awareness of inadequate nursing utilization of pharmacologic measures for procedural pain, this paper focuses only on analgesic treatments. The aim of this review was to examine how varying degrees of quality improvement affect nursing utilization of treatments for routine pediatric procedural pain. A comprehensive search of databases including Cinahl, Medline/Pubmed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Psycinfo, and Cochrane Library was performed. Sixty-two peer-reviewed research articles were examined. Ten articles focusing on quality improvement in pediatric pain management published in English from 2001 to 2011 were included. Three themes emerged: 1) increasing nursing knowledge; 2) nursing empowerment; and 3) protocol implementation. Research critique was completed with the use of guidelines and recommendations from Creswell (2009) and Garrard (2011). The literature reveals that nurses still think that pediatric pain management is essential. Quality improvement increases nursing utilization of procedural pain treatments. Although increasing nursing knowledge improves pediatric pain management, it appears that nursing empowerment and protocol implementation increase nursing compliance more than just education alone. Nurses providing pain management can enhance their individual practice with quality improvement measures that may increase nursing adherence to institutional and nationally recommended pediatric procedural pain management guidelines. Copyright © 2014 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Guidelines for Providing Accommodations Using CASAS Assessment for Learners with Disabilities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    CASAS - Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (NJ1), 2005

    2005-01-01

    These guidelines address methods for administering Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) assessments using accommodations for learners with documented disabilities. The suggested accommodations for disability categories include provisions for: (1) Accommodations in test administration procedures; and (2) Use of appropriate CASAS…

  12. Guidelines for randomized clinical trial protocol content: a systematic review

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background All randomized clinical trials (RCTs) require a protocol; however, numerous studies have highlighted protocol deficiencies. Reporting guidelines may improve the content of research reports and, if developed using robust methods, may increase the utility of reports to stakeholders. The objective of this study was to systematically identify and review RCT protocol guidelines, to assess their characteristics and methods of development, and to compare recommendations. Methods We conducted a systematic review of indexed literature (MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Methodology Register from inception to September 2010; reference lists; related article features; forward citation searching) and a targeted search of supplementary sources, including a survey of major trial funding agencies in six countries. Records were eligible if they described a content guideline in English or French relevant to RCT protocols. Guidelines were excluded if they specified content for protocols for trials of specific procedures or conditions or were intended to assess trial quality. We extracted guideline characteristics and methods. Content was mapped for a subset of guidelines that described development methods or had institutional endorsement. Results Forty guidelines published in journals, books and institutional reports were included in the review; seven were specific to RCT protocols. Only eight (20%) described development methods which included informal consensus methods, pilot testing and formal validation; no guideline described all of these methods. No guideline described formal consensus methods or a systematic retrieval of empirical evidence to inform its development. The guidelines included a median of 23 concepts per guideline (interquartile range (IQR) = 14 to 34; range = 7 to 109). Among the subset of guidelines (n = 23) for which content was mapped, approximately 380 concepts were explicitly addressed (median concepts per guideline IQR = 31 (24

  13. Guidelines for patient selection and performance of carotid artery stenting.

    PubMed

    Bladin, Christopher; Chambers, Brian; New, Gishel; Denton, Michael; Lawrence-Brown, Michael

    2010-06-01

    The endovascular treatment of carotid atherosclerosis with carotid artery stenting (CAS) remains controversial. Carotid endarterectomy remains the benchmark in terms of procedural mortality and morbidity. At present, there are no consensus Australasian guidelines for the safe performance of CAS. We applied a modified Delphi consensus method of iterative consultation between the College representatives on the Carotid Stenting Guidelines Committee (CSGC). Selection of patients suitable for CAS needs careful consideration of clinical and patho-anatomical criteria and cannot be directly extrapolated from clinical indicators for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Randomized controlled trials (including pooled analyses of results) comparing CAS with CEA for treatment of symptomatic stenosis have demonstrated that CAS is more hazardous than CEA. On current evidence, the CGSC therefore recommends that CAS should not be performed in the majority of patients requiring carotid revascularisation. The evidence for CAS in patients with symptomatic severe carotid stenosis who are considered medically high risk is weak, and there is currently no evidence to support CAS as a treatment for asymptomatic carotid stenosis. The use of distal protection devices during CAS remains controversial with increased risk of clinically silent stroke. The knowledge requirements for the safe performance of CAS include an understanding of the evidence base from randomized controlled trials, carotid and aortic arch anatomy and pathology, clinical stroke syndromes, the differing treatment options for stroke and carotid atherosclerosis, and recognition and management of periprocedural complications. It is critical that all patients being considered for a carotid intervention have adequate pre-procedural neuro-imaging and an independent, standardized neurological assessment before and after the procedure. Maintenance of proficiency in CAS requires active involvement in surgical/endovascular audit and

  14. Proper management of rheumatoid arthritis in Latin America. What the guidelines say?

    PubMed

    Brenol, Claiton V; Nava, Jorge Ivan Gamez; Soriano, Enrique R

    2015-03-01

    To analyze characteristics of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) developed in Latin American (LA) countries and to describe the knowledge, use, and barriers for their implementation perceived among LA rheumatologists, a comprehensive literature search including Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, LILACS and Scielo was performed. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument was applied for evaluation. A survey was sent to PANLAR members containing questions related to knowledge about guidelines, application of the recommendations, and difficulties in implementing CPGs. Eight guidelines were identified. Most guidelines were evidence based (62 %), but in only 37 % a systematic literature search was done. None of the guidelines included patients' views and preferences, and only few of them stated an updating procedure. Funding body independence and disclosure of conflicts of interest were rarely reported. The survey was answered by 214 rheumatologists from all Latin American countries. Most rheumatologist reported knowledge and use of clinical guidelines, mainly international ones. In general, rheumatologist felt that guidelines apply to only a minority of patients seen in daily clinical practice. Limited access expensive drugs, suggested by the guidelines, was the most frequent barrier to guidelines implementation that was reported. A good number of guidelines on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis have been developed in Latin America. Most of them are lacking some of the components recognized for high-quality clinical guidelines development. In spite that most rheumatologist know and apply guidelines, access to drugs is still a very important barrier to their implementation in Latin America.

  15. 40 CFR 240.201-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ....201-2 Section 240.201-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... or excluded wastes inadvertently left at the facility should be considered in design. (b) Examples of...

  16. 40 CFR 240.201-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... carcasses, automobile bodies, dewatered sludges from water treatment plants, and industrial process wastes. ... WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... or excluded wastes inadvertently left at the facility should be considered in design. (b) Examples of...

  17. 40 CFR 240.208-3 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Operations. 240.208-3 Section 240.208-3 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended...

  18. 40 CFR 240.210-3 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Operations. 240.210-3 Section 240.210-3 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended...

  19. 40 CFR 240.202-3 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Operations. 240.202-3 Section 240.202-3 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended...

  20. 40 CFR 240.204-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ....204-2 Section 240.204-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... indiscriminately. Consideration should be given to onsite treatment of process and waste waters before discharge...

  1. 40 CFR 240.207-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ....207-2 Section 240.207-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... attractive. The tipping, residue discharge, and waste salvage areas should be screened from public view, and...

  2. 40 CFR 240.203-3 - Recommended procedures: Operations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 24 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Recommended procedures: Operations. 240.203-3 Section 240.203-3 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended...

  3. Adherence to European Association of Urology Guidelines on Prophylactic Antibiotics: An Important Step in Antimicrobial Stewardship.

    PubMed

    Cai, Tommaso; Verze, Paolo; Brugnolli, Anna; Tiscione, Daniele; Luciani, Lorenzo Giuseppe; Eccher, Cristina; Lanzafame, Paolo; Malossini, Gianni; Wagenlehner, Florian M E; Mirone, Vincenzo; Bjerklund Johansen, Truls E; Pickard, Robert; Bartoletti, Riccardo

    2016-02-01

    The evolution of resistant pathogens is a worldwide health crisis and adherence to European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on antibiotic prophylaxis may be an important way to improve antibiotic stewardship and reduce patient harm and costs. To evaluate the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains and health care costs during a period of adherence to EAU guidelines in a tertiary referral urologic institution. A protocol for adherence to EAU guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis for all urologic procedures was introduced in January 2011. Data for 3529 urologic procedures performed between January 2011 and December 2013 after protocol introduction were compared with data for 2619 procedures performed between January 2008 and December 2010 before protocol implementation. The prevalence of bacterial resistance and health care costs were compared between the two periods. The outcome measures were the proportion of resistant uropathogens and costs related to antibiotic consumption and symptomatic postoperative infection. We used χ2 and Fisher's exact tests to test the significance of differences. The proportion of patients with symptomatic postoperative infection did not differ (180/3529 [5.1%] vs. 117/2619 [4.5%]; p=0.27). A total of 342 isolates from all patients with symptomatic postoperative infections were analysed. The rate of resistance of Escherichia coli to piperacillin/tazobactam (9.1% vs. 5.4%; p=0.03), gentamicin (18.3% vs. 11.2%; p=0.02), and ciprofloxacin (32.3% vs. 19.1%; p=0.03) decreased significantly after protocol introduction. The defined daily dose (DDD) use of ciprofloxacin fell from 4.2 to 0.2 DDD per 100 patient-days after implementation (p<0.001). Antibiotic drug costs (€76,980 vs. €36,700) and costs related to postoperative infections (€45,870 vs. €29,560) decreased following introduction of the protocol (p<0.001). Adherence to EAU guidelines on antibiotic prophylaxis reduced antibiotic usage without increasing post

  4. Guidelines for transoesophageal echocardiographic probe cleaning and disinfection from the British Society of Echocardiography.

    PubMed

    Kanagala, P; Bradley, C; Hoffman, P; Steeds, R P

    2011-10-01

    The clinical utility of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is well established. Being a semi-invasive procedure, however, the potential for transmission of infection between sequential patients exists. This has implications for the protection of both patients and medical staff. Guidelines for disinfection during gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) have been in place for many years.(1,2) Unfortunately, similar guidance is lacking with respect to TOE. Although traversing the same body cavities and sharing many similarities with upper GIE, there are fundamental structural and procedural differences with TOE which merit special consideration in establishing a decontamination protocol. This document provides recommendations for TOE probe decontamination based on the available evidence, expert opinion, and modification of the current British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines.

  5. Korean Guidelines for Interventional Recanalization of Lower Extremity Arteries

    PubMed Central

    Bae, Jae Ik; Jeon, Yong Sun; Kim, Chang Won; Jae, Hwan Jun; Park, Kwang Bo; Cho, Young Kwon; Kim, Man Deuk

    2015-01-01

    Peripheral arterial occlusive disease caused by atherosclerosis can present with intermittent claudication or critical limb ischemia. Proper diagnosis and management is warranted to improve symptoms and salvage limbs. With the introduction of new techniques and dedicated materials, endovascular recanalization is widely performed for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease because it is less invasive than surgery. However, there are various opinions regarding the appropriate indications and procedure methods for interventional recanalization according to operator and institution in Korea. Therefore, we intend to provide evidence based guidelines for interventional recanalization by multidisciplinary consensus. These guidelines are the result of a close collaboration between physicians from many different areas of expertise including interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, and vascular surgery. The goal of these guidelines is to ensure better treatment, to serve as a guide to the clinician, and consequently, to contribute to public health care. PMID:26175569

  6. Clinical guideline representation in a CDS: a human information processing method.

    PubMed

    Kilsdonk, Ellen; Riezebos, Rinke; Kremer, Leontien; Peute, Linda; Jaspers, Monique

    2012-01-01

    The Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG) has developed evidence-based guidelines for screening childhood cancer survivors for possible late complications of treatment. These paper-based guidelines appeared to not suit clinicians' information retrieval strategies; it was thus decided to communicate the guidelines through a Computerized Decision Support (CDS) tool. To ensure high usability of this tool, an analysis of clinicians' cognitive strategies in retrieving information from the paper-based guidelines was used as requirements elicitation method. An information processing model was developed through an analysis of think aloud protocols and used as input for the design of the CDS user interface. Usability analysis of the user interface showed that the navigational structure of the CDS tool fitted well with the clinicians' mental strategies employed in deciding on survivors screening protocols. Clinicians were more efficient and more complete in deciding on patient-tailored screening procedures when supported by the CDS tool than by the paper-based guideline booklet. The think-aloud method provided detailed insight into users' clinical work patterns that supported the design of a highly usable CDS system.

  7. [Medical habilitation in German-speaking countries : Quantitative assessment of content and elaboration of habilitation guidelines].

    PubMed

    Weineck, S B; Koelblinger, D; Kiesslich, T

    2015-04-01

    Habilitation defines the qualification to conduct self-contained university teaching and is the key for access to a professorship at German, Austrian and Swiss universities. Despite all changes implemented in the European higher education systems during the Bologna process, it is the highest qualification level issued through the process of an university examination and remains the core concept of scientific careers in these countries. In the field of medicine, this applies not only to scientific staff at the universities but also to those medical doctors aiming at a clinical career track. To provide a quantitative analysis of the scientific, didactic, and procedural criteria for medical habilitation in German-speaking countries. Based on the guidelines of all 43 medical academic institutions, the criteria which candidates are required to fulfil prior to habilitation as well as formal requirements related to the habilitation procedure itself have been acquired and quantitatively analyzed. Having evaluated all habilitation guidelines by means of 87 items, the quantitative analysis revealed significant differences in terms of number, kind and scale of criteria stated therein. Most habilitation guidelines scarcely define the capabilities applicants have to prove: concerning the scientific qualifications on types of publications for instance, no item was mentioned in more than half of all habilitation guidelines. Based on this data analysis, the authors discuss the related literature and describe five main distinguishing areas of habilitation guidelines in terms of the set of the formal and procedural framework as well as the prequalification and postqualification criteria imposed on habilitation candidates. There are therefore substantial differences in the organization of the habilitation for medicine.

  8. MyHealthAtVanderbilt: policies and procedures governing patient portal functionality

    PubMed Central

    Rosenbloom, S Trent; Stenner, Shane P; Anders, Shilo; Muse, Sue; Johnson, Kevin B; Jirjis, Jim; Jackson, Gretchen Purcell

    2011-01-01

    Explicit guidelines are needed to develop safe and effective patient portals. This paper proposes general principles, policies, and procedures for patient portal functionality based on MyHealthAtVanderbilt (MHAV), a robust portal for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We describe policies and procedures designed to govern popular portal functions, address common user concerns, and support adoption. We present the results of our approach as overall and function-specific usage data. Five years after implementation, MHAV has over 129 800 users; 45% have used bi-directional messaging; 52% have viewed test results and 45% have viewed other medical record data; 30% have accessed health education materials; 39% have scheduled appointments; and 29% have managed a medical bill. Our policies and procedures have supported widespread adoption and use of MHAV. We believe other healthcare organizations could employ our general guidelines and lessons learned to facilitate portal implementation and usage. PMID:21807648

  9. Models and Procedures for Improving the Planning, Management, and Evaluation of Cooperative Education Programs. Final Report. Volume I.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Blaschke, Charles L.; Steiger, JoAnn

    This report of a project to design a set of training guidelines for planning, managing, and evaluating cooperative education programs describes briefly the procedures used in developing the guidelines and model; discusses the various components of the planning, management, and evaluation process; and presents guidelines and criteria for designing…

  10. 38 CFR 36.4350 - Servicing procedures for holders.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... and counseling delinquent borrowers to advise borrowers how to cure delinquencies, protect their...) Procedural guidelines for individual analysis of each delinquency; (4) Instructions and appropriate controls... efforts made to collect the delinquency and the response from the borrower before a decision is made to...

  11. Suggested Guide for Fire Service Standard Operating Procedures.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gillett, Merl; Hertzler, Simon L.

    Suggested guidelines for the development of fire service standard operating procedures are presented in this document. Section topics are as follow: chain of command; communications; emergency response; apparatus; fire service training; disaster response; aircraft fire safety; mutual aid; national reporting system (example reporting forms);…

  12. 40 CFR 240.208-2 - Recommended procedures: Design.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ....208-2 Section 240.208-2 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES GUIDELINES FOR THE THERMAL PROCESSING OF SOLID WASTES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... allow for removal from the site of residue or other solids in a manner that protects the environment. ...

  13. Procedural volume and structure of interventional pulmonary fellowships: a survey of fellows and fellowship program directors.

    PubMed

    Yarmus, Lonny; Feller-Kopman, David; Imad, Melhem; Kim, Stephanie; Lee, Hans J

    2013-09-01

    Current interventional pulmonary (IP) procedural guidelines for competency are based on expert opinion. There are few objective data to support competency metrics for IP procedures. This survey reports procedural volume during IP fellowships to help define new standards in training and curriculum development. A web-based survey was developed to evaluate IP training procedural volume. The survey was administered to all US and Canadian IP fellowship directors and graduates in training from 2006 to 2011. The survey inquired about all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed during the specialized year of IP training. Questions regarding the training program structure were collected and analyzed. There was a 92.5% fellow response rate (37 of 40) and 77% fellowship director response rate (10 of 13) from programs in existence at the time of the survey. Procedural volume was consistent between fellowship directors and graduates (P = .64). Although there was a wide range of procedural volume and types of procedures between different programs, the procedural mean volumes were all significantly higher than the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) guideline recommendations (P < .005). US and Canadian IP fellowships produce fellows with variable procedural volumes; however, these are significantly higher than ACCP and ATS/ERS guidelines for most programs and procedures. With a uniform training curriculum being adopted by the majority of IP fellowship programs in the United States and Canada, as well as data showing improved core knowledge in IP fellows undergoing a dedicated year of additional training, further metrics examining the impact of advanced IP training on patient outcomes are needed.

  14. [Clinical practice guidelines: juridical and medico legal issues in health care malpractice liability].

    PubMed

    Moreschi, Carlo; Broi, Ugo Da

    2014-01-01

    Clinical Practice Guidelines are clinical tools addressed to medical and health professionals and are normally employed to improve quality and safety of diagnostic and therapeutical procedures but may sometimes limit the autonomy of medical and other health care professionals. The adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines should not be an exclusive step to evaluate the liability and respect of standards of care in case of medico-legal investigations being each clinical case very specific. Medical liability and respect of standards of care should be evaluated with the support of Clinical Practice Guidelines and the extensive examination of all specific features, professional background and experience requested to treat each single patient.

  15. Clinical Practice Guideline Selection, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2000-02-01

    interventions for a particular diagnosis” (Henning, 1997) developed by members of the hospital staff. They can be Clinical Practice Guidelines6 conceptualized...health care environment , it is more important than ever for health care organizations to select the most cost-effective procedures, and to continuously...of the studies regarding the targeted illness/injury will enable this team to identify those interventions strongly supported by significant

  16. Consensus on guidelines for stereotactic neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders

    PubMed Central

    Nuttin, Bart; Wu, Hemmings; Mayberg, Helen; Hariz, Marwan; Gabriëls, Loes; Galert, Thorsten; Merkel, Reinhard; Kubu, Cynthia; Vilela-Filho, Osvaldo; Matthews, Keith; Taira, Takaomi; Lozano, Andres M; Schechtmann, Gastón; Doshi, Paresh; Broggi, Giovanni; Régis, Jean; Alkhani, Ahmed; Sun, Bomin; Eljamel, Sam; Schulder, Michael; Kaplitt, Michael; Eskandar, Emad; Rezai, Ali; Krauss, Joachim K; Hilven, Paulien; Schuurman, Rick; Ruiz, Pedro; Chang, Jin Woo; Cosyns, Paul; Lipsman, Nir; Voges, Juergen; Cosgrove, Rees; Li, Yongjie; Schlaepfer, Thomas

    2014-01-01

    Background For patients with psychiatric illnesses remaining refractory to ‘standard’ therapies, neurosurgical procedures may be considered. Guidelines for safe and ethical conduct of such procedures have previously and independently been proposed by various local and regional expert groups. Methods To expand on these earlier documents, representative members of continental and international psychiatric and neurosurgical societies, joined efforts to further elaborate and adopt a pragmatic worldwide set of guidelines. These are intended to address a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders, brain targets and neurosurgical techniques, taking into account cultural and social heterogeneities of healthcare environments. Findings The proposed consensus document highlights that, while stereotactic ablative procedures such as cingulotomy and capsulotomy for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder are considered ‘established’ in some countries, they still lack level I evidence. Further, it is noted that deep brain stimulation in any brain target hitherto tried, and for any psychiatric or behavioural disorder, still remains at an investigational stage. Researchers are encouraged to design randomised controlled trials, based on scientific and data-driven rationales for disease and brain target selection. Experienced multidisciplinary teams are a mandatory requirement for the safe and ethical conduct of any psychiatric neurosurgery, ensuring documented refractoriness of patients, proper consent procedures that respect patient's capacity and autonomy, multifaceted preoperative as well as postoperative long-term follow-up evaluation, and reporting of effects and side effects for all patients. Interpretation This consensus document on ethical and scientific conduct of psychiatric surgery worldwide is designed to enhance patient safety. PMID:24444853

  17. U.S.-MEXICO BORDER PROGRAM ARIZONA BORDER STUDY--STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR ARCHIVE PROCEDURE FOR STUDY SAMPLES (UA-G-4.0)

    EPA Science Inventory

    The purpose of this SOP is to outline the archive/custody guidelines used by the Arizona Border Study. This procedure was followed to maintain and locate samples, extracts, tracings and hard copy results after laboratory analysis during the Arizona NHEXAS project and the Border ...

  18. [New guidelines on chronic pancreatitis : interdisciplinary treatment strategies].

    PubMed

    Lerch, M M; Bachmann, K A; Izbicki, J R

    2013-02-01

    Chronic pancreatitis is a common disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Interdisciplinary consensus guidelines have recently updated the definitions and diagnostic criteria for chronic pancreatitis and provide a critical assessment of therapeutic procedures. Diagnostic imaging relies on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) as the most sensitive technique, whereas computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) remain a frequent preoperative requirement. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is now used mostly as a therapeutic procedure except for the differential diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis. Complications of chronic pancreatitis, such as pseudocysts, duct stricture and intractable pain can be treated with endoscopic interventions as well as open surgery. In the treatment of pseudocysts endoscopic drainage procedures now prevail while pain treatment has greater long-term effectiveness following surgical procedures. Currently, endocopic as well as surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis require an ever increasing degree of technical and medical expertise and are provided increasingly more often by interdisciplinary centres. Surgical treatment is superior to interventional therapy regarding the outcome of pain control and duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is presently the surgical procedure of choice.

  19. Clinical Practice Guideline: Improving Nasal Form and Function after Rhinoplasty.

    PubMed

    Ishii, Lisa E; Tollefson, Travis T; Basura, Gregory J; Rosenfeld, Richard M; Abramson, Peter J; Chaiet, Scott R; Davis, Kara S; Doghramji, Karl; Farrior, Edward H; Finestone, Sandra A; Ishman, Stacey L; Murphy, Robert X; Park, John G; Setzen, Michael; Strike, Deborah J; Walsh, Sandra A; Warner, Jeremy P; Nnacheta, Lorraine C

    2017-02-01

    Objective Rhinoplasty, a surgical procedure that alters the shape or appearance of the nose while preserving or enhancing the nasal airway, ranks among the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States, with >200,000 procedures reported in 2014. While it is difficult to calculate the exact economic burden incurred by rhinoplasty patients following surgery with or without complications, the average rhinoplasty procedure typically exceeds $4000. The costs incurred due to complications, infections, or revision surgery may include the cost of long-term antibiotics, hospitalization, or lost revenue from hours/days of missed work. The resultant psychological impact of rhinoplasty can also be significant. Furthermore, the health care burden from psychological pressures of nasal deformities/aesthetic shortcomings, surgical infections, surgical pain, side effects from antibiotics, and nasal packing materials must also be considered for these patients. Prior to this guideline, limited literature existed on standard care considerations for pre- and postsurgical management and for standard surgical practice to ensure optimal outcomes for patients undergoing rhinoplasty. The impetus for this guideline is to utilize current evidence-based medicine practices and data to build unanimity regarding the peri- and postoperative strategies to maximize patient safety and to optimize surgical results for patients. Purpose The primary purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians who either perform rhinoplasty or are involved in the care of a rhinoplasty candidate, as well as to optimize patient care, promote effective diagnosis and therapy, and reduce harmful or unnecessary variations in care. The target audience is any clinician or individual, in any setting, involved in the management of these patients. The target patient population is all patients aged ≥15 years. The guideline is intended to focus on knowledge gaps, practice

  20. Guideline of guidelines: asymptomatic microscopic haematuria.

    PubMed

    Linder, Brian J; Bass, Edward J; Mostafid, Hugh; Boorjian, Stephen A

    2018-02-01

    The aim of the present study was to review major organizational guidelines on the evaluation and management of asymptomatic microscopic haematuria (AMH). We reviewed the haematuria guidelines from: the American Urological Association; the consensus statement by the Canadian Urological Association, Canadian Urologic Oncology Group and Bladder Cancer Canada; the American College of Physicians; the Joint Consensus Statement of the Renal Association and British Association of Urological Surgeons; and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. All guidelines reviewed recommend evaluation for AMH in the absence of potential benign aetiologies, with the evaluation including cystoscopy and upper urinary tract imaging. Existing guidelines vary in their definition of AMH (role of urine dipstick vs urine microscopy), the age threshold for recommending evaluation, and the optimal imaging method (computed tomography vs ultrasonography). Of the reviewed guidelines, none recommended the use of urine cytology or urine markers during the initial AMH evaluation. Patients should have ongoing follow-up after a negative initial AMH evaluation. Significant variation exists among current guidelines for AMH with respect to who should be evaluated and in what manner. Given the patient and health system implications of balancing appropriately focused and effective diagnostic evaluation, AMH represents a valuable future research opportunity. © 2017 The Authors BJU International © 2017 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. A procedural method for express bus-fringe parking transit planning.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1976-01-01

    The report illustrates a procedural method for planning express bus-fringe parking transit services - a method built upon the findings from previous research, including disaggregate travel choice models and planning guidelines. The methodology addres...

  2. Clinical guidelines as a tool for legal liability. An international perspective.

    PubMed

    Davies, Jonathan

    2009-12-01

    Clinical guidelines are statements that have been systematically developed and which aim to assist clinicians in making decisions about treatment for specific conditions. They are linked to evidence and are meant to facilitate good medical practice. A key issue that follows is how lawyers and the courts might use such guidelinesin medical litigation. The multiplicity of opinions and scientific professions requiring expertise might influence the expert submitting an opinion to base his opinion on scientific theses which have not been recognized scientifically, are not based on facts and are not supported by professional literature. Medical evidence has to be methodically based and reliable. In recent years the medical community has developed a new field called "Evidence Based Medicine", meaning, use of medical information based on the best information in the medical literature relevant to the condition being treated. Evidence Based Medicine distinguishes between recognized scientific theories and what is called "Junk Science". Clinical Guidelines are of value in systematizing medical procedures, mainly those which may have legal implications. In other procedures Guidelines may serve the Court as a source of sound information, provided they are the product of a recognized professional body, and proven to bear no relation to a body which may have interests in the delivery of healthcare. Clinical guidelines are set as normative standards and used as a tool to indicate the standard of care at the time. They can be used as a tool for assessment of the questionable conduct. Guidelines are consulted by courts because they provide evidence of standards justified in relation to evidence rather than custom, this helps the courts test the expert evidence that radically strengthen the normative dynamic of the law in actions alleging medical negligence. As clinical practice guidelines become more and more prevalent, some authors believe they will define the requisite "standard

  3. Guidelines in CHARGE syndrome and the missing link: Cranial imaging

    PubMed Central

    de Geus, Christa M.; Free, Rolien H.; Verbist, Berit M.; Sival, Deborah A.; Blake, Kim D.; Meiners, Linda C.

    2017-01-01

    “CHARGE syndrome” is a complex syndrome with high and extremely variable comorbidity. As a result, clinicians may struggle to provide accurate and comprehensive care, and this has led to the publication of several clinical surveillance guidelines and recommendations for CHARGE syndrome, based on both single case observations and cohort studies. Here we perform a structured literature review to examine all the existing advice. Our findings provide additional support for the validity of the recently published Trider checklist. We also identified a gap in literature when reviewing all guidelines and recommendations, and we propose a guideline for neuroradiological evaluation of patients with CHARGE syndrome. This is of importance, as patients with CHARGE are at risk for peri‐anesthetic complications, making recurrent imaging procedures under anesthesia a particular risk in clinical practice. However, comprehensive cranial imaging is also of tremendous value for timely diagnosis, proper treatment of symptoms and for further research into CHARGE syndrome. We hope the guideline for neuroradiological evaluation will help clinicians provide efficient and comprehensive care for individuals with CHARGE syndrome. PMID:29168326

  4. Guidelines for Standardized Testing of Broadband Seismometers and Accelerometers

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Hutt, Charles R.; Evans, John R.; Followill, Fred; Nigbor, Robert L.; Wielandt, Erhard

    2010-01-01

    Testing and specification of seismic and earthquake-engineering sensors and recorders has been marked by significant variations in procedures and selected parameters. These variations cause difficulty in comparing such specifications and test results. In July 1989, and again in May 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey hosted international pub-lic/private workshops with the goal of defining widely accepted guidelines for the testing of seismological inertial sensors, seismometers, and accelerometers. The Proceedings of the 2005 workshop have been published and include as appendix 6 the report of the 1989 workshop. This document represents a collation and rationalization of a single set of formal guidelines for testing and specifying broadband seismometers and accelerometers.

  5. 40 CFR 246.200-8 - Recommended procedures: Cost analysis.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures..., storage, and transportation costs have been made, and estimated tonnages of both recoverable high-grade... for revenue from paper sales and savings from diverting recycled materials from disposal. Potential...

  6. 40 CFR 246.202-6 - Recommended procedures: Cost analysis.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., storage and transportation costs have been made, and estimated tonnages of both recoverable material and...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... paper sales and savings from diverting recycled materials from disposal. Potential costs to upgrade...

  7. 40 CFR 246.201-7 - Recommended procedures: Cost analysis.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ..., storage and transportation costs have been made, and estimated tonnages of both recoverable materials and...) SOLID WASTES SOURCE SEPARATION FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY GUIDELINES Requirements and Recommended Procedures... paper sales and savings from diverting recycled materials from disposal. Potential costs to upgrade...

  8. Procedure for Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1966-01-01

    This document provides guidelines for the accomplishment of Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) on the Apollo program. It is a procedure for analysis of hardware items to determine those items contributing most to system unreliability and crew safety problems.

  9. [Draft of Guidelines for Human Body Dissection for Clinical Anatomy Education and Research and commentary].

    PubMed

    Shichinohe, Toshiaki; Kondo, Satoshi; Ide, Chizuka; Higuchi, Norio; Aiso, Sadakazu; Sakai, Tatsuo; Matsumura, George; Yoshida, Kazunari; Kobayashi, Eiji; Tatsumi, Haruyuki; Yaginuma, Hiroyuki; Hishikawa, Shuji; Sugimoto, Maki; Izawa, Yoshimitsu; Imanishi, Nobuaki

    2011-07-01

    This article analyses the Draft of Guidelines for Human Body Dissection for Clinical Anatomy Education and Research drawn by the Study Group for Future Training Systems of Surgical Skills and Procedures established by the Fiscal Year 2010 research program of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The purpose of the Draft of Guidelines is: First, to lay out the required basic guidelines for human cadaver usage to allow medical and dental faculty to conduct clinical education and research in accordance with existing regulations. Second, the guidelines are expected to give physicians a regulatory framework to carry out cadaver training in accordance with the current legal framework. This article explains the Draft of Guidelines in detail, outlines the future of cadaver training, and describes issues which must still be solved.

  10. [Draft of guidelines for human body dissection for clinical anatomy education and research and commentary].

    PubMed

    Shichinohe, Toshiaki; Kondo, Satoshi; Ide, Chizuka; Higuchi, Norio; Aiso, Sadakazu; Sakai, Tatsuo; Matsumura, George; Yoshida, Kazunari; Kobayashi, Eiji; Tatsumi, Haruyuki; Yaginuma, Hiroyuki; Hishikawa, Shuji; Sugimoto, Maki; Izawa, Yoshimitsu; Imanishi, Nobuaki

    2011-06-01

    This article analyses the Draft of Guidelines for Human Body Dissection for Clinical Anatomy Education and Research drawn by the Study Group for Future Training Systems of Surgical Skills and Procedures established by the Fiscal Year 2010 research program of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The purpose of the Draft of Guidelines is: First, to lay out the required basic guidelines for human cadaver usage to allow medical and dental faculty to conduct clinical education and research in accordance with existing regulations. Second, the guidelines are expected to give physicians a regulatory framework to carry out cadaver training in accordance with the current legal framework. This article explains the Draft of Guidelines in detail, outlines the future of cadaver training, and describes issues which must still be solved.

  11. Revision of OECD Guidelines for Genotoxicity Testing: Current Status and Next Steps

    EPA Science Inventory

    Over the past 30 years, assays have been developed to evaluate chemical genotoxicity. OECD Genotoxicity Test Guidelines (TG) describe assay procedures for regulatory safety testing. Since the last OECD TG revision (1997), there has been tremendous scientific and technological pro...

  12. Japanese Clinical Guidelines for Endoscopic Treatment of Pancreatolithiasis.

    PubMed

    Inui, Kazuo; Igarashi, Yoshinori; Irisawa, Atsushi; Ohara, Hirotaka; Tazuma, Susumu; Hirooka, Yoshiki; Fujita, Naotaka; Miyakawa, Hiroyuki; Sata, Naohiro; Shimosegawa, Tooru; Tanaka, Masao; Shiratori, Keiko; Sugiyama, Masanori; Takeyama, Yoshifumi

    2015-10-01

    In addition to surgery, procedures for patients with pancreatolithiasis are developing; therefore, establishing practical guidelines for the management of pancreatolithiasis is required. Three committees (the professional committee for asking clinical questions (CQs) and statements by Japanese endoscopists, the expert panel committee for rating statements by the modified Delphi method, and the evaluating committee by moderators) were organized. Eight endoscopists and a surgeon for pancreatolithiasis made the CQs and statements from a total of 694 reports of published literature by PubMed search (from 1983 to 2012). The expert panelists individually rated these clinical statements using a modified Delphi approach, in which a clinical statement receiving a median score greater than 7 on a 9-point scale from the panel was regarded as valid. The professional committee made 3, 7, and 10 CQs and statements for the concept and pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment, respectively. The expert panelists regarded them as valid after a 2-round modified Delphi approach. After evaluation by the moderators, the Japanese clinical guidelines for pancreatolithiasis were established. Further discussions and studies for international guidelines are needed.

  13. Chapter A10. Lakes and reservoirs: Guidelines for study design and sampling

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Green, William R.; Robertson, Dale M.; Wilde, Franceska D.

    2015-09-29

    Within this chapter are references to other chapters of the NFM that provide more detailed guidelines related to specific topics and more detailed protocols for the quality assurance and assessment of the lake and reservoir data. Protocols and procedures to address and document the quality of lake and reservoir investigations are adapted from, or referenced to, the protocols and standard operating procedures contained in related chapters of this National Field Manual.

  14. Antimicrobial stewardship: a qualitative study of the development of national guidelines for antibiotic use in hospitals.

    PubMed

    Feiring, Eli; Walter, Anne Berit

    2017-11-21

    As effective antibiotics are becoming a scarce resource, governmental regulation is needed to promote responsible use. Implementation of antibiotic stewardship and practice guidelines in health care facilities seems to be crucial to this effort. Empirical studies suggest, however, that guidelines have limited influence on health professionals' behavior and practice. Barriers and facilitators to guideline implementability are much studied, but little attention has been given to health professionals' perceptions of normative acceptability of guidelines as a condition for compliance. The aim of the present study was first, to examine if and how aspects potentially promoting acceptability and compliance among clinical target users were addressed during development of Norwegian national guidelines for antibiotic use in hospitals and second, to identify procedural characteristics of the development process that were perceived by target users to yield legitimate guidelines. Qualitative deductive thematic analysis was used. A theoretical framework inspired by the AGREE II Instrument and the Accountability for reasonableness framework assisted data gathering and interpretation. Archival data was collected and used to detail the guideline development process. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eight clinicians with extensive knowledge of the guidelines were carried out. Guideline development was characterized by i) broad agreement about scope and purpose, ii) broad involvement of stakeholders in the development process, iii) use of systematic methods to search for and apply evidence, iv) easily identifiable and specific recommendations, v) provision of tools on how to put recommendations into practice, and vi) editorial independence. Several procedural characteristics were perceived by the interviewees as promoting guideline legitimacy; i) diverse perspectives systematically involved in the process, ii) accessibility and transparency of the rationales for decision

  15. Planning: supporting and optimizing clinical guidelines execution.

    PubMed

    Anselma, Luca; Montani, Stefania

    2008-01-01

    A crucial feature of computerized clinical guidelines (CGs) lies in the fact that they may be used not only as conventional documents (as if they were just free text) describing general procedures that users have to follow. In fact, thanks to a description of their actions and control flow in some semiformal representation language, CGs can also take advantage of Computer Science methods and Information Technology infrastructures and techniques, to become executable documents, in the sense that they may support clinical decision making and clinical procedures execution. In order to reach this goal, some advanced planning techniques, originally developed within the Artificial Intelligence (AI) community, may be (at least partially) resorted too, after a proper adaptation to the specific CG needs has been carried out.

  16. Health and Safety: Suggested Personnel Policy Guidelines for School Districts.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Oregon State Dept. of Education, Salem. Div. of Administrative Support.

    To assist school administrators in meeting state and federal requirements for safety and health programs and procedures related to school district personnel (particularly those requirements resulting from the enactment by the 1973 Oregon Legislative Assembly of laws found in the ORS 654.000 to 654.295, and 654.991), these guidelines were drawn…

  17. DEC Ada interface to Screen Management Guidelines (SMG)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Laomanachareon, Somsak; Lekkos, Anthony A.

    1986-01-01

    DEC's Screen Management Guidelines are the Run-Time Library procedures that perform terminal-independent screen management functions on a VT100-class terminal. These procedures assist users in designing, composing, and keeping track of complex images on a video screen. There are three fundamental elements in the screen management model: the pasteboard, the virtual display, and the virtual keyboard. The pasteboard is like a two-dimensional area on which a user places and manipulates screen displays. The virtual display is a rectangular part of the terminal screen to which a program writes data with procedure calls. The virtual keyboard is a logical structure for input operation associated with a physical keyboard. SMG can be called by all major VAX languages. Through Ada, predefined language Pragmas are used to interface with SMG. These features and elements of SMG are briefly discussed.

  18. Guidelines for Guidelines: Are They Up to the Task? A Comparative Assessment of Clinical Practice Guideline Development Handbooks

    PubMed Central

    Ansari, Shabnam; Rashidian, Arash

    2012-01-01

    Objectives We conducted a comparative review of clinical practice guideline development handbooks. We aimed to identify the main guideline development tasks, assign weights to the importance of each task using expert opinions and identify the handbooks that provided a comprehensive coverage of the tasks. Methods We systematically searched and included handbooks published (in English language) by national, international or professional bodies responsible for evidenced-based guideline development. We reviewed the handbooks to identify the main guideline development tasks and scored each handbook for each task from 0 (the handbook did not mention the task) to 2 (the task suitably addressed and explained), and calculated a weighted score for each handbook. The tasks included in over 75% of the handbooks were considered as ‘necessary’ tasks. Result Nineteen guideline development handbooks and twenty seven main tasks were identified. The guideline handbooks’ weighted scores ranged from 100 to 220. Four handbooks scored over 80% of the maximum possible score, developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Swiss Centre for International Health, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and World Health Organization. Necessary tasks were: selecting the guideline topic, determining the guideline scope, identifying relevant existing guidelines, involving the consumers, forming guideline development group,, developing clinical questions, systematic search for evidence, selecting relevant evidence, appraising identifies research evidence, making group decision, grading available evidence, creating recommendations, final stakeholder consultation, guideline implementation strategies, updating recommendations and correcting potential errors. Discussion Adequate details for evidence based development of guidelines were still lacking from many handbooks. The tasks relevant to ethical issues and piloting were missing in most handbooks. The findings

  19. A method of automatic control procedures cardiopulmonary resuscitation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bureev, A. Sh.; Zhdanov, D. S.; Kiseleva, E. Yu.; Kutsov, M. S.; Trifonov, A. Yu.

    2015-11-01

    The study is to present the results of works on creation of methods of automatic control procedures of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A method of automatic control procedure of CPR by evaluating the acoustic data of the dynamics of blood flow in the bifurcation of carotid arteries and the dynamics of air flow in a trachea according to the current guidelines for CPR is presented. Evaluation of the patient is carried out by analyzing the respiratory noise and blood flow in the interspaces between the chest compressions and artificial pulmonary ventilation. The device operation algorithm of automatic control procedures of CPR and its block diagram has been developed.

  20. Guidelines for Managing Suspected Chemical and Biological Agent Incidents in Rail Tunnel Systems

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2002-03-01

    These emergency management guidelines are designed to help transit managers (1) prepare and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling potential and actual chemical or biological agent attacks in their rail tunnel system and (2) unde...

  1. New guidelines for geriatric EDs: guidance focused on boosting environment, care processes.

    PubMed

    2014-05-01

    A cadre of prominent medical groups, including the ACEP, ENA, AGS, and SAEM, has unveiled a comprehensive set of Geriatric Emergency Department Guidelines to aid hospitals that are either in the process of opening senior-focused EDs or revamping their policies and procedures to better meet the needs of an aging population. The guidelines offer recommendations related to staffing, infrastructure, education, and transition-of-care strategies. In addition, they outline a host of screenings that studies have shown are beneficial for older adults. Experts note that hospital systems around the country have already opened 50 geriatric EDs, with many more facilities in development. Guideline authors state that the guidelines take an evidence-based approach to managing senior patients. While more cost and outcomes data are needed, experts say that senior-focused improvements to emergency care can reduce admissions and return visits to the ED while also boosting patient satisfaction. Future efforts will focus on prioritizing the guideline recommendations so that ED administrators concerned with improving senior care will tackle the most important changes first.

  2. Fifteen hundred guidelines and growing: the UK database of clinical guidelines.

    PubMed

    van Loo, John; Leonard, Niamh

    2006-06-01

    The National Library for Health offers a comprehensive searchable database of nationally approved clinical guidelines, called the Guidelines Finder. This resource, commissioned in 2002, is managed and developed by the University of Sheffield Health Sciences Library. The authors introduce the historical and political dimension of guidelines and the nature of guidelines as a mechanism to ensure clinical effectiveness in practice. The article then outlines the maintenance and organisation of the Guidelines Finder database itself, the criteria for selection, who publishes guidelines and guideline formats, usage of the Guidelines Finder service and finally looks at some lessons learnt from a local library offering a national service. Clinical guidelines are central to effective clinical practice at the national, organisational and individual level. The Guidelines Finder is one of the most visited resources within the National Library for Health and is successful in answering information needs related to specific patient care, clinical research, guideline development and education.

  3. Helicopter Flight Procedures for Community Noise Reduction

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Greenwood, Eric

    2017-01-01

    A computationally efficient, semiempirical noise model suitable for maneuvering flight noise prediction is used to evaluate the community noise impact of practical variations on several helicopter flight procedures typical of normal operations. Turns, "quick-stops," approaches, climbs, and combinations of these maneuvers are assessed. Relatively small variations in flight procedures are shown to cause significant changes to Sound Exposure Levels over a wide area. Guidelines are developed for helicopter pilots intended to provide effective strategies for reducing the negative effects of helicopter noise on the community. Finally, direct optimization of flight trajectories is conducted to identify low noise optimal flight procedures and quantify the magnitude of community noise reductions that can be obtained through tailored helicopter flight procedures. Physically realizable optimal turns and approaches are identified that achieve global noise reductions of as much as 10 dBA Sound Exposure Level.

  4. MRI-guided stereotactic neurosurgical procedures in a diagnostic MRI suite: Background and safe practice recommendations.

    PubMed

    Larson, Paul S; Willie, Jon T; Vadivelu, Sudhakar; Azmi-Ghadimi, Hooman; Nichols, Amy; Fauerbach, Loretta Litz; Johnson, Helen Boehm; Graham, Denise

    2017-07-01

    The development of navigation technology facilitating MRI-guided stereotactic neurosurgery has enabled neurosurgeons to perform a variety of procedures ranging from deep brain stimulation to laser ablation entirely within an intraoperative or diagnostic MRI suite while having real-time visualization of brain anatomy. Prior to this technology, some of these procedures required multisite workflow patterns that presented significant risk to the patient during transport. For those facilities with access to this technology, safe practice guidelines exist only for procedures performed within an intraoperative MRI. There are currently no safe practice guidelines or parameters available for facilities looking to integrate this technology into practice in conventional MRI suites. Performing neurosurgical procedures in a diagnostic MRI suite does require precautionary measures. The relative novelty of technology and workflows for direct MRI-guided procedures requires consideration of safe practice recommendations, including those pertaining to infection control and magnet safety issues. This article proposes a framework of safe practice recommendations designed for assessing readiness and optimization of MRI-guided neurosurgical interventions in the diagnostic MRI suite in an effort to mitigate patient risk. The framework is based on existing clinical evidence, recommendations, and guidelines related to infection control and prevention, health care-associated infections, and magnet safety, as well as the clinical and practical experience of neurosurgeons utilizing this technology. © 2017 American Society for Healthcare Risk Management of the American Hospital Association.

  5. Iowa Department of Education Guidelines for PK-12 Competency-Based Pathways

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Iowa Department of Education, 2013

    2013-01-01

    This document provides guidelines for developing competency-based pathways in Iowa districts and schools and outlines waiver requirements and procedures. Competency-based pathways provide ways to validate learning of standards that occurs outside the structure of the traditional school and offer flexibility for schools to engage students in…

  6. Influence of slice overlap on positron emission tomography image quality

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McKeown, Clare; Gillen, Gerry; Dempsey, Mary Frances; Findlay, Caroline

    2016-02-01

    PET scans use overlapping acquisition beds to correct for reduced sensitivity at bed edges. The optimum overlap size for the General Electric (GE) Discovery 690 has not been established. This study assesses how image quality is affected by slice overlap. Efficacy of 23% overlaps (recommended by GE) and 49% overlaps (maximum possible overlap) were specifically assessed. European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) guidelines for calculating minimum injected activities based on overlap size were also reviewed. A uniform flood phantom was used to assess noise (coefficient of variation, (COV)) and voxel accuracy (activity concentrations, Bq ml-1). A NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) body phantom with hot/cold spheres in a background activity was used to assess contrast recovery coefficients (CRCs) and signal to noise ratios (SNR). Different overlap sizes and sphere-to-background ratios were assessed. COVs for 49% and 23% overlaps were 9% and 13% respectively. This increased noise was difficult to visualise on the 23% overlap images. Mean voxel activity concentrations were not affected by overlap size. No clinically significant differences in CRCs were observed. However, visibility and SNR of small, low contrast spheres (⩽13 mm diameter, 2:1 sphere to background ratio) may be affected by overlap size in low count studies if they are located in the overlap area. There was minimal detectable influence on image quality in terms of noise, mean activity concentrations or mean CRCs when comparing 23% overlap with 49% overlap. Detectability of small, low contrast lesions may be affected in low count studies—however, this is a worst-case scenario. The marginal benefits of increasing overlap from 23% to 49% are likely to be offset by increased patient scan times. A 23% overlap is therefore appropriate for clinical use. An amendment to EANM guidelines for calculating injected activities is also proposed which better reflects the effect overlap size has

  7. How-to-Do-It: Infection Control Guidelines for Blood Typing & Blood Smear Labs.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Vetter, Edwin A.

    1989-01-01

    Provides a set of guidelines for infection control of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and the serum hepatitis viruses during blood typing procedures. Emphasizes that disposal of blood contaminated materials should comply with local health department recommendations. (RT)

  8. 40 CFR Appendix E to Part 403 - Sampling Procedures

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2013-07-01 2012-07-01 true Sampling Procedures E Appendix E to Part 403 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS GENERAL PRETREATMENT REGULATIONS FOR EXISTING AND NEW SOURCES OF POLLUTION Pt. 403, App. E...

  9. Maelstrom Research guidelines for rigorous retrospective data harmonization

    PubMed Central

    Fortier, Isabel; Raina, Parminder; Van den Heuvel, Edwin R; Griffith, Lauren E; Craig, Camille; Saliba, Matilda; Doiron, Dany; Stolk, Ronald P; Knoppers, Bartha M; Ferretti, Vincent; Granda, Peter; Burton, Paul

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Background: It is widely accepted and acknowledged that data harmonization is crucial: in its absence, the co-analysis of major tranches of high quality extant data is liable to inefficiency or error. However, despite its widespread practice, no formalized/systematic guidelines exist to ensure high quality retrospective data harmonization. Methods: To better understand real-world harmonization practices and facilitate development of formal guidelines, three interrelated initiatives were undertaken between 2006 and 2015. They included a phone survey with 34 major international research initiatives, a series of workshops with experts, and case studies applying the proposed guidelines. Results: A wide range of projects use retrospective harmonization to support their research activities but even when appropriate approaches are used, the terminologies, procedures, technologies and methods adopted vary markedly. The generic guidelines outlined in this article delineate the essentials required and describe an interdependent step-by-step approach to harmonization: 0) define the research question, objectives and protocol; 1) assemble pre-existing knowledge and select studies; 2) define targeted variables and evaluate harmonization potential; 3) process data; 4) estimate quality of the harmonized dataset(s) generated; and 5) disseminate and preserve final harmonization products. Conclusions: This manuscript provides guidelines aiming to encourage rigorous and effective approaches to harmonization which are comprehensively and transparently documented and straightforward to interpret and implement. This can be seen as a key step towards implementing guiding principles analogous to those that are well recognised as being essential in securing the foundational underpinning of systematic reviews and the meta-analysis of clinical trials. PMID:27272186

  10. Critical appraisal of cardiology guidelines on revascularisation: clinical practice.

    PubMed

    Dobies, David R; Barber, Kimberly R

    2018-01-01

    Evidence-based medicine (EBM) provides clinicians with beneficial information. Nonetheless, study findings are often arbitrary, speculative or provisional. The current state of misleading evidence exists in all applications, including those for guideline recommendations. We conductedan appraisal of the American College of Cardiologyand European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for revascularisation of complex coronary anatomy to determine the veracity of the evidence that recommendations were based on. Study-specific critical appraisals were conducted by the authors on the 5-year Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) and future revascularisation evaluation in patients with diabetes mellitus: optimal management of multivessel disease (FREEDOM) Trials. Each appraisal was performed according the standard EBM practices. A thorough design and analytic critique was performed for each study and the results presented and explained. The guideline recommendations were reviewed in terms of the veracity of the evidence cited. The relative difference in major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MAACE) rates between coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not the 30% level reported by the SYNTAX Trial but closer to 11% difference when study limitations are factored in. Similarly, the 30% effect size in MAACE rates between procedures from the FREEDOM Trial is closer to a non-significant 5% relative difference when limitations are adjusted for. Based on the actual findings of each study, outcomes from procedures by CABG or PCI for multivessel revascularisation are similar and contradict the conclusions of the study authors as well as the recommendations. These recommendations fail to inform current clinical practice.

  11. Guidelines for the Production of Audio Materials for Print Handicapped Readers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Library of Australia, Canberra.

    Procedural guidelines developed by the Audio Standards Committee of the National Library of Australia to help improve the overall quality of production of audio materials for visually handicapped readers are presented. This report covers the following areas: selection of narrators and the narration itself; copyright; recording of books, magazines,…

  12. NICE guidelines for imaging studies in children with UTI adequate only in boys under the age of 6 months.

    PubMed

    Ristola, Marko Tapani; Hurme, Timo

    2013-03-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for imaging studies in children under the age of three with first urinary tract infection (UTI). In our cohort of 112 patients, we gathered data regarding the occurrence of indications for ultrasonography (US) and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) according to the NICE guidelines, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy examinations, UTI recurrence, antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP), anti-reflux procedures, and other urological procedures. If the NICE guidelines had been applied, 13 of the 25 patients (52 %) with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), including 6 of the 12 patients (50 %) with dilating VUR and 3 of the 4 patients who underwent endoscopic anti-reflux treatment, would have been missed, and a negative VCUG would have been avoided in 25 of the 42 patients (60 %) with no VUR. None of the missed diagnoses occurred in the younger boys' group. Based on these preliminary analyses, we feel that the NICE guidelines for imaging studies in children under 3 years old with UTI may be applicable to clinical use only in boys under 6 months of age. For other patients the guidelines were unsuccessful.

  13. [Guidelines for Trainings in Inter-/Transcultural Competence for Psychotherapists].

    PubMed

    von Lersner, Ulrike; Baschin, Kirsten; Wormeck, Imke; Mösko, Mike Oliver

    2016-02-01

    The ongoing globalization leads to the fact that intercultural aspects are becoming more important in recent years. Unfortunately, the psychosocial sector in general as well as psychotherapists in particular are not sufficiently trained for those issues. In the German speaking countries so far there were no guidelines for the conceptualization of intercultural trainings for psychotherapists. In the present study guidelines for trainings of inter-/transcultural competence of medical and psychological psychotherapists have been developed. An extensive data base was collected including a systematic international literature research, qualitative expert interviews, a quantitative survey among therapists and 8 focus groups with clients as well as therapists from different cultural backgrounds. The guidelines for trainings were then extracted in a 2-step consensus procedure. The guidelines define learning objectives which should be achieved in a training. They also describe the structural as well as substantive requirements which should be met in such a training. In addition to knowledge on cultural issues that should be acquired in a training the guidelines put high emphasis on the self reflection of training participants on their own cultural embededness as well as on the aquisition of culturally sensitive skills. Regarding demographic trends in Germany trainings for intercultural competence should become an obligatory element in the training of psychotherapists. The guidelines represent a high-quality base for the conceptualization as well as the evaluation of such trainings. The guidelines developed here represent an instrument for the improvement of the training of therapists in Germany in the field of transcultural psychology. In the long term they could contribute to the intercultural opening of the German mental health system and improve the quality of psychotherapeutical treatment of migrants in Germany. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  14. Guidelines for Biomedical and Pharmacological Research Procedures and the Protection of Human Subjects in Residential Facilities for Mentally Retarded Persons.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Association for Retarded Citizens, Arlington, TX. Research and Demonstration Inst.

    Guidelines are presented which were developed to aid federal, state, and local agencies prepare regulations concerning the use of mentally retarded subjects in biomedical and pharmacological research projects. Guidelines are set forth for the following topic areas (sample subtopics in parentheses): the formation of a Professional Review Committee…

  15. Measure Guideline: Deep Energy Enclosure Retrofit for Double-Stud Walls

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Loomis, H.; Pettit, B.

    2015-06-22

    This Measure Guideline describes a deep energy enclosure retrofit solution that provides insulation to the interior of the wall assembly with the use of a double-stud wall. The guide describes two approaches to retrofitting the existing walls—one that involves replacing the existing cladding and the other that leaves the cladding in place. This guideline also covers the design principles related to the use of various insulation types and provides strategies and procedures for implementing the double-stud wall retrofit. It also includes an evaluation of important moisture-related and indoor air quality measures that need to be implemented to achieve a durablemore » high-performance wall.« less

  16. Clinical guidelines and practice: in search of the truth.

    PubMed

    Kereiakes, Dean J; Antman, Elliott M

    2006-09-19

    Data from randomized clinical trials, non-randomized studies, and registries, as well as expert panel consensus are appropriately weighted and woven into the context of clinical practice guidelines. Recent guidelines for the care of patients with ischemic heart disease have emphasized both risk stratification and early coronary angiography with revascularization of patients with high-risk indicators. Advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes and the dynamics of therapeutic innovation (improvement in catheter-based technologies and adjunctive pharmacotherapy) mandate the timely update and revision of practice guidelines. We believe that the weight of evidence remains clearly in support of an early invasive treatment strategy based on risk stratification. Arguments regarding treatment strategy (invasive vs. conservative) are misguided, and greater focus should be placed on improving the treatment-risk paradox demonstrated in clinical practice as well as on strategies to enhance current guideline compliance and utilization. Interest exists in establishing regional centers of excellence for care of patients with acute ischemic heart disease, analogous to the regionalized approach already established for patients with trauma or stroke. This approach is supported by data that demonstrate an inverse relationship between both institutional and operator procedural volumes and mortality, as well as by existing constraints in resources such as specialized nurses and subspecialty-trained physicians. It is appropriate at this time to briefly review specific aspects of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association practice guidelines and the current process of care for acute ischemic heart disease.

  17. 46 CFR Appendix B to Subpart C of... - Substance Technical Guidelines, Benzene

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Subpart C of Part 197—Substance Technical Guidelines, Benzene I. Physical and Chemical Data (a) Substance...) Extinguishing media: Carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or foam. (5) Special fire fighting procedures: Do not use a... engineering). (b) Reactivity. (1) Conditions contributing to instability: Heat. (2) Incompatibility: Heat and...

  18. First Steps to Talking with Families and Staff: Guidelines for Listening Effectively.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Eisenberg, Eileen

    2002-01-01

    Presents guidelines for child care administrators to become more effective in communicating with families and staff. Suggestions for beginning a dialogue include being visible and accessible, familiar, personable, professional, ethical, and timely. Details procedures for facilitating parent and staff meeting in a confident manner. Reiterates that…

  19. Increasing Physicians' and Nurses' Compliance with Treatment Guidelines in Cancer Care Program.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Slenker, Suzanne E.; And Others

    1985-01-01

    The effect of the use of guidelines on the care of patients with breast, colon, and non-small-cell lung cancers is reported. Audits of patient records revealed an increase over time in the percentage of recommended cancer care procedures that were complied with. (Author/MLW)

  20. Moderation in the Certificates of General Education for Adults. Guidelines for Providers.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Council of Adult Education, Melbourne (Australia).

    This document provides guidelines for the process of moderation and verification of assessments for educators involved in adult education. As used in the education establishment in Australia, "moderation" is the process of ensuring the standardization of assessment. Through the moderation process, assessment procedures conducted in a…

  1. AgRISTARS: Foreign Commodity production forecasting. Project procedures designation and description document, volume 1

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Waggoner, J. T.; Phinney, D. E. (Principal Investigator)

    1981-01-01

    The crop estimation analysis procedures documentation of the AgRISTARS - Foreign Commodity Production Forecasting Project (FCPF) is presented. Specifically it includes the technical/management documentation of the remote sensing data analysis procedures prepared in accordance with the guidelines provided in the FCPF communication/documentation standards manual. Standard documentation sets are given arranged by procedural type and level then by crop types or other technically differentiating categories.

  2. 40 CFR 136.5 - Approval of alternate test procedures for limited use.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) GUIDELINES ESTABLISHING TEST PROCEDURES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF POLLUTANTS... may be made by letter, email or by hard copy. The application shall include the following: (1) Provide...

  3. 40 CFR 136.5 - Approval of alternate test procedures for limited use.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) GUIDELINES ESTABLISHING TEST PROCEDURES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF POLLUTANTS... may be made by letter, email or by hard copy. The application shall include the following: (1) Provide...

  4. 40 CFR 136.5 - Approval of alternate test procedures for limited use.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) GUIDELINES ESTABLISHING TEST PROCEDURES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF POLLUTANTS... may be made by letter, email or by hard copy. The application shall include the following: (1) Provide...

  5. Emerging technologies and procedures: results of an online survey and real-time poll.

    PubMed

    Verma, Richa; Eid, George; Ali, Mohamed; Saber, Alan; Pryor, Aurora D

    2015-01-01

    Many new techniques and bariatric endoluminal procedures are being developed and used for the treatment of obesity. Clear guidelines or opinions of the new techniques are not readily available. The aim of this study was to gauge the level of interest and opinions of bariatric surgeons regarding these new techniques, using online and real poll surveys. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Emerging Technologies committee developed a questionnaire that was distributed among the membership and conducted a live poll of attendees at Obesity Week 2013. Opinions of new technologies and techniques by practitioners were assessed. A total of 134 responses to the questionnaire were returned. Most responses (79%) expressed the belief that new bariatric techniques are needed to improve the practice of bariatric and metabolic surgery. The responses describing the effects of new procedures and technology as beneficial were (1) increased interest from patients or referring physicians (94%), (2) expanded indications for intervention (93%), and (3) lower risk intervention (96%). Nearly all respondents (90.2%) identified value in informational guidelines on new technologies and procedures, and most (88.7%) agreed that the ASMBS should coordinate clinical trials or registries to evaluate these therapies. Although most bariatric and metabolic surgeons agree that new endoluminal surgical techniques are beneficial, most also are unable to offer the procedures to their patients without more clinical evidence and clear guidelines from the society. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. All rights reserved.

  6. 75 FR 53643 - Examination Guidelines Update: Developments in the Obviousness Inquiry After KSR v.Teleflex

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-01

    ...The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is issuing an update (2010 KSR Guidelines Update) to its obviousness guidelines for its personnel to be used when applying the law of obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103. This 2010 KSR Guidelines Update highlights case law developments on obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 since the 2007 decision by the United States Supreme Court (Supreme Court) in KSR Int'l Co. v. Teleflex Inc. These guidelines are intended to be used by Office personnel in conjunction with the guidance in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure when applying the law of obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103. Members of the public are invited to provide comments on the 2010 KSR Guidelines Update. The Office is especially interested in receiving suggestions of recent decisional law in the field of obviousness that would have particular value as teaching tools.

  7. Guidelines for Proof Test Analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chell, G. G.; McClung, R. C.; Kuhlman, C. J.; Russell, D. A.; Garr, K.; Donnelly, B.

    1999-01-01

    These guidelines integrate state-of-the-art elastic-plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM) and proof test implementation issues into a comprehensive proof test analysis procedure in the form of a road map which identifies the types of data, fracture mechanics based parameters, and calculations needed to perform flaw screening and minimum proof load analyses of fracture critical components. Worked examples are presented to illustrate the application of the road map to proof test analysis. The state-of-the art fracture technology employed in these guidelines is based on the EPFM parameter, J, and a pictorial representation of a J fracture analysis, called the failure assessment diagram (FAD) approach. The recommended fracture technology is validated using finite element J results, and laboratory and hardware fracture test results on the nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718, the aluminum alloy 2024-T3511, and ferritic pressure vessel steels. In all cases the laboratory specimens and hardware failed by ductile mechanisms. Advanced proof test analyses involving probability analysis and multiple-cycle proof testing (MCPT) are addressed. Finally, recommendations are provided on how to account for the effects of the proof test overload on subsequent service fatigue and fracture behaviors.

  8. Financial Relationships between Organizations That Produce Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Biomedical Industry: A Cross-Sectional Study

    PubMed Central

    Campsall, Paul; Colizza, Kate; Straus, Sharon; Stelfox, Henry T.

    2016-01-01

    Background Financial relationships between organizations that produce clinical practice guidelines and biomedical companies are vulnerable to conflicts of interest. We sought to determine whether organizations that produce clinical practice guidelines have financial relationships with biomedical companies and whether there are associations between organizations’ conflict of interest policies and recommendations and disclosures provided in guidelines. Methods and Findings We conducted a cross-sectional survey and review of websites of 95 national/international medical organizations that produced 290 clinical practice guidelines published on the National Guideline Clearinghouse website from January 1 to December 31, 2012. Survey responses were available for 68% (65/95) of organizations (167/290 guidelines, 58%), and websites were reviewed for 100% (95/95) of organizations (290/290 guidelines, 100%). In all, 63% (60/95) of organizations producing clinical practice guidelines reported receiving funds from a biomedical company; 80% (76/95) of organizations reported having a policy for managing conflicts of interest. Disclosure statements (disclosing presence or absence of financial relationships with biomedical companies) were available in 65% (188/290) of clinical practice guidelines for direct funding sources to produce the guideline, 51% (147/290) for financial relationships of the guideline committee members, and 1% (4/290) for financial relationships of the organizations producing the guidelines. Among all guidelines, 6% (18/290) disclosed direct funding by biomedical companies, 40% (117/290) disclosed financial relationships between committee members and biomedical companies (38% of guideline committee members, 773/2,043), and 1% (4/290) disclosed financial relationships between the organizations producing the guidelines and biomedical companies. In the survey responses, 60 organizations reported the procedures that they included in their conflict of interest

  9. Financial Relationships between Organizations That Produce Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Biomedical Industry: A Cross-Sectional Study.

    PubMed

    Campsall, Paul; Colizza, Kate; Straus, Sharon; Stelfox, Henry T

    2016-05-01

    Financial relationships between organizations that produce clinical practice guidelines and biomedical companies are vulnerable to conflicts of interest. We sought to determine whether organizations that produce clinical practice guidelines have financial relationships with biomedical companies and whether there are associations between organizations' conflict of interest policies and recommendations and disclosures provided in guidelines. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and review of websites of 95 national/international medical organizations that produced 290 clinical practice guidelines published on the National Guideline Clearinghouse website from January 1 to December 31, 2012. Survey responses were available for 68% (65/95) of organizations (167/290 guidelines, 58%), and websites were reviewed for 100% (95/95) of organizations (290/290 guidelines, 100%). In all, 63% (60/95) of organizations producing clinical practice guidelines reported receiving funds from a biomedical company; 80% (76/95) of organizations reported having a policy for managing conflicts of interest. Disclosure statements (disclosing presence or absence of financial relationships with biomedical companies) were available in 65% (188/290) of clinical practice guidelines for direct funding sources to produce the guideline, 51% (147/290) for financial relationships of the guideline committee members, and 1% (4/290) for financial relationships of the organizations producing the guidelines. Among all guidelines, 6% (18/290) disclosed direct funding by biomedical companies, 40% (117/290) disclosed financial relationships between committee members and biomedical companies (38% of guideline committee members, 773/2,043), and 1% (4/290) disclosed financial relationships between the organizations producing the guidelines and biomedical companies. In the survey responses, 60 organizations reported the procedures that they included in their conflict of interest policies (158 guidelines

  10. Dissemination of the CDC's Hand Hygiene Guideline and impact on infection rates

    PubMed Central

    Larson, Elaine L.; Quiros, Dave; Lin, Susan X.

    2007-01-01

    Background The diffusion of national evidence-based practice guidelines and their impact on patient outcomes often go unmeasured. Methods Our objectives were to (1) evaluate implementation and compliance with clinical practices recommended in the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hand Hygiene Guideline, (2) compare rates of health care-associated infections (HAI) before and after implementation of the Guideline recommendations, and (3) examine the patterns and correlates of changes in rates of HAI. We used pre- and post-Guideline implementation site visits and surveys in the setting of 40 US hospitals—members of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System—and measured HAI rates 1 year before and after publication of the CDC Guideline and used direct observation of hand hygiene compliance and Guideline implementation scores. Results All study hospitals had changed their policies and procedures and provided products in compliance with Guideline recommendations; 89.8% of 1359 staff members surveyed anonymously reported that they were familiar with the Guideline. However, in 44.2% of the hospitals (19/40), there was no evidence of a multidisciplinary program to improve compliance. Hand hygiene rates remained low (mean, 56.6%). Rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections were significantly lower in hospitals with higher rates of hand hygiene (P < .001). No impact of Guideline implementation or hand hygiene compliance on other HAI rates was identified. Other factors occurring over time could affect rates of HAI. Observed hand hygiene compliance rates were likely to overestimate rates in actual practice. The study may have been of too short duration to detect the impact of a practice guideline. Conclusion Wide dissemination of this Guideline was not sufficient to change practice. Only some hospitals had initiated multidisciplinary programs; practice change is unlikely without such multidisciplinary efforts and explicit

  11. Dissemination of the CDC's Hand Hygiene Guideline and impact on infection rates.

    PubMed

    Larson, Elaine L; Quiros, Dave; Lin, Susan X

    2007-12-01

    The diffusion of national evidence-based practice guidelines and their impact on patient outcomes often go unmeasured. Our objectives were to (1) evaluate implementation and compliance with clinical practices recommended in the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hand Hygiene Guideline, (2) compare rates of health care-associated infections (HAI) before and after implementation of the Guideline recommendations, and (3) examine the patterns and correlates of changes in rates of HAI. We used pre- and post-Guideline implementation site visits and surveys in the setting of 40 US hospitals--members of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System--and measured HAI rates 1 year before and after publication of the CDC Guideline and used direct observation of hand hygiene compliance and Guideline implementation scores. All study hospitals had changed their policies and procedures and provided products in compliance with Guideline recommendations; 89.8% of 1359 staff members surveyed anonymously reported that they were familiar with the Guideline. However, in 44.2% of the hospitals (19/40), there was no evidence of a multidisciplinary program to improve compliance. Hand hygiene rates remained low (mean, 56.6%). Rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections were significantly lower in hospitals with higher rates of hand hygiene (P < .001). No impact of Guideline implementation or hand hygiene compliance on other HAI rates was identified. Other factors occurring over time could affect rates of HAI. Observed hand hygiene compliance rates were likely to overestimate rates in actual practice. The study may have been of too short duration to detect the impact of a practice guideline. Wide dissemination of this Guideline was not sufficient to change practice. Only some hospitals had initiated multidisciplinary programs; practice change is unlikely without such multidisciplinary efforts and explicit administrative support.

  12. Ethics guidelines for research with the recently dead.

    PubMed

    Pentz, Rebecca D; Cohen, Cynthia B; Wicclair, Mark; DeVita, Michael A; Flamm, Anne Lederman; Youngner, Stuart J; Hamric, Ann B; McCabe, Mary S; Glover, Jacqueline J; Kittiko, Winona J; Kinlaw, Kathy; Keller, James; Asch, Adrienne; Kavanagh, John J; Arap, Wadih

    2005-11-01

    The objective of the multidisciplinary expert Consensus Panel on Research with the Recently Dead (CPRRD) was to craft ethics guidelines for research with the recently dead. The CPRRD recommends that research with the recently dead: (i) receive scientific and ethical review and oversight; (ii) involve the community of potential research subjects; (iii) be coordinated with organ procurement organizations; (iv) not conflict with organ donation or required autopsy; (v) use procedures respectful of the dead; (vi) be restricted to one procedure per day; (vii) preferably be authorized by first-person consent, though both general advance research directives and surrogate consent are acceptable; (viii) protect confidentiality; (ix) not impose costs on subjects' estates or next of kin and not involve payment; (x) clearly explain ultimate disposition of the body.

  13. Adapting a large database of point of care summarized guidelines: a process description.

    PubMed

    Delvaux, Nicolas; Van de Velde, Stijn; Aertgeerts, Bert; Goossens, Martine; Fauquert, Benjamin; Kunnamo, Ilka; Van Royen, Paul

    2017-02-01

    Questions posed at the point of care (POC) can be answered using POC summarized guidelines. To implement a national POC information resource, we subscribed to a large database of POC summarized guidelines to complement locally available guidelines. Our challenge was in developing a sustainable strategy for adapting almost 1000 summarized guidelines. The aim of this paper was to describe our process for adapting a database of POC summarized guidelines. An adaptation process based on the ADAPTE framework was tailored to be used by a heterogeneous group of participants. Guidelines were assessed on content and on applicability to the Belgian context. To improve efficiency, we chose to first aim our efforts towards those guidelines most important to primary care doctors. Over a period of 3 years, we screened about 80% of 1000 international summarized guidelines. For those guidelines identified as most important for primary care doctors, we noted that in about half of the cases, remarks were made concerning content. On the other hand, at least two-thirds of all screened guidelines required no changes when evaluating their local usability. Adapting a large body of POC summarized guidelines using a formal adaptation process is possible, even when faced with limited resources. This can be done by creating an efficient and collaborative effort and ensuring user-friendly procedures. Our experiences show that even though in most cases guidelines can be adopted without adaptations, careful review of guidelines developed in a different context remains necessary. Streamlining international efforts in adapting international POC information resources and adopting similar adaptation processes may lessen duplication efforts and prove more cost-effective. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  14. Design and evaluation guidelines for Department of Energy facilities subjected to natural phenomena hazards

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kennedy, R.P.; Short, S.A.; McDonald, J.R.

    1990-06-01

    The Department of Energy (DOE) and the DOE Natural Phenomena Hazards Panel have developed uniform design and evaluation guidelines for protection against natural phenomena hazards at DOE sites throughout the United States. The goal of the guidelines is to assure that DOE facilities can withstand the effects of natural phenomena such as earthquakes, extreme winds, tornadoes, and flooding. The guidelines apply to both new facilities (design) and existing facilities (evaluation, modification, and upgrading). The intended audience is primarily the civil/structural or mechanical engineers conducting the design or evaluation of DOE facilities. The likelihood of occurrence of natural phenomena hazards atmore » each DOE site has been evaluated by the DOE Natural Phenomena Hazard Program. Probabilistic hazard models are available for earthquake, extreme wind/tornado, and flood. Alternatively, site organizations are encouraged to develop site-specific hazard models utilizing the most recent information and techniques available. In this document, performance goals and natural hazard levels are expressed in probabilistic terms, and design and evaluation procedures are presented in deterministic terms. Design/evaluation procedures conform closely to common standard practices so that the procedures will be easily understood by most engineers. Performance goals are expressed in terms of structure or equipment damage to the extent that: (1) the facility cannot function; (2) the facility would need to be replaced; or (3) personnel are endangered. 82 refs., 12 figs., 18 tabs.« less

  15. 41 CFR 60-3.3 - Discrimination defined: Relationship between use of selection procedures and discrimination.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ...: Relationship between use of selection procedures and discrimination. 60-3.3 Section 60-3.3 Public Contracts and... PROGRAMS, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 3-UNIFORM GUIDELINES ON EMPLOYEE SELECTION PROCEDURES (1978) General Principles § 60-3.3 Discrimination defined: Relationship between use of selection...

  16. American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and American College of Radiology (ACR) Practice Guideline for the Performance of High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Erickson, Beth A.; Demanes, D. Jeffrey; Ibbott, Geoffrey S.

    2011-03-01

    High-Dose-Rate (HDR) brachytherapy is a safe and efficacious treatment option for patients with a variety of different malignancies. Careful adherence to established standards has been shown to improve the likelihood of procedural success and reduce the incidence of treatment-related morbidity. A collaborative effort of the American College of Radiology (ACR) and American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has produced a practice guideline for HDR brachytherapy. The guideline defines the qualifications and responsibilities of all the involved personnel, including the radiation oncologist, physicist and dosimetrists. Review of the leading indications for HDR brachytherapy in the management of gynecologic, thoracic, gastrointestinal,more » breast, urologic, head and neck, and soft tissue tumors is presented. Logistics with respect to the brachytherapy implant procedures and attention to radiation safety procedures and documentation are presented. Adherence to these practice guidelines can be part of ensuring quality and safety in a successful HDR brachytherapy program.« less

  17. Towards European urinalysis guidelines. Introduction of a project under European Confederation of Laboratory Medicine.

    PubMed

    Kouri, T T; Gant, V A; Fogazzi, G B; Hofmann, W; Hallander, H O; Guder, W G

    2000-07-01

    Improved standardized performance is needed because urinalysis continues to be one of the most frequently requested laboratory tests. Since 1997, the European Confederation of Laboratory Medicine (ECLM) has been supporting an interdisciplinary project aiming to produce European urinalysis guidelines. More than seventy clinical chemists, microbiologists and ward-based clinicians, as well as representatives of manufacturers are taking part. These guidelines aim to improve the quality and consistency of chemical urinalysis, particle counting and bacterial culture by suggesting optimal investigative processes that could be applied in Europe. The approach is based on medical needs for urinalysis. The importance of the pre-analytical stage for total quality is stressed by detailed illustrative advice for specimen collection. Attention is also given to emerging automated technology. For cost containment reasons, both optimum (ideal) procedures and minimum analytical approaches are suggested. Since urinalysis mostly lacks genuine reference methods (primary reference measurement procedures; Level 4), a novel classification of the methods is proposed: comparison measurement procedures (Level 3), quantitative routine procedures (Level 2), and ordinal scale examinations (Level 1). Stepwise strategies are suggested to save costs, applying different rules for general and specific patient populations. New analytical quality specifications have been created. After a consultation period, the final written text will be published in full as a separate document.

  18. Do guidelines influence the implementation of health programs? — Uganda’s experience

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background A guideline contains processes and procedures intended to guide health service delivery. However, the presence of guidelines may not guarantee their implementation, which may be a result of weaknesses in the development process. This study was undertaken to describe the processes of developing health planning, services management, and clinical guidelines within the health sector in Uganda, with the goal of understanding how these processes facilitate or abate the utility of guidelines. Methods Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to collect and analyze data. Data collection was undertaken at the levels of the central Ministry of Health, the district, and service delivery. Qualitative methods included review of documents, observations, and key informant interviews, as well as quantitative aspects included counting guidelines. Quantitative data were analyzed with Microsoft Excel, and qualitative data were analyzed using deductive content thematic analysis. Results There were 137 guidelines in the health sector, with programs related to Millennium Development Goals having the highest number (n = 83). The impetus for guideline development was stated in 78% of cases. Several guidelines duplicated content, and some conflicted with each other. The level of consultation varied, and some guidelines did not consider government-wide policies and circumstances at the service delivery level. Booklets were the main format of presentation, which was not tailored to the service delivery level. There was no framework for systematic dissemination, and target users were defined broadly in most cases. Over 60% of guidelines available at the central level were not available at the service delivery level, but there were good examples in isolated cases. There was no framework for systematic monitoring of use, evaluation, and review of guidelines. Suboptimal performance of the supervision framework that would encourage the use of guidelines, assess their

  19. Safety in the Chemical Laboratory: Developing Departmental Safety Procedures.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Renfrew, Malcolm M., Ed.; Palladino, George F.

    1980-01-01

    Presents rationale and guidelines for development of Safety Standard Operating Procedures (Safety SOP) specific for local conditions. Includes an outline of a Safety SOP developed for a department primarily focused on undergraduate education with a wide variety of expertise from common laborer to PhD with 20 years experience. (Author/JN)

  20. Guidelines for determining flood flow frequency—Bulletin 17C

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    England, John F.; Cohn, Timothy A.; Faber, Beth A.; Stedinger, Jery R.; Thomas, Wilbert O.; Veilleux, Andrea G.; Kiang, Julie E.; Mason, Robert R.

    2018-03-29

    Accurate estimates of flood frequency and magnitude are a key component of any effective nationwide flood risk management and flood damage abatement program. In addition to accuracy, methods for estimating flood risk must be uniformly and consistently applied because management of the Nation’s water and related land resources is a collaborative effort involving multiple actors including most levels of government and the private sector.Flood frequency guidelines have been published in the United States since 1967, and have undergone periodic revisions. In 1967, the U.S. Water Resources Council presented a coherent approach to flood frequency with Bulletin 15, “A Uniform Technique for Determining Flood Flow Frequencies.” The method it recommended involved fitting the log-Pearson Type III distribution to annual peak flow data by the method of moments.The first extension and update of Bulletin 15 was published in 1976 as Bulletin 17, “Guidelines for Determining Flood Flow Frequency” (Guidelines). It extended the Bulletin 15 procedures by introducing methods for dealing with outliers, historical flood information, and regional skew. Bulletin 17A was published the following year to clarify the computation of weighted skew. The next revision of the Bulletin, the Bulletin 17B, provided a host of improvements and new techniques designed to address situations that often arise in practice, including better methods for estimating and using regional skew, weighting station and regional skew, detection of outliers, and use of the conditional probability adjustment.The current version of these Guidelines are presented in this document, denoted Bulletin 17C. It incorporates changes motivated by four of the items listed as “Future Work” in Bulletin 17B and 30 years of post-17B research on flood processes and statistical methods. The updates include: adoption of a generalized representation of flood data that allows for interval and censored data types; a new method

  1. [Guidelines for management of epilepsy--commentary on Scottish ("SIGN") guidelines].

    PubMed

    Planjar-Prvan, Miljenka; Granić, Davorka

    2005-01-01

    The choice of AED (antiepileptic drug), worldwide and in Croatia, is been still based on the physician's subjective decision, personal experience, knowledge and marketing pressure made by big pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, according to some opinions, there is a need of treatment guidelines for epilepsy that would provide relevant information based on scientific evidence on the efficacy, tolerability and safety of AEDs. The guidelines, published by a competent source, should be designed as to allow for easy access to the information on the best practice in specific cases. An extensive background literature review was made to identify such a type of guidelines for the management of epilepsy. The literature review revealed a number of references with the recommendations for treating epilepsy in different groups of patients and from various, specific aspects of epilepsy treatment. However, only one comprehensive set of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy treatment was found, i.e. the evidence-based guidelines published by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). The development of this set of guidelines is quite extensively described in order to illustrate how rigorous and long-lasting the process was, including a great number of health professionals at the national level. Such a type of well designed guidelines facilitates access to highest educational standards for all professionals involved in the primary and secondary care of people with epilepsy. However, it is clear that guidelines can fully replace the standards of clinical practice based on critical evaluation and integration of all clinical data of each individual patient. No guidelines can replace the physician's obligation to keep informed of the novel achievements in the epileptology either.

  2. [Consumer involvement in the Disease Management Guideline for Asthma--a background report].

    PubMed

    Senger, Sylvia; Lelgemann, Monika; Kopp, Ina

    2006-01-01

    In the past clinical guidelines were mainly developed by experts and in everyday clinical practice almost exclusively used by clinical experts, while issues that were relevant from the patients' (consumers') point of view tended to be neglected. But then, the majority of patient information has not been perceptibly connected to clinical guidelines. Connecting the development of clinical guidelines with the development of patient information publications would make good sense for both products, though. On the one hand, evidence-based treatment guidelines could be made available to the actual target group of the clinical care process--i.e. the patients or consumers--and on the other hand, patient experiences and competencies (social evidence) might inform the production of guidelines. Such a procedure demands the cooperation of clinical experts and patients. So far there are no generally accepted methods in Germany for the practical implementation of consumer involvement on both the organizational and content level with the aim of involving patients in the development process of guidelines as well as the production of the respective patient information versions. Such a methodology shall be established as part of the National Program for Disease Management Guidelines. For the first time in this program, patient involvement is being exercised within the scope of the National Disease Management Guideline for Asthma (NDM Asthma). Here, patients are involved in the NDM development process by providing the opportunity to comment on the consented guideline draft and to participate in the translation of the NDM Asthma into a patient version. The present paper is a background report describing the current state of work and indicating consequences for some future developments.

  3. 40 CFR Appendix W to Part 51 - Guideline on Air Quality Models

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... in the Guideline. The third activity is the extensive on-going research efforts by EPA and others in... addition, findings from ongoing research programs, new model development, or results from model evaluations... shown that the model is not biased toward underestimates; and v. A protocol on methods and procedures to...

  4. 40 CFR Appendix W to Part 51 - Guideline on Air Quality Models

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... in the Guideline. The third activity is the extensive on-going research efforts by EPA and others in... addition, findings from ongoing research programs, new model development, or results from model evaluations... shown that the model is not biased toward underestimates; and v. A protocol on methods and procedures to...

  5. 40 CFR Appendix W to Part 51 - Guideline on Air Quality Models

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... in the Guideline. The third activity is the extensive on-going research efforts by EPA and others in... addition, findings from ongoing research programs, new model development, or results from model evaluations... shown that the model is not biased toward underestimates; and v. A protocol on methods and procedures to...

  6. Post-surgical infections and perioperative antibiotics usage in pediatric genitourinary procedures.

    PubMed

    Ellett, Justin; Prasad, Michaella M; Purves, J Todd; Stec, Andrew A

    2015-12-01

    Post-surgical infections (PSIs) are a source of preventable perioperative morbidity. No guidelines exist for the use of perioperative antibiotics in pediatric urologic procedures. This study reports the rate of PSIs in non-endoscopic pediatric genitourinary procedures at our institution. Secondary aims evaluate the association of PSI with other perioperative variables, including wound class (WC) and perioperative antibiotic administration. Data from consecutive non-endoscopic pediatric urologic procedures performed between August 2011 and April 2014 were examined retrospectively. The primary outcome was the rate of PSIs. PSIs were classified as superficial skin (SS) and deep/organ site (D/OS) according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and urinary tract infection (UTI). PSIs were further stratified by WC1 and WC2 and perioperative antibiotic usage. A relative risk and chi-square analysis compared PSI rates between WC1 and WC2 procedures. A total of 1185 unique patients with 1384 surgical sites were reviewed; 1192 surgical sites had follow-up for inclusion into the study. Ten total PSIs were identified, for an overall infection rate of 0.83%. Of these, six were SS, one was D/OS, and three were UTIs. The PSI rate for WC1 (885 sites) and WC2 (307 sites) procedures was 0.34% and 2.28%, respectively, p < 0.01. Relative risk of infection in WC2 procedures was 6.7 (CI 1.75-25.85, p = 0.0055). The rate of infections in WC1 procedures was similar between those receiving and not receiving perioperative antibiotics (0.35% vs. 0.33%). All WC2 procedures received antibiotics. Post-surgical infections are associated with significant perioperative morbidity. In some studies, PSI can double hospital costs, and contribute to hospital length of stay, admission to intensive care units, and impact patient mortality. Our study demonstrates that the rate of PSI in WC1 operations is low, irrespective of whether the patient received perioperative antibiotics (0

  7. [Guidelines on medically assisted reproduction: legal issues and professional liability].

    PubMed

    Molinelli, A; Motroni Gherardi, S M; Picchioni, D M; Ventura, F

    2007-08-01

    The authors analyze the legal and medico-legal issues deriving from the recent Law No. 40 of February 19, 2004 concerning the Medically Assisted Reproduction. In particular, they analyze the contrasting points between the dispositions of Law No. 40/2004 and those of Law No. 194/1978 on the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, and they analyze the guidelines about the procedures and the techniques of the Medically Assisted Reproduction, issued by the Ministry of Health with D.M. of July 21, 2004. The Guidelines, as well as some sentences of several courts, lead to some reflections also about the consent and the professional liability, in particular considering the various moments of the medical action, from the first interview to the carrying out of the assisted reproduction techniques.

  8. [Interdisciplinary AWMF guideline for the diagnostics of primary immunodeficiency].

    PubMed

    Farmand, S; Baumann, U; von Bernuth, H; Borte, M; Foerster-Waldl, E; Franke, K; Habermehl, P; Kapaun, P; Klock, G; Liese, J; Marks, R; Müller, R; Nebe, T; Niehues, T; Schuster, V; Warnatz, K; Witte, T; Ehl, S; Schulze, I

    2011-11-01

    Primary immunodeficiencies are potentially life-threatening diseases. Over the last years, the clinical phenotype and the molecular basis of an increasing number of immunological defects have been characterized. However, in daily practice primary immunodeficiencies are still often diagnosed too late. Considering that an early diagnosis may reduce morbidity and mortality of affected patients, an interdisciplinary guideline for the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies was developed on behalf of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Pädiatrische Immunologie (API) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Immunologie (DGfI). The guideline is based on expert opinion and on knowledge from other guidelines and recommendations from Germany and other countries, supplemented by data from studies that support the postulated key messages (level of evidence III). With the contribution of 20 representatives, belonging to 14 different medical societies and associations, a consensus-based guideline with a representative group of developers and a structured consensus process was created (S2k). Under the moderation of a representative of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) the nominal group process took place in April 2011. The postulated key messages were discussed and voted on following a structured consensus procedure. In particular, modified warning signs for primary immunodeficiencies were formulated and immunological emergency situations were defined. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  9. Reliability of a rating procedure to monitor industry self-regulation codes governing alcohol advertising content.

    PubMed

    Babor, Thomas F; Xuan, Ziming; Proctor, Dwayne

    2008-03-01

    The purposes of this study were to develop reliable procedures to monitor the content of alcohol advertisements broadcast on television and in other media, and to detect violations of the content guidelines of the alcohol industry's self-regulation codes. A set of rating-scale items was developed to measure the content guidelines of the 1997 version of the U.S. Beer Institute Code. Six focus groups were conducted with 60 college students to evaluate the face validity of the items and the feasibility of the procedure. A test-retest reliability study was then conducted with 74 participants, who rated five alcohol advertisements on two occasions separated by 1 week. Average correlations across all advertisements using three reliability statistics (r, rho, and kappa) were almost all statistically significant and the kappas were good for most items, which indicated high test-retest agreement. We also found high interrater reliabilities (intraclass correlations) among raters for item-level and guideline-level violations, indicating that regardless of the specific item, raters were consistent in their general evaluations of the advertisements. Naïve (untrained) raters can provide consistent (reliable) ratings of the main content guidelines proposed in the U.S. Beer Institute Code. The rating procedure may have future applications for monitoring compliance with industry self-regulation codes and for conducting research on the ways in which alcohol advertisements are perceived by young adults and other vulnerable populations.

  10. Preliminary guidelines for prescribed burning under standing timber in western larch/douglas-fir forests

    Treesearch

    Rodney A. Norum

    1977-01-01

    Guidelines are offered for safe, effective fire treatments in western larch/Douglas-fir forests. Describes procedures for estimating and limiting the scorching of tree crows. Provides a method for predicting percentage of the forest floor that will be burned down to mineral soil.

  11. [The practice guideline 'Pregnancy and puerperium' (first revision) from the Dutch College of General Practitioners; a response from the perspective of gynaecology].

    PubMed

    Heringa, M P

    2004-01-10

    The major benefit of the revised version of the Dutch College of General Practitioners' practice guideline about pregnancy and puerperium is the formal starting point of professional equality of midwives and general practitioners as care providers in antenatal and postpartum care. This thorough evidence-based practice guideline is behind the most recent developments in this field. Scientific evidence on vertical HIV transmission favours screening all pregnant women and not just the selective procedure proposed in this guideline. The restrictive attitude towards routine ultrasound screening during pregnancy hardly seems in line with scientific evidence and the public demand. On the other hand the guideline is very progressive as far as the care of women with thyroid disorders is concerned even though evidence on this subject is meagre. Most importantly the transition of antenatal care from the current almost conveyor belt-like procedure to an efficient but individually-adapted care process was not addressed.

  12. Peri-procedural protocols for interventional pain management techniques: a survey of US pain centers.

    PubMed

    Ahmed, Shihab U; Tonidandel, William; Trella, Jason; Martin, Nicole M; Chang, Yuchiao

    2005-04-01

    Interventional techniques are now an integral part of chronic pain management. As new procedures are arising at a rapid pace, decisions regarding patient safety and comfort are becoming more challenging. No peri-procedural consensus protocol currently addresses issues such as 1. nulla per os (NPO) status, 2. sedation, 3. monitoring, or 4. recovery. In establishing safety guidelines for interventional pain procedures, the knowledge of current peri-procedural protocols is required. To survey interventional pain practices and to obtain current peri-procedural protocols. We faxed a one-page questionnaire to 105 United States pain practices identified using the directory of the American Pain Society. Fifty-seven academic and private pain practices (54%) responded and were included in the analysis. Monitoring devices such as electrocardiogram (EKG), blood pressure, and pulse oximetry are not universally employed for cervical or lumbar spinal procedures. Even procedures that are often performed by anesthesiologists in operating rooms, such as Bier blocks, are not monitored in a uniform manner when performed in pain clinics. Establishment of intravenous access for procedures also varies among practitioners. Most (72%) practices had treated patients with vasovagal reactions over the past 12 months, but only 42% had simulated cardiac arrests to prepare for these situations. While various trends in peri-procedural care are observable, standards of care are not well established. In order to minimize complications associated with interventional pain management techniques, the pain management community should agree on safety guidelines for all procedures, much as these advocated by the American Society of Anesthesiology for surgical anesthetic care.

  13. In the wake of suicide: Developing guidelines for suicide postvention in fire service

    PubMed Central

    Gulliver, Suzy Bird; Pennington, Michelle L.; Leto, Frank; Cammarata, Claire; Ostiguy, William; Zavodny, Cynthia; Flynn, Elisa J.; Kimbrel, Nathan A.

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT This project aimed to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) for suicide postvention in Fire Service. First, an existing SOP was refined through expert review. Next, focus groups were conducted with fire departments lacking a peer suicide postvention SOP; feedback obtained guided revisions. The current article describes the iterative process used to evaluate and revise a Suicide Postvention SOP into a Postvention guideline that is available for implementation and evaluation. Postventions assist survivors in grief and bereavement and attempt to prevent additional negative outcomes. The implementation of suicide postvention guidelines will increase behavioral wellness within Fire Service. PMID:26332212

  14. Appropriateness of indication and diagnostic yield of colonoscopy: first report based on the 2000 guidelines of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

    PubMed

    Siddique, Iqbal; Mohan, Krishna; Hasan, Fuad; Memon, Anjum; Patty, Istvan; Al-Nakib, Basil

    2005-11-28

    To assess the appropriateness of referrals and to determine the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy according to the 2000 guidelines of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). A total of 736 consecutive patients (415 males, 321 females; mean age 43.6+/-16.6 years) undergoing colonoscopy during October 2001-March 2002 were prospectively enrolled in the study. The 2000 ASGE guidelines were used to assess the appropriateness of the indications for the procedure. Diagnostic yield was defined as the ratio between significant findings detected on colonoscopy and the total number of procedures performed for that indication. The large majority (64%) of patients had colonoscopy for an indication that was considered "generally indicated", it was "generally not indicated" for 20%, and it was "not listed" for 16% in the guidelines. The diagnostic yield of colonoscopy was highest for the "generally indicated" (38%) followed by "not listed" (13%) and "generally not indicated" (5%) categories. In the multivariable analysis, the diagnostic yield was independently associated with the appropriateness of indication that was "generally indicated" (odds ratio=12.3) and referrals by gastroenterologist (odds ratio =1.9). There is a high likelihood of inappropriate referrals for colonoscopy in an open-access endoscopy system. The diagnostic yield of the procedure is dependent on the appropriateness of indication and referring physician's specialty. Certain indications "not listed" in the guidelines have an intermediate diagnostic yield and further studies are required to evaluate whether they should be included in future revisions of the ASGE guidelines.

  15. Defining the Path Forward: Guidance for Laboratory Medicine Guidelines

    PubMed Central

    Jones, Patricia M.; Chin, Alex C.; Christenson, Robert H.

    2015-01-01

    The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) has developed consensus-based guidelines for the laboratory evaluation and monitoring of patients with specified disorders for two decades. In 1997, the NACB recognized the need to standardize the process of guideline development and promulgated its first Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for this purpose. In 2010, the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and NACB created the Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine Committee (EBLMC). Among other roles, this group was given responsibility to provide oversight of clinical practice guideline development in accordance with SOP guidance and using currently accepted good practices. In 2011, the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM) published two reports of relevance: ‘Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust’ and ‘Finding What Works in Health Care – Standards for Systematic Reviews.’ These reports were created as part of a response to a legislative mandate from the U.S. Congress requesting that steps be taken to implement recommendations from lOM’s report on ‘Knowing What Works in Health Care’ (2008). The latest revision of the laboratory medicine practice guidelines (LMPG) SOP was in part driven by these reports. NACB continues to develop LMPGs at a rate of roughly one per year through standard processes detailed in its 2014 revision of the SOP. This article describes the NACB and EBLMC experience in developing LMPGs with a focus on the evolution and use of the latest SOP. AACC and NACB have established a solid track record in collaboratively working with many clinical societies and professional organizations on clinical practice guideline development. Presently, three LMPG’s are in various stages of development and all with the collaboration of other clinical/professional groups. The practices and tools being used for current LMPGs in progress are also highlighted in the context of the challenges that presently exist for effective clinical

  16. 48 CFR 253.215-70 - DD Form 1547, Record of Weighted Guidelines Application.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false DD Form 1547, Record of... Forms 253.215-70 DD Form 1547, Record of Weighted Guidelines Application. Follow the procedures at PGI 253.215-70 for completing DD Form 1547. [71 FR 69495, Dec. 1, 2006] ...

  17. Semantic Clinical Guideline Documents

    PubMed Central

    Eriksson, Henrik; Tu, Samson W.; Musen, Mark

    2005-01-01

    Decision-support systems based on clinical practice guidelines can support physicians and other health-care personnel in the process of following best practice consistently. A knowledge-based approach to represent guidelines makes it possible to encode computer-interpretable guidelines in a formal manner, perform consistency checks, and use the guidelines directly in decision-support systems. Decision-support authors and guideline users require guidelines in human-readable formats in addition to computer-interpretable ones (e.g., for guideline review and quality assurance). We propose a new document-oriented information architecture that combines knowledge-representation models with electronic and paper documents. The approach integrates decision-support modes with standard document formats to create a combined clinical-guideline model that supports on-line viewing, printing, and decision support. PMID:16779037

  18. Drafting guidelines for occupational exposure to chemicals: the Dutch experience with the assessment of reproductive risks.

    PubMed

    Stijkel, A; van Eijndhoven, J C; Bal, R

    1996-12-01

    The Dutch procedure for standard setting for occupational exposure to chemicals, just like the European Union (EU) procedure, is characterized by an organizational separation between considerations of health on the one side, and of technology, economics, and policy on the other side. Health considerations form the basis for numerical guidelines. These guidelines are next combined with technical-economical considerations. Standards are then proposed, and are finally set by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. An analysis of this procedure might be of relevance to the US, where other procedures are used and criticized. In this article we focus on the first stage of the standard-setting procedure. In this stage, the Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Standards (DECOS) drafts a criteria document in which a health-based guideline is proposed. The drafting is based on a set of starting points for assessing toxicity. We raise the questions, "Does DECOS limit itself only to health considerations? And if not, what are the consequences of such a situation?" We discuss DECOS' starting points and analyze the relationships between those starting points, and then explore eight criteria documents where DECOS was considering reproductive risks as a possible critical effect. For various reasons, it will be concluded that the starting points leave much interpretative space, and that this space is widened further by the manner in which DECOS utilizes it. This is especially true in situations involving sex-specific risks and uncertainties in knowledge. Consequently, even at the first stage, where health considerations alone are intended to play a role, there is much room for other than health-related factors to influence decision making, although it is unavoidable that some interpretative space will remain. We argue that separating the various types of consideration should not be abandoned. Rather, through adjustments in the starting points and aspects of the procedure

  19. Strategy Guideline: HVAC Equipment Sizing

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Burdick, A.

    The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is arguably the most complex system installed in a house and is a substantial component of the total house energy use. A right-sized HVAC system will provide the desired occupant comfort and will run efficiently. This Strategy Guideline discusses the information needed to initially select the equipment for a properly designed HVAC system. Right-sizing of an HVAC system involves the selection of equipment and the design of the air distribution system to meet the accurate predicted heating and cooling loads of the house. Right-sizing the HVAC system begins with an accurate understandingmore » of the heating and cooling loads on a space; however, a full HVAC design involves more than just the load estimate calculation - the load calculation is the first step of the iterative HVAC design procedure. This guide describes the equipment selection of a split system air conditioner and furnace for an example house in Chicago, IL as well as a heat pump system for an example house in Orlando, Florida. The required heating and cooling load information for the two example houses was developed in the Department of Energy Building America Strategy Guideline: Accurate Heating and Cooling Load Calculations.« less

  20. [Practice guidelines for the management of acute perioperative pain].

    PubMed

    Guevara-López, Uriah; Covarrubias-Gómez, Alfredo; Delille-Fuentes, Ramón; Hernández-Ortiz, Andrés; Carrillo-Esper, Raúl; Moyao-García, Diana

    2005-01-01

    The inadequacy of perioperative management causes a severe adverse outcome, a prolonged time of hospitalization and unnecessary suffering. Therefore, it is important to provide an effective management approach to the patient with perioperative pain. A task force with experience in this field systematically develops practice guidelines and the primary goal is to facilitate, to health care professionals, decision-making regarding pain relief. The well-known concept of "administer as needed" is inaccurate and must be eliminated from hospital's management protocols in order to facilitate the staff education to decrease the painful experience. A method to evaluate and document pain in an objective and periodic way shall be implemented. Also, analgesic therapy shall be individualized and chosen regarding pain intensity in every surgical procedure. The treatment options include the use of non-opiate and opiate drugs, regional analgesia and nonpharmacological techniques. The best analgesic will be the one that shall provide the highest relief of pain with the fewest side effects. In the pediatric and obstetric populations, special considerations for the ambulatory patient must be taken. Finally, these practice guidelines could be the reference for future practice guidelines on pain management in Mexico.

  1. Lightning Protection Guidelines for Aerospace Vehicles

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Goodloe, C. C.

    1999-01-01

    This technical memorandum provides lightning protection engineering guidelines and technical procedures used by the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Electromagnetics and Aerospace Environments Branch for aerospace vehicles. The overviews illustrate the technical support available to project managers, chief engineers, and design engineers to ensure that aerospace vehicles managed by MSFC are adequately protected from direct and indirect effects of lightning. Generic descriptions of the lightning environment and vehicle protection technical processes are presented. More specific aerospace vehicle requirements for lightning protection design, performance, and interface characteristics are available upon request to the MSFC Electromagnetics and Aerospace Environments Branch, mail code EL23.

  2. Adherence to infection control guidelines in surgery on MRSA positive patients : A cost analysis.

    PubMed

    Saegeman, V; Schuermans, A

    2016-09-01

    In surgical units, similar to other healthcare departments, guidelines are used to curb transmission of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The aim of this study was to calculate the extra costs for material and extra working hours for compliance to MRSA infection control guidelines in the operating rooms of a University Hospital. The study was based on observations of surgeries on MRSA positive patients. The average cost per surgery was calculated utilizing local information on unit costs. Robustness of the calculations was evaluated with a sensitivity analysis. The total extra costs of adherence to MRSA infection control guidelines averaged € 340.46 per surgical procedure (range € 207.76- € 473.15). A sensitivity analysis based on a standardized operating room hourly rate reached a cost of € 366.22. The extra costs of adherence to infection control guidelines are considerable. To reduce costs, the logistical planning of surgeries could be improved by for instance a dedicated room.

  3. Image 100 procedures manual development: Applications system library definition and Image 100 software definition

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Guseman, L. F., Jr.; Decell, H. P., Jr.

    1975-01-01

    An outline for an Image 100 procedures manual for Earth Resources Program image analysis was developed which sets forth guidelines that provide a basis for the preparation and updating of an Image 100 Procedures Manual. The scope of the outline was limited to definition of general features of a procedures manual together with special features of an interactive system. Computer programs were identified which should be implemented as part of an applications oriented library for the system.

  4. Secondary Prevention of Cervical Cancer: ASCO Resource-Stratified Clinical Practice Guideline

    PubMed Central

    Jeronimo, Jose; Castle, Philip E.; Temin, Sarah; Denny, Lynette; Gupta, Vandana; Kim, Jane J.; Luciani, Silvana; Murokora, Daniel; Ngoma, Twalib; Qiao, Youlin; Quinn, Michael; Sankaranarayanan, Rengaswamy; Sasieni, Peter; Schmeler, Kathleen M.; Shastri, Surendra S.

    2017-01-01

    Purpose To provide resource-stratified, evidence-based recommendations on the secondary prevention of cervical cancer globally. Methods ASCO convened a multidisciplinary, multinational panel of oncology, primary care, epidemiology, health economic, cancer control, public health, and patient advocacy experts to produce recommendations reflecting four resource-tiered settings. A review of existing guidelines, a formal consensus-based process, and a modified ADAPTE process to adapt existing guidelines were conducted. Other experts participated in formal consensus. Results Seven existing guidelines were identified and reviewed, and adapted recommendations form the evidence base. Four systematic reviews plus cost-effectiveness analyses provided indirect evidence to inform consensus, which resulted in ≥ 75% agreement. Recommendations Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is recommended in all resource settings; visual inspection with acetic acid may be used in basic settings. Recommended age ranges and frequencies by setting are as follows: maximal: ages 25 to 65, every 5 years; enhanced: ages 30 to 65, if two consecutive negative tests at 5-year intervals, then every 10 years; limited: ages 30 to 49, every 10 years; and basic: ages 30 to 49, one to three times per lifetime. For basic settings, visual assessment is recommended as triage; in other settings, genotyping and/or cytology are recommended. For basic settings, treatment is recommended if abnormal triage results are present; in other settings, colposcopy is recommended for abnormal triage results. For basic settings, treatment options are cryotherapy or loop electrosurgical excision procedure; for other settings, loop electrosurgical excision procedure (or ablation) is recommended. Twelve-month post-treatment follow-up is recommended in all settings. Women who are HIV positive should be screened with HPV testing after diagnosis and screened twice as many times per lifetime as the general population. Screening

  5. Secondary Prevention of Cervical Cancer: ASCO Resource-Stratified Clinical Practice Guideline.

    PubMed

    Jeronimo, Jose; Castle, Philip E; Temin, Sarah; Denny, Lynette; Gupta, Vandana; Kim, Jane J; Luciani, Silvana; Murokora, Daniel; Ngoma, Twalib; Qiao, Youlin; Quinn, Michael; Sankaranarayanan, Rengaswamy; Sasieni, Peter; Schmeler, Kathleen M; Shastri, Surendra S

    2017-10-01

    To provide resource-stratified, evidence-based recommendations on the secondary prevention of cervical cancer globally. ASCO convened a multidisciplinary, multinational panel of oncology, primary care, epidemiology, health economic, cancer control, public health, and patient advocacy experts to produce recommendations reflecting four resource-tiered settings. A review of existing guidelines, a formal consensus-based process, and a modified ADAPTE process to adapt existing guidelines were conducted. Other experts participated in formal consensus. Seven existing guidelines were identified and reviewed, and adapted recommendations form the evidence base. Four systematic reviews plus cost-effectiveness analyses provided indirect evidence to inform consensus, which resulted in ≥ 75% agreement. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is recommended in all resource settings; visual inspection with acetic acid may be used in basic settings. Recommended age ranges and frequencies by setting are as follows: maximal: ages 25 to 65, every 5 years; enhanced: ages 30 to 65, if two consecutive negative tests at 5-year intervals, then every 10 years; limited: ages 30 to 49, every 10 years; and basic: ages 30 to 49, one to three times per lifetime. For basic settings, visual assessment is recommended as triage; in other settings, genotyping and/or cytology are recommended. For basic settings, treatment is recommended if abnormal triage results are present; in other settings, colposcopy is recommended for abnormal triage results. For basic settings, treatment options are cryotherapy or loop electrosurgical excision procedure; for other settings, loop electrosurgical excision procedure (or ablation) is recommended. Twelve-month post-treatment follow-up is recommended in all settings. Women who are HIV positive should be screened with HPV testing after diagnosis and screened twice as many times per lifetime as the general population. Screening is recommended at 6 weeks postpartum in

  6. [Clinical guidelines for the prevention of infective endocarditis].

    PubMed

    Pérez-Lescure Picarzo, J; Crespo Marcos, D; Centeno Malfaz, F

    2014-03-01

    This article sets out the recommendations for the prevention of infective endocarditis (IE), contained in the guidelines developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), from which the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease have been agreed. In recent years, there has been a considerable change in the recommendations for the prevention of IE, mainly due to the lack of evidence on the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in prevention, and the risk of the development of antibiotic resistance. The main change is a reduction of the indications for antibiotic prophylaxis, both in terms of patients and procedures considered at risk. Clinical practice guidelines and recommendations should assist health professionals in making clinical decisions in their daily practice. However, the ultimate judgment regarding the care of a particular patient must be taken by the physician responsible. Copyright © 2013 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

  7. Planning guidelines for computerized transaxial tomography (CT)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Not Available

    1976-11-23

    Guidelines to assist local communities in review and decisionmaking related to computerized tomography (CT) 'head' and 'whole body' scanner needs and placement are presented. Although medical benefits for head scanning are well established, the proper role of whole body scanning in relation to other diagnostic procedures has not been determined. It is recommended that a 20 percent weighted consideration could be given to a potential CT scanner applicant's present capabilities in diagnostic 'body' work. The following guidelines for CT are recommended for use in assessing work qualifications of potential CT scanner applicants: (1) The facility must have an active neurosurgicalmore » service, with a geographically full-time board - certified neurosurgeon and at least 50 intracranial procedures performed annually. (2) The facility must have an active neurological service, with a geographically full-time board - certified neurologist. (3) The facility must have on staff a qualified neuroradiologist. It is recommended that the CT scanner utilization level be a minimum of 3,000 examinations per year per unit of new equipment. The applicant must submit financial data and must be committed to providing care to all patients, independent of ability to pay. The applicant must submit letters from area hospitals agreeing to utilize the scanner services. Additional criteria are given for body scanning work and for the number of scanners in a specific area. Detailed information is presented about scanner development and use in southeastern Pennsylvania and neighboring planning areas, and the cost of scanner operations is compared with revenues. The CT scanner committee membership is included.« less

  8. Recommendations for acupuncture in clinical practice guidelines of the national guideline clearinghouse.

    PubMed

    Guo, Yao; Zhao, Hong; Wang, Fang; Li, Si-Nuo; Sun, Yu-Xiu; Han, Ming-Juan; Liu, Bao-Yan

    2017-11-01

    To organize the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) related to acupuncture included in the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) to systematically summarize the diseases and disorders most commonly treated with acupuncture, the strength of recommendations for acupuncture and the quality of evidence. The NGC database was systematically searched for guidelines that included acupuncture as an intervention. Two independent reviewers studied the summaries and the full texts of the guidelines and included guidelines based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty-nine guidelines were collected with 80 recommendations. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument was used to assess the quality of these guidelines. Of the 80 recommendations on acupuncture, 49 recommendations were clearly for acupuncture, 25 recommendations were against acupuncture and 6 recommendations did not indicate any clear recommendations, 37 recommendations were for painful diseases/disorders, and 12 recommendations were for non-painful diseases/disorders. Locomotor system disorders were the most common in the painful diseases/disorders category. Out of all the recommendations for acupuncture, most recommendations (87.76%) were weak in strength, and most of the evidence (40.84%) was of low quality. In the National Guideline Clearinghouse, the recommendations for acupuncture focus on painful diseases/disorders. The recommendations in the guidelines are not high in strength, and most of the evidence is moderate or low in quality.

  9. Management of fibromyalgia syndrome – an interdisciplinary evidence-based guideline

    PubMed Central

    Häuser, Winfried; Arnold, Bernhard; Eich, Wolfgang; Felde, Eva; Flügge, Christl; Henningsen, Peter; Herrmann, Markus; Köllner, Volker; Kühn, Edeltraud; Nutzinger, Detlev; Offenbächer, Martin; Schiltenwolf, Marcus; Sommer, Claudia; Thieme, Kati; Kopp, Ina

    2008-01-01

    The prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) of 1–2% in the general population associated with high disease-related costs and the conflicting data on treatment effectiveness had led to the development of evidence-based guidelines designed to provide patients and physicians guidance in selecting among the alternatives. Until now no evidence-based interdisciplinary (including patients) guideline for the management of FMS was available in Europe. Therefore a guideline for the management of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) was developed by 13 German medical and psychological associations and two patient self-help organisations. The task was coordinated by two German scientific umbrella organisations, the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany AWMF and the German Interdisciplinary Association of Pain Therapy DIVS. A systematic search of the literature including all controlled studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments of FMS was performed in the Cochrane Library (1993–12/2006), Medline (1980–12/2006), PsychInfo (1966–12/2006) and Scopus (1980–12/ 2006). Levels of evidence were assigned according to the classification system of the Oxford-Centre for Evidence Based Medicine. Grading of the strengths of recommendations was done according to the German program for disease management guidelines. Standardized procedures were used to reach a consensus on recommendations. The guideline was reviewed and finally approved by the boards of the societies involved and published online by the AWMF on april 25, 2008: http://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/AWMF/ll/041-004.htm. A short version of the guideline for patients is available as well: http://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/AWMF/ll/041-004p.htm. The following procedures in the management of FMS were strongly recommended: information on diagnosis and therapeutic options and patient-centered communication, aerobic exercise, cognitive and operant behavioural therapy

  10. On the design of flight-deck procedures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Degani, Asaf; Wiener, Earl L.

    1994-01-01

    In complex human-machine systems, operations, training, and standardization depend on a elaborate set of procedures which are specified and mandated by the operational management of the organization. The intent is to provide guidance to the pilots, to ensure a logical, efficient, safe, and predictable means of carrying out the mission objectives. In this report the authors examine the issue of procedure use and design from a broad viewpoint. The authors recommend a process which we call 'The Four P's:' philosophy, policies, procedures, and practices. We believe that if an organization commits to this process, it can create a set of procedures that are more internally consistent, less confusing, better respected by the flight crews, and that will lead to greater conformity. The 'Four-P' model, and the guidelines for procedural development in appendix 1, resulted from cockpit observations, extensive interviews with airline management and pilots, interviews and discussion at one major airframe manufacturer, and an examination of accident and incident reports. Although this report is based on airline operations, we believe that the principles may be applicable to other complex, high-risk systems, such as nuclear power production, manufacturing process control, space flight, and military operations.

  11. Guidelines for use of fishes in research: revised and expanded

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Jenkins, Jill A.; Bart, Henry L.; Bowker, James D.; Bowser, Paul R.; MacMillan, J. Randy; Nickum, John G.; Rachlin, Joseph W.; Rose, James D.; Sorensen, Peter W.; Warkentine, Barbara E.; Whitledge, Greg W.

    2014-01-01

    The Guidelines for the Use of Fishes in Research (2014; 2014 Guidelines), now available through the American fisheries Society (AFS) website and in print from the AFS bookstore, is a resource to aid researchers and regulatory authorities regarding responsible, scientifically valid research on fish and aquatic wildlife. The Guidelines for the Use of Fishes in Field Research (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists [ASIH] et al. 1987, 1988) emphasized field research and was followed by the 2004 Guidelines including laboratory research topics. Each version of the Guidelines has been jointly endorsed and/or published by the ASIH, the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists (AIFRB), and AFS--each focusing on the scientific understanding, global conservation, and sustainability of aquatic animals, fisheries, and ecosystems. Changes with time necessitate revisions to make the Guidelines consistent with contemporary practices and scientific literature so to remain relevant as a technical resource. This document provides not only general principles relevant for field and laboratory research endeavors but includes specific requirements for researchers working within the United States and outside of the country. Within the scope of their expertise, the 2014 Uses of Fishers in Research (UFR) Committee members updated and revised sections, resulting in a 90-page 2014 Guidelines having undergone through peer review. As before, topical areas were addressed (see Table of Contents on page 416). Expanded coverage was provided on U.S. and international agencies and programs relevant to research with fishes. The Surgical Procedures and the Marking and Tagging section received special focus by a UFR Subcommittee. Feeds and Feeding and the Administration of Drugs, Biologics and Other Chemicals are just some of the newly added topics. The 2014 Guidelines is user-friendly by way of hyperlinks to external Internet sites, intradocument sections, and tables of

  12. Splash Safety During Dermatologic Procedures Among US Dermatology Residents.

    PubMed

    Korta, Dorota Z; Chapman, Lance W; Lee, Patrick K; Linden, Kenneth G

    2017-07-01

    Dermatologists are at potential risk of acquiring infections from contamination of the mucous membranes by blood and body fluids. However, there are little data on splash safety during procedural dermatology. To determine dermatology resident perceptions about splash risk during dermatologic procedures and to quantify the rate of protective equipment use. An anonymous on-line survey was sent to 108 United States ACGME-approved dermatology residency programs assessing frequency of facial protection during dermatologic procedures, personal history of splash injury, and, if applicable, reasons for not always wearing facial protection. A total of 153 dermatology residents responded. Rates of facial protection varied by procedure, with the highest rates during surgery and the lowest during local anesthetic injection. Over 54% of respondents reported suffering facial splash while not wearing facial protection during a procedure. In contrast, 88.9% of respondents correctly answered that there is a small risk of acquiring infection from mucosal splash. Residency program recommendations for facial protection seem to vary by procedure. The authors' results demonstrate that although facial splash is a common injury, facial protection rates and protective recommendations vary significantly by procedure. These data support the recommendation for enhanced facial protection guidelines during procedural dermatology.

  13. Relating UMLS semantic types and task-based ontology to computer-interpretable clinical practice guidelines.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Anand; Ciccarese, Paolo; Quaglini, Silvana; Stefanelli, Mario; Caffi, Ezio; Boiocchi, Lorenzo

    2003-01-01

    Medical knowledge in clinical practice guideline (GL) texts is the source of task-based computer-interpretable clinical guideline models (CIGMs). We have used Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) semantic types (STs) to understand the percentage of GL text which belongs to a particular ST. We also use UMLS semantic network together with the CIGM-specific ontology to derive a semantic meaning behind the GL text. In order to achieve this objective, we took nine GL texts from the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) and marked up the text dealing with a particular ST. The STs we took into consideration were restricted taking into account the requirements of a task-based CIGM. We used DARPA Agent Markup Language and Ontology Inference Layer (DAML + OIL) to create the UMLS and CIGM specific semantic network. For the latter, as a bench test, we used the 1999 WHO-International Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension. We took into consideration the UMLS STs closest to the clinical tasks. The percentage of the GL text dealing with the ST "Health Care Activity" and subtypes "Laboratory Procedure", "Diagnostic Procedure" and "Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure" were measured. The parts of text belonging to other STs or comments were separated. A mapping of terms belonging to other STs was done to the STs under "HCA" for representation in DAML + OIL. As a result, we found that the three STs under "HCA" were the predominant STs present in the GL text. In cases where the terms of related STs existed, they were mapped into one of the three STs. The DAML + OIL representation was able to describe the hierarchy in task-based CIGMs. To conclude, we understood that the three STs could be used to represent the semantic network of the task-bases CIGMs. We identified some mapping operators which could be used for the mapping of other STs into these.

  14. Guidelines for patient selection and performance of carotid artery stenting.

    PubMed

    2009-12-01

    The endovascular treatment of carotid atherosclerosis with carotid artery stenting (CAS) remains controversial. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains the benchmark in terms of procedural mortality and morbidity. Consensus Australasian guidelines for the safe performance of CAS were developed using the modified Delphi consensus method of iterative consultation. Selection of patients suitable for CAS needs careful consideration of clinical and patho-anatomical criteria. Randomised controlled trials and pooled analyses have demonstrated that CAS is more hazardous than CEA. The CGSC therefore recommends that CAS should not be performed in the majority of patients requiring carotid revascularisation. There is currently no evidence to support CAS as a treatment for asymptomatic carotid stenosis. The use of distal protection devices during CAS remains controversial with increased risk of clinically silent stroke. The knowledge requirements for the safe performance of CAS include an understanding of the evidence base from randomised controlled trials, carotid and aortic arch anatomy and pathology, and recognition and management of periprocedural complications. It is critical that all patients being considered for a carotid intervention have adequate pre-procedural neuroimaging and peri-procedural, independent, neurological assessment. Maintenance of proficiency in CAS requires active involvement in surgical/endovascular audit and continuing medical education programmes. These standards should apply in the public and private health-care settings. These guidelines represent the consensus of an intercollegiate committee in order to direct appropriate patient selection to perform CAS. Advances in endovascular technologies and the results of randomised controlled trials will guide future revisions of this document.

  15. Pilot statewide study of pediatric emergency department alignment with national guidelines.

    PubMed

    Costich, Julia F; Fallat, Mary E; Scaggs, C Morgan; Bartlett, Richard

    2013-07-01

    The American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Emergency Nursing Association have developed consensus guidelines for pediatric emergency department policies, procedures, supplies, and equipment. Kentucky received funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration through the Emergency Medical Services for Children program to pilot test the guidelines with the state's hospitals. In addition to providing baseline data regarding institutional alignment with the guidelines, the survey supported development of grant funding to procure missing items. Survey administration was undertaken by staff and members of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Services for Children work group and faculty and staff of the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Responses were solicited primarily online with repeated reminders and offers of assistance. Seventy respondents completed the survey section on supplies and equipment either online or by fax. Results identified items unavailable at 20% or more of responding facilities, primarily the smallest sizes of equipment. The survey section addressing policy and procedure received only 16 responses. Kentucky facilities were reasonably well equipped by national standards, but rural facilities and small hospitals did not stock the smallest equipment sizes because of low reported volume of pediatric emergency department cases. Thus, a centralized procurement process that gives them access to an adequate range of pediatric supplies and equipment would support capacity building for the care of children across the entire state. Grant proposals were received from 28 facilities in the first 3 months of funding availability.

  16. [Guidelines 2.0: systematic development of a comprehensive checklist for a successful guideline enterprise].

    PubMed

    Morgano, Gian Paolo; Davoli, Marina; Moja, Lorenzo; Amato, Laura; Ferroni, Eliana; Tirani, Marcello

    2015-06-01

    Guideline developers worldwide are struggling with the lack of guidance for the practical steps in the guideline enterprise. Our objective was to systematically compile a comprehensive checklist of items linked to relevant resources and tools that guideline developers would consider for development and support of implementation. Data sources included manuals of international guideline developers, literature on guidelines for guidelines with a focus on international and national guideline agencies, professional societies, and recent systematic guidance articles. We reviewed these sources in duplicate, extracted items using a sensitive approach and developed overarching topics that are relevant to guidelines. In an iterative process, we reviewed items for duplication and omissions and involved experts in guideline development for revisions. We developed a checklist with 18 topics and 146 items and a webpage to facilitate its use by guideline developers (http://cebgrade.mcmaster.ca/guidecheck.html). The topics and items included cover all stages of the guideline enterprise, from planning to formulating recommendations, to dissemination and evaluation. The final itemized guideline development checklist (GDC) includes links to training material and resources for methodology. The GDC will serve as a resource for those involved in guideline development and we will use crowdsourcing to keep the checklist up to date and enhance it.

  17. Guidelines, Criteria, and Rules of Thumb for Evaluating Normed and Standardized Assessment Instruments in Psychology.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cicchetti, Domenic V.

    1994-01-01

    In the context of developing assessment instruments in psychology, issues of standardization, norming procedures, and test reliability and validity are discussed. Criteria, guidelines, and rules of thumb are provided to help the clinician with instrument selection for a given psychological assessment. (SLD)

  18. Managing Mergers of Human Service Agencies: People, Programs, and Procedures.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Taylor, Joseph; And Others

    1992-01-01

    Offers detailed guidelines that could be used as standard operating procedures for the merger of voluntary social service agencies. Discusses a survey of 32 agencies that merged during the years 1973 to 1986. Issues related to the roles of organization, staff, and service delivery in such mergers receive particular attention. (Author/BB)

  19. A guideline for heavy ion radiation testing for Single Event Upset (SEU)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nichols, D. K.; Price, W. E.; Malone, C.

    1984-01-01

    A guideline for heavy ion radiation testing for single event upset was prepared to assist new experimenters in preparing and directing tests. How to estimate parts vulnerability and select an irradiation facility is described. A broad brush description of JPL equipment is given, certain necessary pre-test procedures are outlined and the roles and testing guidelines for on-site test personnel are indicated. Detailed descriptions of equipment needed to interface with JPL test crew and equipment are not provided, nor does it meet the more generalized and broader requirements of a MIL-STD document. A detailed equipment description is available upon request, and a MIL-STD document is in the early stages of preparation.

  20. Practical guidelines for setting up neurosurgery skills training cadaver laboratory in India.

    PubMed

    Suri, Ashish; Roy, Tara Sankar; Lalwani, Sanjeev; Deo, Rama Chandra; Tripathi, Manjul; Dhingra, Renu; Bhardwaj, Daya Nand; Sharma, Bhawani Shankar

    2014-01-01

    Though the necessity of cadaver dissection is felt by the medical fraternity, and described as early as 600 BC, in India, there are no practical guidelines available in the world literature for setting up a basic cadaver dissection laboratory for neurosurgery skills training. Hands-on dissection practice on microscopic and endoscopic procedures is essential in technologically demanding modern neurosurgery training where ethical issues, cost constraints, medico-legal pitfalls, and resident duty time restrictions have resulted in lesser opportunities to learn. Collaboration of anatomy, forensic medicine, and neurosurgery is essential for development of a workflow of cadaver procurement, preservation, storage, dissection, and disposal along with setting up the guidelines for ethical and legal concerns.

  1. Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis: Korean Practice Guidelines

    PubMed Central

    Min, Seung-Kee; Kim, Young Hwan; Joh, Jin Hyun; Kang, Jin Mo; Park, Ui Jun; Kim, Hyung-Kee; Chang, Jeong-Hwan; Park, Sang Jun; Kim, Jang Yong; Bae, Jae Ik; Choi, Sun Young; Kim, Chang Won; Park, Sung Il; Yim, Nam Yeol; Jeon, Yong Sun; Yoon, Hyun-Ki; Park, Ki Hyuk

    2016-01-01

    Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis is a serious medical condition that can result in death or major disability due to pulmonary embolism or post-thrombotic syndrome. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment are required to improve symptoms and salvage the affected limb. Early thrombus clearance rapidly resolves symptoms related to venous obstruction, restores valve function and reduces the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome. Recently, endovascular treatment has been established as a standard method for early thrombus removal. However, there are a variety of views regarding the indications and procedures among medical institutions and operators. Therefore, we intend to provide evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis by multidisciplinary consensus. These guidelines are the result of a close collaboration between interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons. The goals of these guidelines are to improve treatment, to serve as a guide to the clinician, and consequently to contribute to public health care. PMID:27699156

  2. Guidelines 2.0: systematic development of a comprehensive checklist for a successful guideline enterprise

    PubMed Central

    Schünemann, Holger J.; Wiercioch, Wojtek; Etxeandia, Itziar; Falavigna, Maicon; Santesso, Nancy; Mustafa, Reem; Ventresca, Matthew; Brignardello-Petersen, Romina; Laisaar, Kaja-Triin; Kowalski, Sérgio; Baldeh, Tejan; Zhang, Yuan; Raid, Ulla; Neumann, Ignacio; Norris, Susan L.; Thornton, Judith; Harbour, Robin; Treweek, Shaun; Guyatt, Gordon; Alonso-Coello, Pablo; Reinap, Marge; Brožek, Jan; Oxman, Andrew; Akl, Elie A.

    2014-01-01

    Background: Although several tools to evaluate the credibility of health care guidelines exist, guidance on practical steps for developing guidelines is lacking. We systematically compiled a comprehensive checklist of items linked to relevant resources and tools that guideline developers could consider, without the expectation that every guideline would address each item. Methods: We searched data sources, including manuals of international guideline developers, literature on guidelines for guidelines (with a focus on methodology reports from international and national agencies, and professional societies) and recent articles providing systematic guidance. We reviewed these sources in duplicate, extracted items for the checklist using a sensitive approach and developed overarching topics relevant to guidelines. In an iterative process, we reviewed items for duplication and omissions and involved experts in guideline development for revisions and suggestions for items to be added. Results: We developed a checklist with 18 topics and 146 items and a webpage to facilitate its use by guideline developers. The topics and included items cover all stages of the guideline enterprise, from the planning and formulation of guidelines, to their implementation and evaluation. The final checklist includes links to training materials as well as resources with suggested methodology for applying the items. Interpretation: The checklist will serve as a resource for guideline developers. Consideration of items on the checklist will support the development, implementation and evaluation of guidelines. We will use crowdsourcing to revise the checklist and keep it up to date. PMID:24344144

  3. Guidelines 2.0: systematic development of a comprehensive checklist for a successful guideline enterprise.

    PubMed

    Schünemann, Holger J; Wiercioch, Wojtek; Etxeandia, Itziar; Falavigna, Maicon; Santesso, Nancy; Mustafa, Reem; Ventresca, Matthew; Brignardello-Petersen, Romina; Laisaar, Kaja-Triin; Kowalski, Sérgio; Baldeh, Tejan; Zhang, Yuan; Raid, Ulla; Neumann, Ignacio; Norris, Susan L; Thornton, Judith; Harbour, Robin; Treweek, Shaun; Guyatt, Gordon; Alonso-Coello, Pablo; Reinap, Marge; Brozek, Jan; Oxman, Andrew; Akl, Elie A

    2014-02-18

    Although several tools to evaluate the credibility of health care guidelines exist, guidance on practical steps for developing guidelines is lacking. We systematically compiled a comprehensive checklist of items linked to relevant resources and tools that guideline developers could consider, without the expectation that every guideline would address each item. We searched data sources, including manuals of international guideline developers, literature on guidelines for guidelines (with a focus on methodology reports from international and national agencies, and professional societies) and recent articles providing systematic guidance. We reviewed these sources in duplicate, extracted items for the checklist using a sensitive approach and developed overarching topics relevant to guidelines. In an iterative process, we reviewed items for duplication and omissions and involved experts in guideline development for revisions and suggestions for items to be added. We developed a checklist with 18 topics and 146 items and a webpage to facilitate its use by guideline developers. The topics and included items cover all stages of the guideline enterprise, from the planning and formulation of guidelines, to their implementation and evaluation. The final checklist includes links to training materials as well as resources with suggested methodology for applying the items. The checklist will serve as a resource for guideline developers. Consideration of items on the checklist will support the development, implementation and evaluation of guidelines. We will use crowdsourcing to revise the checklist and keep it up to date.

  4. Appropriateness of indication and diagnostic yield of colonoscopy: First report based on the 2000 guidelines of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

    PubMed Central

    Siddique, Iqbal; Mohan, Krishna; Hasan, Fuad; Memon, Anjum; Patty, Istvan; Al-Nakib, Basil

    2005-01-01

    AIM: To assess the appropriateness of referrals and to determine the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy according to the 2000 guidelines of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). METHODS: A total of 736 consecutive patients (415 males, 321 females; mean age 43.6±16.6 years) undergoing colonoscopy during October 2001-March 2002 were prospectively enrolled in the study. The 2000 ASGE guidelines were used to assess the appropriateness of the indications for the procedure. Diagnostic yield was defined as the ratio between significant findings detected on colonoscopy and the total number of procedures performed for that indication. RESULTS: The large majority (64%) of patients had colonoscopy for an indication that was considered “generally indicated”, it was “generally not indicated” for 20%, and it was “not listed” for 16% in the guidelines. The diagnostic yield of colonoscopy was highest for the “generally indicated” (38%) followed by “not listed” (13%) and “generally not indicated” (5%) categories. In the multivariable analysis, the diagnostic yield was independently associated with the appropriateness of indication that was “generally indicated” (odds ratio=12.3) and referrals by gastroenterologist (odds ratio =1.9). CONCLUSION: There is a high likelihood of inappropriate referrals for colonoscopy in an open-access endoscopy system. The diagnostic yield of the procedure is dependent on the appropriateness of indication and referring physician’s specialty. Certain indications “not listed” in the guidelines have an intermediate diagnostic yield and further studies are required to evaluate whether they should be included in future revisions of the ASGE guidelines. PMID:16437607

  5. Compliance with focused antenatal care services: do health workers in rural Burkina Faso, Uganda and Tanzania perform all ANC procedures?

    PubMed

    Conrad, Paul; Schmid, Gerhrd; Tientrebeogo, Justin; Moses, Arinaitwe; Kirenga, Silvia; Neuhann, Florian; Müller, Olaf; Sarker, Malabika

    2012-03-01

    To assess health workers' compliance with the procedures set in the focused antenatal care (ANC) guidelines in rural Uganda, Tanzania and Burkina Faso; to compare the compliance within and among the three study sites; and to appraise the logistic and supply of the respective health facilities (HF). The cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural HF in three African countries. This descriptive observational study took place in HF in Nouna, Burkina Faso (5), Iganga, Uganda (6) and Rufiji, Tanzania (7). In total, 788 ANC sessions and service provisions were observed, the duration of each ANC service provision was calculated, and the infrastructures of the respective HF were assessed. Health workers in all HF performed most of the procedures but also omitted certain practices stipulated in the focused ANC guidelines. There was a substantial variation in provision of ANC services among HF within and among the country sites. The findings also revealed that the duration of first visits was <15 min and health workers spent even less time in subsequent visits in all three sites. Reagents for laboratory tests and drugs as outlined in the focus ANC guidelines were often out of stock in most facilities. Health workers in all three country sites failed to perform all procedures stipulated in the focused ANC guideline; this could not be always explained by the lack of supplies. It is crucial to point out the necessity of the core procedures of ANC repeatedly. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  6. Peri-procedural risk stratification and management of patients with Williams syndrome.

    PubMed

    Collins Ii, R Thomas; Collins, Margaret G; Schmitz, Michael L; Hamrick, Justin T

    2017-03-01

    Williams syndrome (WS) is a congenital, multisystem disorder affecting the cardiovascular, connective tissue, and central nervous systems in 1 in 10 000 live births. Cardiovascular involvement is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with WS, and noninvasive and invasive procedures are common. Sudden cardiovascular collapse in patients with WS is a well-known phenomenon, especially in the peri-procedural period. Detailed guidelines for peri-procedural management of patients with WS are limited. The goal of this review is to provide thoughtful, safe and effective management strategies for the peri-procedural care of patients with WS with careful consideration of hemodynamic impacts of anesthetic strategies. In addition, an expanded risk stratification system for anesthetic administration is provided. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  7. Characteristics of communication guidelines that facilitate or impede guideline use: a focus group study

    PubMed Central

    Veldhuijzen, Wemke; Ram, Paul M; van der Weijden, Trudy; Niemantsverdriet, Susan; van der Vleuten, Cees PM

    2007-01-01

    Background The quality of doctor-patient communication has a major impact on the quality of medical care. Communication guidelines define best practices for doctor patient communication and are therefore an important tool for improving communication. However, adherence to communication guidelines remains low, despite doctors participating in intensive communication skill training. Implementation research shows that adherence is higher for guidelines in general that are user centred and feasible, which implies that they are consistent with users' opinions, tap into users' existing skills and fit into existing routines. Developers of communication guidelines seem to have been somewhat negligent with regard to user preferences and guideline feasibility. In order to promote the development of user centred and practicable communication guidelines, we elicited user preferences and identified which guideline characteristics facilitate or impede guideline use. Methods Seven focus group interviews were conducted with experienced GPs, communication trainers (GPs and behavioural scientists) and communication learners (GP trainees and medical students) and three focus group interviews with groups of GP trainees only. All interviews were transcribed and analysed qualitatively. Results The participants identified more impeding guideline characteristics than facilitating ones. The most important impeding characteristic was that guidelines do not easily fit into GPs' day-to-day practice. This is due to rigidity and inefficiency of communication guidelines and erroneous assumptions underpinning guideline development. The most important facilitating characteristic was guideline structure. Guidelines that were structured in distinct phases helped users to remain in control of consultations, which was especially useful in complicated consultations. Conclusion Although communication guidelines are generally considered useful, especially for structuring consultations, their usefulness

  8. Surgical treatment of single gingival recessions: clinical guidelines.

    PubMed

    Pini-Prato, Giovanpaolo; Nieri, Michele; Pagliaro, Umberto; Giorgi, Teresa Schifter; La Marca, Michele; Franceschi, Debora; Buti, Jacopo; Giani, Monica; Weiss, Julia Hanne; Padeletti, Luigi; Cortellini, Pierpaolo; Chambrone, Leandro; Barzagli, Luca; Defraia, Efisio; Rotundo, Roberto

    2014-01-01

    The purpose of this clinical guidelines project was to determine the most appropriate surgical techniques, in terms of efficacy, complications, and patient opinions, for the treatment of buccal single gingival recessions without loss of interproximal soft and hard tissues. Literature searches were performed (electronically and manually) for entries up to 28 February, 2013 concerning the surgical approaches for the treatment of gingival recessions. Systematic reviews (SRs) of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and individual RCTs that reported at least 6 months of follow-up of surgical treatment of single gingival recessions were included. The full texts of the selected SRs and RCTs were analysed using checklists for qualitative evaluation according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) method. The following variables were evaluated: Complete Root Coverage (CRC); Recession Reduction (RecRed); complications; functional and aesthetic satisfaction of the patients; and costs of therapies. Out of 30 systematic reviews, 3 SRs and 16 out of 313 RCTs were judged to have a low risk for bias (SIGN code: 1+). At a short-term evaluation, the coronally advanced flap plus connective tissue graft method (CAF+CTG) resulted in the best treatment in terms of CRC and/or RecRed; in case of cervical abrasion and presence of root sensitivity CAF + CTG + Restoration caused less sensitivity than CAF+CTG. CAF produced less postoperative discomfort for patients. Limited information is available regarding postoperative dental hypersensitivity and aesthetic satisfaction of the patients. In presence of aesthetic demands or tooth hypersensitivity, the best way to surgically treat single gingival recessions without loss of interproximal tissues is achieved using the CAF procedure associated with CTG. Considering postoperative discomfort, the CAF procedure is the less painful surgical approach, while the level of aesthetic satisfaction resulted higher after CAF either alone or

  9. Lasers for vascular lesions: standard guidelines of care.

    PubMed

    Srinivas, C R; Kumaresan, M

    2011-01-01

    Lasers are a good therapeutic tool for congenital and acquired vascular lesions. Technological advances in lasers have reduced the adverse effects and increased the efficacy. MACHINES: Among the various lasers used for treating vascular lesions, pulsed dye laser (PDL) has the best efficacy and safety data. The other machines that are widely available are Nd:YAG laser and intense pulse light (IPL). RATIONALE AND SCOPE OF GUIDELINE: Much variation exists in different machines and techniques, and therefore, establishing standard guidelines has limitations. The guidelines recommended here indicate minimum standards of care for lasers on vascular lesions based on current evidence. Laser may be administered by a dermatologist, who has received adequate background training in lasers during post-graduation or later at a center that provides education and training in lasers, or in focused workshops, which provide such trainings. He/she should have adequate knowledge of the lesions being treated, machines, parameters, cooling systems, and aftercare. The procedure may be performed in the physician's minor procedure room with adequate laser safety measures. PWS, hemangioma, facial telangiectasia, rosacea, spider angioma, pyogenic granuloma, venous lakes, leg veins. Absolute: Active local infection, photo-aggravated skin diseases, and medical conditions. Relative: Unstable vitiligo, psoriasis, keloid and keloidal tendencies, patient on isotretinoin, patient who is not cooperative or has unrealistic expectation. Patient selection should be done after detailed counseling with respect to the course of lesions, different treatment options, possible results, cost, need for multiple treatments, and possible postoperative complications. TREATMENT SESSIONS: The number of treatments per lesion varies from 2 to 12 or more at 6-8 week intervals. All lesions may not clear completely even after multiple sessions in many cases. Hence, a realistic expectation and proper counseling is very

  10. Guidelines for asbestos remediation at Italian superfund sites.

    PubMed

    Paglietti, F; Malinconico, S; Di Molfetta, V; Giangrasso, M

    2012-01-01

    Asbestos is now banned in 52 countries. Although Italy banned asbestos in 1992, up until that date it had been one of the main producer nations of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, and asbestos-related contamination is still widespread in the country. To reduce asbestos-related health effects, Italy has adopted many laws and regulations regarding exposure thresholds and remediation tools. Even so, there are legislative gaps that are making it difficult to manage related risks especially in the operative phase. The lack of standard procedures at a national level regarding emergency shutdown and remediation as well as reference thresholds for specific risk situations creates difficulties and different actions when dealing with the cleanup of Italian asbestos superfund sites. The authors propose operative guidelines for asbestos remediation at Italian superfund sites. INAIL, the reference national organization for asbestos-related matters, acting as an advisor to a number of state, regional, and local authorities, examined the main asbestos-related risk situations in Italy and proposed the most appropriate actions to take. The detailed analysis of many actual cases of risk, in part through inspections and the management of cleanup actions at asbestos Italian superfund sites, resulted in proposals to modify existing procedures and thresholds, which were subsequently discussed with all national, regional, and local scientific bodies. After more than two years of work and discussion at a national level, INAIL-DIPIA-Asbestos Group drafted new Guidelines for Asbestos Remediation at Italian Superfund sites, and officially submitted them to the Environment Ministry. The Ministry then adopted the document in regard to all asbestos Italian superfunds. This recently released document is also a useful reference for contaminated sites at a regional and local level. The operative Guidelines for Asbestos Remediation at Italian Superfund sites may also be of use at an

  11. Inguinal hernia repair: toward Asian guidelines.

    PubMed

    Lomanto, Davide; Cheah, Wei-Keat; Faylona, Jose Macario; Huang, Ching Shui; Lohsiriwat, Darin; Maleachi, Andy; Yang, George Pei Cheung; Li, Michael Ka-Wai; Tumtavitikul, Sathien; Sharma, Anil; Hartung, Rolf Ulrich; Choi, Young Bai; Sutedja, Barlian

    2015-02-01

    Groin hernias are very common, and surgical treatment is usually recommended. In fact, hernia repair is the most common surgical procedure performed worldwide. In countries such as the USA, China, and India, there may easily be over 1 million repairs every year. The need for this surgery has become an important socioeconomic problem and may affect health-care providers, especially in aging societies. Surgical repair using mesh is recommended and widely employed in Western countries, but in many developing countries, tissue-to-tissue repair is still the preferred surgical procedure due to economic constraints. For these reason, the development and implementation of guidelines, consensus, or recommendations may aim to clarify issues related to best practices in inguinal hernia repair in Asia. A group of Asian experts in hernia repair gathered together to debate inguinal hernia treatments in Asia in an attempt to reach some consensus or develop recommendations on best practices in the region. The need for recommendations or guidelines was unanimously confirmed to help overcome the discrepancy in clinical practice between countries; the experts decided to focus mainly on the technical aspects of open repair, which is the most common surgery for hernia in our region. After the identification of 12 main topics for discussion (indication, age, and sex; symptomatic and asymptomatic hernia: type of hernia; type of treatment; hospital admission; preoperative care; anesthesia; surgical technique; perioperative care; postoperative care; early complications; and long-term complications), a search of the literature was carried out according to the five levels of the Oxford Classification of Evidence and the four grades of recommendation. © 2015 Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery, Asia Endosurgery Task Force and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

  12. Designing Flight-Deck Procedures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Degani, Asaf; Wiener, L.; Shafto, Mike (Technical Monitor)

    1995-01-01

    A complex human-machine system consists of more than merely one or more human operators and a collection of hardware components. In order to operate a complex system successfully, the human-machine system must be supported by an organizational infrastructure of operating concepts, rules, guidelines, and documents. The coherency of such operating concepts, in terms of consistency and logic, is vitally important for the efficiency and safety of any complex system. In high-risk endeavors such as aircraft operations, space flight, nuclear power production, manufacturing process control, and military operations, it is essential that such support be flawless, as the price of operational error can be high. When operating rules are not adhered to, or the rules are inadequate for the task at hand, not only will the system's goals be thwarted, but there may also be tragic human and material consequences. To ensure safe and predictable operations, support to the operators, in this case flight crews, often comes in the form of standard operating procedures. These provide the crew with step-by-step guidance for carrying out their operations. Standard procedures do indeed promote uniformity, but they do so at the risk of reducing the role of human operators to a lower level. Management, however, must recognize the danger of over-procedurization, which fails to exploit one of the most valuable assets in the system, the intelligent operator who is "on the scene." The alert system designer and operations manager recognize that there cannot be a procedure for everything, and the time will come in which the operators of a complex system will face a situation for which there is no written procedure. Procedures, whether executed by humans or machines, have their place, but so does human cognition.

  13. Evaluation of exposure parameters in plain radiography: a comparative study with European guidelines.

    PubMed

    Lança, L; Silva, A; Alves, E; Serranheira, F; Correia, M

    2008-01-01

    Typical distribution of exposure parameters in plain radiography is unknown in Portugal. This study aims to identify exposure parameters that are being used in plain radiography in the Lisbon area and to compare the collected data with European references [Commission of European Communities (CEC) guidelines]. The results show that in four examinations (skull, chest, lumbar spine and pelvis), there is a strong tendency of using exposure times above the European recommendation. The X-ray tube potential values (in kV) are below the recommended values from CEC guidelines. This study shows that at a local level (Lisbon region), radiographic practice does not comply with CEC guidelines concerning exposure techniques. Further national/local studies are recommended with the objective to improve exposure optimisation and technical procedures in plain radiography. This study also suggests the need to establish national/local diagnostic reference levels and to proceed to effective measurements for exposure optimisation.

  14. Identification of attributes that promote the adoption and implementation of 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    As part of a larger study, this research was to identify attributes of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) that would promote their adoption and implementation by participants in a nutrition intervention. Project procedures were guided by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory. To identif...

  15. Congenital Heart Disease: Guidelines of Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Minnesota State Dept. of Health, Minneapolis. Services for Children with Handicaps.

    These guidelines were written to help families coordinate the health care that may be needed by a child with congenital heart disease. The booklet begins with general information about congenital heart disease. It then discusses the goals of health care, the health care team, the importance of periodic health care, and record keeping procedures.…

  16. Procedure for contact electrical resistance measurements as developed for use at Sandia National Laboratories

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Finch, J.L.

    1994-06-01

    Military Specifications call out general procedures and guidelines for conducting contact resistance measurements on chemical conversion coated panels. This paper deals with a test procedure developed at Sandia National Laboratories used to conduct contact electrical resistance on non-chromated conversion coated test panels. MIL-C-81706 {open_quotes}Chemical Conversion Materials For Coating Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys{close_quotes} was the reference specification used for guidance.

  17. Screening, Assessment, and Care of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Adults With Cancer: An American Society of Clinical Oncology Guideline Adaptation

    PubMed Central

    Andersen, Barbara L.; DeRubeis, Robert J.; Berman, Barry S.; Gruman, Jessie; Champion, Victoria L.; Massie, Mary Jane; Holland, Jimmie C.; Partridge, Ann H.; Bak, Kate; Somerfield, Mark R.; Rowland, Julia H.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose A Pan-Canadian Practice Guideline on Screening, Assessment, and Care of Psychosocial Distress (Depression, Anxiety) in Adults With Cancer was identified for adaptation. Methods American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has a policy and set of procedures for adapting clinical practice guidelines developed by other organizations. The guideline was reviewed for developmental rigor and content applicability. Results On the basis of content review of the pan-Canadian guideline, the ASCO panel agreed that, in general, the recommendations were clear, thorough, based on the most relevant scientific evidence, and presented options that will be acceptable to patients. However, for some topics addressed in the pan-Canadian guideline, the ASCO panel formulated a set of adapted recommendations based on local context and practice beliefs of the ad hoc panel members. It is recommended that all patients with cancer be evaluated for symptoms of depression and anxiety at periodic times across the trajectory of care. Assessment should be performed using validated, published measures and procedures. Depending on levels of symptoms and supplementary information, differing treatment pathways are recommended. Failure to identify and treat anxiety and depression increases the risk for poor quality of life and potential disease-related morbidity and mortality. This guideline adaptation is part of a larger survivorship guideline series. Conclusion Although clinicians may not be able to prevent some of the chronic or late medical effects of cancer, they have a vital role in mitigating the negative emotional and behavioral sequelae. Recognizing and treating effectively those who manifest symptoms of anxiety or depression will reduce the human cost of cancer. PMID:24733793

  18. Japanese guidelines for food allergy 2017.

    PubMed

    Ebisawa, Motohiro; Ito, Komei; Fujisawa, Takao

    2017-04-01

    Five years have passed since the Japanese Pediatric Guideline for Food Allergy (JPGFA) was first revised in 2011 from its original version. As many scientific papers related to food allergy have been published during the last 5 years, the second major revision of the JPGFA was carried out in 2016. In this guideline, food allergies are generally classified into four clinical types: (1) neonatal and infantile gastrointestinal allergy, (2) infantile atopic dermatitis associated with food allergy, (3) immediate-type of food allergy (urticaria, anaphylaxis, etc.), and (4) special forms of immediate-type of food allergy such as food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis and oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Much of this guideline covers the immediate-type of food allergy that is seen during childhood to adolescence. Infantile atopic dermatitis associated with food allergy type is especially important as the onset of most food allergies occurs during infancy. We have discussed the neonatal and infantile gastrointestinal allergy and special forms of immediate type food allergy types separately. Diagnostic procedures are highlighted, such as probability curves and component-resolved diagnosis, including the recent advancement utilizing antigen-specific IgE. The oral food challenge using a stepwise approach is recommended to avoid complete elimination of causative foods. Although oral immunotherapy (OIT) has not been approved as a routine treatment by nationwide insurance, we included a chapter for OIT, focusing on efficacy and problems. Prevention of food allergy is currently the focus of interest, and many changes were made based on recent evidence. Finally, the contraindication between adrenaline and antipsychotic drugs in Japan was discussed among related medical societies, and we reached an agreement that the use of adrenaline can be allowed based on the physician's discretion. In conclusion, this guideline encourages physicians to follow the principle to let patients

  19. 2015 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Focused Update of the 2013 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Regarding Endovascular Treatment: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

    PubMed

    Powers, William J; Derdeyn, Colin P; Biller, José; Coffey, Christopher S; Hoh, Brian L; Jauch, Edward C; Johnston, Karen C; Johnston, S Claiborne; Khalessi, Alexander A; Kidwell, Chelsea S; Meschia, James F; Ovbiagele, Bruce; Yavagal, Dileep R

    2015-10-01

    The aim of this guideline is to provide a focused update of the current recommendations for the endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke. When there is overlap, the recommendations made here supersede those of previous guidelines. This focused update analyzes results from 8 randomized, clinical trials of endovascular treatment and other relevant data published since 2013. It is not intended to be a complete literature review from the date of the previous guideline publication but rather to include pivotal new evidence that justifies changes in current recommendations. Members of the writing committee were appointed by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council's Scientific Statement Oversight Committee and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Manuscript Oversight Committee. Strict adherence to the American Heart Association conflict of interest policy was maintained throughout the consensus process. Recommendations follow the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association methods of classifying the level of certainty of the treatment effect and the class of evidence. Prerelease review of the draft guideline was performed by 6 expert peer reviewers and by the members of the Stroke Council Scientific Statement Oversight Committee and Stroke Council Leadership Committee. Evidence-based guidelines are presented for the selection of patients with acute ischemic stroke for endovascular treatment, for the endovascular procedure, and for systems of care to facilitate endovascular treatment. Certain endovascular procedures have been demonstrated to provide clinical benefit in selected patients with acute ischemic stroke. Systems of care should be organized to facilitate the delivery of this care. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

  20. Creating a multidisciplinary low back pain guideline: anatomy of a guideline adaptation process.

    PubMed

    Harstall, Christa; Taenzer, Paul; Angus, Donna K; Moga, Carmen; Schuller, Tara; Scott, N Ann

    2011-08-01

    A collaborative, multidisciplinary guideline adaptation process was developed to construct a single overarching, evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) for all primary care practitioners responsible for the management of low back pain (LBP) to curb the use of ineffective treatments and improve patient outcomes. The adaptation strategy, which involved multiple committees and partnerships, leveraged existing knowledge transfer connections to recruit guideline development group (GDG) members and ensure that all stakeholders had a voice in the guideline development process. Videoconferencing was used to coordinate the large, geographically dispersed GDG. Information services and health technology assessment experts were used throughout the process to lighten the GDG's workload. The GDG reviewed seven seed guidelines and drafted an Alberta-specific guideline during 10 half-day meetings over a 12-month period. The use of ad hoc subcommittees to resolve uncertainties or disagreements regarding evidence interpretation expedited the process. Challenges were encountered in dealing with subjectivity, guideline appraisal tools, evidence source limitations and inconsistencies, and the lack of sophisticated evidence analysis inherent in guideline adaptation. Strategies for overcoming these difficulties are discussed. Guideline adaptation is useful when resources are limited and good-quality seed CPGs exist. The Ambassador Program successfully utilized existing stakeholder interest to create an overarching guideline that aligned guidance for LBP management across multiple primary care disciplines. Unforeseen challenges in guideline adaptation can be overcome with credible seed guidelines, a consistently applied and transparent methodology, and clear documentation of the subjective contextualization process. Multidisciplinary stakeholder input and an open, trusting relationship among all contributors will ensure that the end product is clinically meaningful. © 2010

  1. 40 CFR 403.11 - Approval procedures for POTW pretreatment programs and POTW granting of removal credits.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS GENERAL PRETREATMENT REGULATIONS FOR EXISTING AND NEW SOURCES OF POLLUTION § 403.11 Approval procedures for POTW pretreatment programs...

  2. The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development

    PubMed Central

    Gagnier, Joel J; Kienle, Gunver; Altman, Douglas G; Moher, David; Sox, Harold; Riley, David

    2013-01-01

    A case report is a narrative that describes, for medical, scientific or educational purposes, a medical problem experienced by one or more patients. Case reports written without guidance from reporting standards are insufficiently rigorous to guide clinical practice or to inform clinical study design. Develop, disseminate and implement systematic reporting guidelines for case reports. We used a three-phase consensus process consisting of (1) premeeting literature review and interviews to generate items for the reporting guidelines, (2) a face-to-face consensus meeting to draft the reporting guidelines and (3) postmeeting feedback, review and pilot testing, followed by finalisation of the case report guidelines. This consensus process involved 27 participants and resulted in a 13-item checklist—a reporting guideline for case reports. The primary items of the checklist are title, key words, abstract, introduction, patient information, clinical findings, timeline, diagnostic assessment, therapeutic interventions, follow-up and outcomes, discussion, patient perspective and informed consent. We believe the implementation of the CARE (CAse REport) guidelines by medical journals will improve the completeness and transparency of published case reports and that the systematic aggregation of information from case reports will inform clinical study design, provide early signals of effectiveness and harms, and improve healthcare delivery. PMID:24155002

  3. Parallel Treatments Design: A Nested Single Subject Design for Comparing Instructional Procedures.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gast, David L.; Wolery, Mark

    1988-01-01

    This paper describes the parallel treatments design, a nested single subject experimental design that combines two concurrently implemented multiple probe designs, allows control for effects of extraneous variables through counterbalancing, and replicates its effects across behaviors. Procedural guidelines for the design's use and issues related…

  4. Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Guidelines: Update of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Policies and Procedures.

    PubMed

    Ngo-Metzger, Quyen; Moyer, Virginia; Grossman, David; Ebell, Mark; Woo, Meghan; Miller, Therese; Brummer, Tana; Chowdhury, Joya; Kato, Elisabeth; Siu, Albert; Phillips, William; Davidson, Karina; Phipps, Maureen; Bibbins-Domingo, Kirsten

    2018-01-01

    The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) provides independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous recommendations for clinical preventive services. A primary concern is to avoid even the appearance of members having special interests that might influence their ability to judge evidence and formulate unbiased recommendations. The conflicts of interest policy for the USPSTF is described, as is the formal process by which best practices were incorporated to update the policy. The USPSTF performed a literature review, conducted key informant interviews, and reviewed conflicts of interest policies of ten similar organizations. Important findings included transparency and public accessibility; full disclosure of financial relationships; disclosure of non-financial relationships (that create the potential for bias and compromise a member's objective judgment); disclosure of family members' conflicts of interests; and establishment of appropriate reporting periods. Controversies in best practices include the threshold of financial disclosures, ease of access to conflicts of interest policies and declarations, vague definition of non-financial biases, and request for family members' conflicts of interests (particularly those that are non-financial in nature). The USPSTF conflicts of interest policy includes disclosures for immediate family members, a clear non-financial conflicts of interest definition, long look-back period and application of the policy to prospective members. Conflicts of interest is solicited from all members every 4 months, formally reviewed, adjudicated, and made publicly available. The USPSTF conflicts of interest policy is publicly available as part of the USPSTF Procedure Manual. A continuous improvement process can be applied to conflicts of interest policies to enhance public trust in members of panels, such as the USPSTF, that produce clinical guidelines and recommendations. Copyright © 2018 American Journal of Preventive Medicine

  5. Reporting nuclear cardiology: a joint position paper by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI).

    PubMed

    Trägårdh, Elin; Hesse, Birger; Knuuti, Juhani; Flotats, Albert; Kaufmann, Philipp A; Kitsiou, Anastasia; Hacker, Marcus; Verberne, Hein J; Edenbrandt, Lars; Delgado, Victoria; Donal, Erwan; Edvardsen, Thor; Galderisi, Maurizio; Habib, Gilbert; Lancellotti, Patrizio; Nieman, Koen; Rosenhek, Raphael; Agostini, Denis; Gimelli, Alessia; Lindner, Oliver; Slart, Riemert; Ubleis, Christopher

    2015-03-01

    The report of an imaging procedure is a critical component of an examination, being the final and often the only communication from the interpreting physician to the referring or treating physician. Very limited evidence and few recommendations or guidelines on reporting imaging studies are available; therefore, an European position statement on how to report nuclear cardiology might be useful. The current paper combines the limited existing evidence with expert consensus, previously published recommendations as well as current clinical practices. For all the applications discussed in this paper (myocardial perfusion, viability, innervation, and function as acquired by single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography or hybrid imaging), headings cover laboratory and patient demographics, clinical indication, tracer administration and image acquisition, findings, and conclusion of the report. The statement also discusses recommended terminology in nuclear cardiology, image display, and preliminary reports. It is hoped that this statement may lead to more attention to create well-written and standardized nuclear cardiology reports and eventually lead to improved clinical outcome. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2015. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  6. The Case for Laboratory Developed Procedures

    PubMed Central

    Sabatini, Linda M.; Tsongalis, Gregory J.; Caliendo, Angela M.; Olsen, Randall J.; Ashwood, Edward R.; Bale, Sherri; Benirschke, Robert; Carlow, Dean; Funke, Birgit H.; Grody, Wayne W.; Hayden, Randall T.; Hegde, Madhuri; Lyon, Elaine; Pessin, Melissa; Press, Richard D.; Thomson, Richard B.

    2017-01-01

    An explosion of knowledge and technology is revolutionizing medicine and patient care. Novel testing must be brought to the clinic with safety and accuracy, but also in a timely and cost-effective manner, so that patients can benefit and laboratories can offer testing consistent with current guidelines. Under the oversight provided by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, laboratories have been able to develop and optimize laboratory procedures for use in-house. Quality improvement programs, interlaboratory comparisons, and the ability of laboratories to adjust assays as needed to improve results, utilize new sample types, or incorporate new mutations, information, or technologies are positive aspects of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments oversight of laboratory-developed procedures. Laboratories have a long history of successful service to patients operating under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. A series of detailed clinical examples illustrating the quality and positive impact of laboratory-developed procedures on patient care is provided. These examples also demonstrate how Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments oversight ensures accurate, reliable, and reproducible testing in clinical laboratories. PMID:28815200

  7. An audit of bronchoscopy practice in the United Kingdom: a survey of adherence to national guidelines

    PubMed Central

    Honeybourne, D.; Neumann, C. S.

    1997-01-01

    BACKGROUND: Both patient and staff safety are of major importance during the procedure of fibreoptic bronchoscopy. Patient safety depends partly on adequate disinfection of instruments and accessories used as well as careful monitoring during the procedure. Adequate facilities, manpower and training are also essential. Staff safety depends partly on adequate procedures to minimise any risks of sensitisation to agents such as glutaraldehyde. An audit was carried out of bronchoscopy procedures in hospitals in the UK and the findings were compared with published guidelines on good practice and clinical consensus. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to 218 bronchoscopy units in the UK. Findings were then compared with published evidence of good practice in the areas of disinfection, including the use of glutaraldehyde, patient monitoring, manpower, facilities, and training. RESULTS: A 73% response rate was obtained. Recommended minimum disinfection times before and after routine bronchoscopies were not achieved by 35% of units. No disinfection was carried out in 34% of units before emergency bronchoscopies and in 19% of units after suspected cases of tuberculosis. Adequate rinsing of the bronchoscope with sterile or filtered water was not carried out by 43% of units. Contrary to recommendations, 31% of departments were still using glutaraldehyde in the patient examination room and inadequate room ventilation was common. Protective clothing was often not worn by staff during bronchoscopy. Inadequate intravenous access and use of supplementary oxygen were found in many units. Practice standards were higher in departments where dedicated bronchoscopy/endoscopy units of the hospital were used, and also where staff had been on external training courses. CONCLUSIONS: This audit has shown that many units do not adhere to guidelines on disinfection procedures and patient monitoring. Unnecessary potential risks due to staff exposure to glutaraldehyde were apparent

  8. National Economic Development Procedures Manual - Urban Flood Damage. Volume 2: Primer for Surveying Flood Damage for Residential Structures and Contents

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-10-01

    procedures and techniques to measure flood damage and to further implement the Principles and Guidelines of the U.S. Water Resources Council. This manual... guidelines for using the OMB approved questionnaires are provided in Engineer Regulation 1105-2-100. The compendium provides the analyst with a helpful...question content, the analyst must also comply with OMB guidelines concerning implementation of the Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579). This Act requires

  9. Lorma: A Reference Handbook of Phonetics, Grammar, Lexicon and Learning Procedures.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Dwyer, David James

    The grammar, phonetics, and lexicon of Lorma, one of the Mande languages of Liberia, are described for the use of Peace Corps volunteers learning the language without teacher assistance. This handbook includes an introduction to the languages of Liberia, procedures for learning a language without assistance, guidelines for tutors, a reference…

  10. Functional Behavioral Assessment State Policies and Procedures. Quick Turn Around (QTA).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Alexandria, VA.

    This brief report provides an analysis of survey data collected from 45 states and territories about policies, procedures, and guidelines related to Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), plans to develop or revise policy in this area, and technical assistance needs related to FBA, especially for students who exhibit behavior that interferes with…

  11. 2011 update to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists blood conservation clinical practice guidelines.

    PubMed

    Ferraris, Victor A; Brown, Jeremiah R; Despotis, George J; Hammon, John W; Reece, T Brett; Saha, Sibu P; Song, Howard K; Clough, Ellen R; Shore-Lesserson, Linda J; Goodnough, Lawrence T; Mazer, C David; Shander, Aryeh; Stafford-Smith, Mark; Waters, Jonathan; Baker, Robert A; Dickinson, Timothy A; FitzGerald, Daniel J; Likosky, Donald S; Shann, Kenneth G

    2011-03-01

    Practice guidelines reflect published literature. Because of the ever changing literature base, it is necessary to update and revise guideline recommendations from time to time. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons recommends review and possible update of previously published guidelines at least every three years. This summary is an update of the blood conservation guideline published in 2007. The search methods used in the current version differ compared to the previously published guideline. Literature searches were conducted using standardized MeSH terms from the National Library of Medicine PUBMED database list of search terms. The following terms comprised the standard baseline search terms for all topics and were connected with the logical 'OR' connector--Extracorporeal circulation (MeSH number E04.292), cardiovascular surgical procedures (MeSH number E04.100), and vascular diseases (MeSH number C14.907). Use of these broad search terms allowed specific topics to be added to the search with the logical 'AND' connector. In this 2011 guideline update, areas of major revision include: 1) management of dual anti-platelet therapy before operation, 2) use of drugs that augment red blood cell volume or limit blood loss, 3) use of blood derivatives including fresh frozen plasma, Factor XIII, leukoreduced red blood cells, platelet plasmapheresis, recombinant Factor VII, antithrombin III, and Factor IX concentrates, 4) changes in management of blood salvage, 5) use of minimally invasive procedures to limit perioperative bleeding and blood transfusion, 6) recommendations for blood conservation related to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and cardiopulmonary perfusion, 7) use of topical hemostatic agents, and 8) new insights into the value of team interventions in blood management. Much has changed since the previously published 2007 STS blood management guidelines and this document contains new and revised recommendations. Copyright © 2011 The Society of Thoracic

  12. Index-TB Guidelines: Guidelines on extrapulmonary tuberculosis for India

    PubMed Central

    Sharma, Surendra K.; Ryan, H.; Khaparde, Sunil; Sachdeva, K. S.; Singh, Achintya D.; Mohan, Alladi; Sarin, Rohit; Paramasivan, C N; Kumar, Prahlad; Nischal, Neeraj; Khatiwada, Saurav; Garner, Paul; Tharyan, Prathap

    2017-01-01

    Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is frequently a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. It is a common opportunistic infection in people living with HIV/AIDS and other immunocompromised states such as diabetes mellitus and malnutrition. There is a paucity of data from clinical trials in EPTB and most of the information regarding diagnosis and management is extrapolated from pulmonary TB. Further, there are no formal national or international guidelines on EPTB. To address these concerns, Indian EPTB guidelines were developed under the auspices of Central TB Division and Directorate of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The objective was to provide guidance on uniform, evidence-informed practices for suspecting, diagnosing and managing EPTB at all levels of healthcare delivery. The guidelines describe agreed principles relevant to 10 key areas of EPTB which are complementary to the existing country standards of TB care and technical operational guidelines for pulmonary TB. These guidelines provide recommendations on three priority areas for EPTB: (i) use of Xpert MTB/RIF in diagnosis, (ii) use of adjunct corticosteroids in treatment, and (iii) duration of treatment. The guidelines were developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria, which were evidence based, and due consideration was given to various healthcare settings across India. Further, for those forms of EPTB in which evidence regarding best practice was lacking, clinical practice points were developed by consensus on accumulated knowledge and experience of specialists who participated in the working groups. This would also reflect the needs of healthcare providers and develop a platform for future research. PMID:28862176

  13. "Heidelberg standard examination" and "Heidelberg standard procedures" - Development of faculty-wide standards for physical examination techniques and clinical procedures in undergraduate medical education.

    PubMed

    Nikendei, C; Ganschow, P; Groener, J B; Huwendiek, S; Köchel, A; Köhl-Hackert, N; Pjontek, R; Rodrian, J; Scheibe, F; Stadler, A-K; Steiner, T; Stiepak, J; Tabatabai, J; Utz, A; Kadmon, M

    2016-01-01

    The competent physical examination of patients and the safe and professional implementation of clinical procedures constitute essential components of medical practice in nearly all areas of medicine. The central objective of the projects "Heidelberg standard examination" and "Heidelberg standard procedures", which were initiated by students, was to establish uniform interdisciplinary standards for physical examination and clinical procedures, and to distribute them in coordination with all clinical disciplines at the Heidelberg University Hospital. The presented project report illuminates the background of the initiative and its methodological implementation. Moreover, it describes the multimedia documentation in the form of pocketbooks and a multimedia internet-based platform, as well as the integration into the curriculum. The project presentation aims to provide orientation and action guidelines to facilitate similar processes in other faculties.

  14. Guidelines for Automatic Data Processing Physical Security and Risk Management. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 31.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    National Bureau of Standards (DOC), Washington, DC.

    These guidelines provide a handbook for use by federal organizations in structuring physical security and risk management programs for their automatic data processing facilities. This publication discusses security analysis, natural disasters, supporting utilities, system reliability, procedural measures and controls, off-site facilities,…

  15. Outcomes in Patients With Hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease Undergoing Invasive or Surgical Procedures.

    PubMed

    Chapin, John; Bamme, Jaqueline; Hsu, Fraustina; Christos, Paul; DeSancho, Maria

    2017-03-01

    Adults with hemophilia A (HA), hemophilia B (HB), and von Willebrand disease (VWD) frequently require surgery and invasive procedures. However, there is variability in perioperative management guidelines. We describe our periprocedural outcomes in this setting. A retrospective chart review from January 2006 to December 2012 of patients with HA, HB, and VWD undergoing surgery or invasive procedures was conducted. Type of procedures, management including the use of continuous factor infusion, and administration of antifibrinolytics were reviewed. Adverse outcomes were defined as acute bleeding (<48 hours), delayed bleeding (≥48 hours), transfusion, inhibitor development, and thrombosis. We identified 59 patients with HA and HB. In all, 24 patients had severe hemophilia and 12 had mild/moderate hemophilia. Twelve patients had inhibitors. There were also 5 female carriers of HA and 6 patients with VWD. There were 34 major surgeries (26 orthopedic, 8 nonorthopedic) and 129 minor surgeries. Continuous infusion was used in 55.9% of major surgeries versus 8.5% of minor surgeries. Antifibrinolytics were administered in 14.7% of major surgeries versus 23.2% of minor surgeries. In all, 4 patients developed acute bleeding and 10 patients developed delayed bleeding. Delayed bleeding occurred in 28.6% of genitourinary procedures and in 16.1% of dental procedures. Five patients acquired an inhibitor and 2 had thrombosis. In conclusion, patients with HA, HB, or VWD had similar rates of adverse outcomes when undergoing minor surgeries or major surgeries. This finding underscores the importance of an interdisciplinary management and procedure-specific guidelines for patients with hemophilia and VWD prior to even minor invasive procedures.

  16. 77 FR 41172 - Trademark Board Manual of Procedure, Third Edition, Revision 1

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-07-12

    ... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTO-T-2012-0028] Trademark Board Manual of Procedure, Third Edition, Revision 1 AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office... not have the force and effect of law. Its guidelines have been developed as a matter of internal...

  17. 48 CFR 215.404-70 - DD Form 1547, Record of Weighted Guidelines Method Application.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false DD Form 1547, Record of... TYPES CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION Contract Pricing 215.404-70 DD Form 1547, Record of Weighted Guidelines Method Application. Follow the procedures at PGI 215.404-70 for use of DD Form 1547 whenever a structured...

  18. The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case report guideline development.

    PubMed

    Gagnier, Joel J; Kienle, Gunver; Altman, Douglas G; Moher, David; Sox, Harold; Riley, David

    2014-01-01

    A case report is a narrative that describes, for medical, scientific, or educational purposes, a medical problem experienced by one or more patients. Case reports written without guidance from reporting standards are insufficiently rigorous to guide clinical practice or to inform clinical study design. Develop, disseminate, and implement systematic reporting guidelines for case reports. We used a three-phase consensus process consisting of (1) pre-meeting literature review and interviews to generate items for the reporting guidelines, (2) a face-to-face consensus meeting to draft the reporting guidelines, and (3) post-meeting feedback, review, and pilot testing, followed by finalization of the case report guidelines. This consensus process involved 27 participants and resulted in a 13-item checklist-a reporting guideline for case reports. The primary items of the checklist are title, key words, abstract, introduction, patient information, clinical findings, timeline, diagnostic assessment, therapeutic interventions, follow-up and outcomes, discussion, patient perspective, and informed consent. We believe the implementation of the CARE (CAse REport) guidelines by medical journals will improve the completeness and transparency of published case reports and that the systematic aggregation of information from case reports will inform clinical study design, provide early signals of effectiveness and harms, and improve healthcare delivery. Copyright © 2014 Reproduced with permission of Global Advances in Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Applying openEHR's Guideline Definition Language to the SITS international stroke treatment registry: a European retrospective observational study.

    PubMed

    Anani, Nadim; Mazya, Michael V; Chen, Rong; Prazeres Moreira, Tiago; Bill, Olivier; Ahmed, Niaz; Wahlgren, Nils; Koch, Sabine

    2017-01-10

    Interoperability standards intend to standardise health information, clinical practice guidelines intend to standardise care procedures, and patient data registries are vital for monitoring quality of care and for clinical research. This study combines all three: it uses interoperability specifications to model guideline knowledge and applies the result to registry data. We applied the openEHR Guideline Definition Language (GDL) to data from 18,400 European patients in the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke (SITS) registry to retrospectively check their compliance with European recommendations for acute stroke treatment. Comparing compliance rates obtained with GDL to those obtained by conventional statistical data analysis yielded a complete match, suggesting that GDL technology is reliable for guideline compliance checking. The successful application of a standard guideline formalism to a large patient registry dataset is an important step toward widespread implementation of computer-interpretable guidelines in clinical practice and registry-based research. Application of the methodology gave important results on the evolution of stroke care in Europe, important both for quality of care monitoring and clinical research.

  20. Towards standardization of 18F-FET PET imaging: do we need a consistent method of background activity assessment?

    PubMed

    Unterrainer, Marcus; Vettermann, Franziska; Brendel, Matthias; Holzgreve, Adrien; Lifschitz, Michael; Zähringer, Matthias; Suchorska, Bogdana; Wenter, Vera; Illigens, Ben M; Bartenstein, Peter; Albert, Nathalie L

    2017-12-01

    PET with O-(2- 18 F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ( 18 F-FET) has reached increasing clinical significance for patients with brain neoplasms. For quantification of standard PET-derived parameters such as the tumor-to-background ratio, the background activity is assessed using a region of interest (ROI) or volume of interest (VOI) in unaffected brain tissue. However, there is no standardized approach regarding the assessment of the background reference. Therefore, we evaluated the intra- and inter-reader variability of commonly applied approaches for clinical 18 F-FET PET reading. The background activity of 20 18 F-FET PET scans was independently evaluated by 6 readers using a (i) simple 2D-ROI, (ii) spherical VOI with 3.0 cm diameter, and (iii) VOI consisting of crescent-shaped ROIs; each in the contralateral, non-affected hemisphere including white and gray matter in line with the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and German guidelines. To assess intra-reader variability, each scan was evaluated 10 times by each reader. The coefficient of variation (CoV) was assessed for determination of intra- and inter-reader variability. In a second step, the best method was refined by instructions for a guided background activity assessment and validated by 10 further scans. Compared to the other approaches, the crescent-shaped VOIs revealed most stable results with the lowest intra-reader variabilities (median CoV 1.52%, spherical VOI 4.20%, 2D-ROI 3.69%; p < 0.001) and inter-reader variabilities (median CoV 2.14%, spherical VOI 4.02%, 2D-ROI 3.83%; p = 0.001). Using the guided background assessment, both intra-reader variabilities (median CoV 1.10%) and inter-reader variabilities (median CoV 1.19%) could be reduced even more. The commonly applied methods for background activity assessment show different variability which might hamper 18 F-FET PET quantification and comparability in multicenter settings. The proposed background activity assessment using a

  1. Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance series-paper 6: reporting guidelines for qualitative, implementation, and process evaluation evidence syntheses.

    PubMed

    Flemming, Kate; Booth, Andrew; Hannes, Karin; Cargo, Margaret; Noyes, Jane

    2018-05-01

    To outline contemporary and novel developments for the presentation and reporting of syntheses of qualitative, implementation, and process evaluation evidence and provide recommendations for the use of reporting guidelines. An overview of reporting guidelines for qualitative, implementation, and process evaluation evidence syntheses drawing on current international literature and the collective expert knowledge of the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. Several reporting guidelines exist that can be used or adapted to report syntheses of qualitative, implementation, and process evaluation evidence. Methods to develop individual guidance varied. The use of a relevant reporting guideline can enhance the transparency, consistency, and quality of reporting. Guidelines that exist are generic, method specific, and for particular aspects of the reviewing process, searching. Caution is expressed over the potential for reporting guidelines to produce a mechanistic approach moving the focus away from the content and toward the procedural aspects of the review. The use of a reporting guideline is recommended and a five-step decision flowchart to guide the choice of reporting guideline is provided. Gaps remain in method-specific reporting guidelines such as mixed-study, implementation, and process evaluation evidence syntheses. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Human Factors Considerations for Area Navigation Departure and Arrival Procedures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Barhydt, Richard; Adams, Catherine A.

    2006-01-01

    Area navigation (RNAV) procedures are being implemented in the United States and around the world as part of a transition to a performance-based navigation system. These procedures are providing significant benefits and have also caused some human factors issues to emerge. Under sponsorship from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has undertaken a project to document RNAV-related human factors issues and propose areas for further consideration. The component focusing on RNAV Departure and Arrival Procedures involved discussions with expert users, a literature review, and a focused review of the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database. Issues were found to include aspects of air traffic control and airline procedures, aircraft systems, and procedure design. Major findings suggest the need for specific instrument procedure design guidelines that consider the effects of human performance. Ongoing industry and government activities to address air-ground communication terminology, design improvements, and chart-database commonality are strongly encouraged. A review of factors contributing to RNAV in-service errors would likely lead to improved system design and operational performance.

  3. Regulation of genomic and biobanking research in Africa: a content analysis of ethics guidelines, policies and procedures from 22 African countries.

    PubMed

    de Vries, Jantina; Munung, Syntia Nchangwi; Matimba, Alice; McCurdy, Sheryl; Ouwe Missi Oukem-Boyer, Odile; Staunton, Ciara; Yakubu, Aminu; Tindana, Paulina

    2017-02-02

    The introduction of genomics and biobanking methodologies to the African research context has also introduced novel ways of doing science, based on values of sharing and reuse of data and samples. This shift raises ethical challenges that need to be considered when research is reviewed by ethics committees, relating for instance to broad consent, the feedback of individual genetic findings, and regulation of secondary sample access and use. Yet existing ethics guidelines and regulations in Africa do not successfully regulate research based on sharing, causing confusion about what is allowed, where and when. In order to understand better the ethics regulatory landscape around genomic research and biobanking, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of existing ethics guidelines, policies and other similar sources. We sourced 30 ethics regulatory documents from 22 African countries. We used software that assists with qualitative data analysis to conduct a thematic analysis of these documents. Surprisingly considering how contentious broad consent is in Africa, we found that most countries allow the use of this consent model, with its use banned in only three of the countries we investigated. In a likely response to fears about exploitation, the export of samples outside of the continent is strictly regulated, sometimes in conjunction with regulations around international collaboration. We also found that whilst an essential and critical component of ensuring ethical best practice in genomics research relates to the governance framework that accompanies sample and data sharing, this was most sparingly covered in the guidelines. There is a need for ethics guidelines in African countries to be adapted to the changing science policy landscape, which increasingly supports principles of openness, storage, sharing and secondary use. Current guidelines are not pertinent to the ethical challenges that such a new orientation raises, and therefore fail to provide accurate guidance

  4. [Guidelines for animal and meat inspection procedures in the slaughterhouse].

    PubMed

    Schnöller, A

    2006-08-01

    Over the last few decades there have been significant developments in livestock and meat inspection systems in slaughterhouses. The most highly developed countries have taken the lead in bringing about these changes by enacting new legislation. These new national laws have been reflected by the Codex Alimentarius in its Codes of Good Practice and this has served to harmonise world trade in foodstuffs. The author identifies the different aspects to be considered when carrying out a veterinary inspection of animals and animal products in the slaughterhouse, bearing in mind the need to protect public and animal health. Although this article only covers cattle, many of the concepts set forth can be applied to other livestock species. Information obtained from the slaughterhouse is useful to primary production; conversely, information compiled in the primary production process makes for more efficient use of slaughterhouse resources. This information makes it possible to carry out risk-based inspections, which will gradually replace traditional procedures. Conventional inspections are often very rigid and mechanical and incapable of measuring the seriousness of hazards or of determining the probability that they will occur. Emerging biological, physical and chemical hazards, as well as new technologies, mean that we cannot become complacent about inspection procedures but must continue to be alert and to keep pace with the constant changes in food safety sciences. Another new trend is the active participation of operators, who must shoulder primary responsibility in upholding the safety of the food they produce. Official veterinary inspection in the slaughterhouse plays several roles: the detection of animal diseases, the inspection of meat and meat products and the verification of audits carried out by the private sector. In recent years, the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis and cases of dioxin poisoning have highlighted the need for traceability of foodstuffs

  5. Evaluating the role of clinical pharmacists in pre-procedural anticoagulation management.

    PubMed

    Kataruka, Akash; Renner, Elizabeth; Barnes, Geoffrey D

    2018-02-01

    While physicians are typically responsible for managing perioperative warfarin, clinic pharmacists may improve pre-procedural decision-making. We assessed the impact of pharmacist-driven care for chronic warfarin-treated patients undergoing outpatient right heart catheterization (RHC). 200 warfarin patients who underwent RHC between January 2012 and September 2015 were analyzed. Pharmacist-care (n = 79) was compared to the usual care model (n = 121). The primary outcome was a composite of (1) documentation of anticoagulation plan, (2) holding warfarin at least 5 days prior to procedure, (3) guideline-congruent low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) bridging, and (4) correct LMWH dosing if bridging deemed necessary. Chi-squared test performed to assess the role of pharmacist. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to the composite endpoint, adjusted for the month of procedure. Compared to the usual care model, pharmacist-driven care (OR 4.69, 95% CI 1.73-12.71, p = 0.002) and date of the procedure (OR 1.06/month, 95% CI 1.01-1.10, p = 0.011) were independently associated with the primary composite outcome. Of the individual outcome components, pharmacist-driven care was only associated with documentation (96.2% vs. 67.8%, OR 9.19, 95% CI 2.19-38.62, p = 0.002). Remaining components including hold warfarin for at least 5 days, appropriate bridging and correct LMWH dosing were not significantly associated with pharmacist-care. Pharmacist-care is associated with better guideline-based anticoagulation management, but this was primarily driven by improved documentation. The impact of pharmacist managed peri-procedural anticoagulation on clinical outcomes remains unknown.

  6. Guidelines for use of fishes in research

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Use of Fishes in Research Committee (joint committee of the American Fisheries Society, the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists

    2014-01-01

    The 2004 and 2014 Guidelines were developed to provide a structure that advances appropriate attention toward valid experimental designs and procedures with aquatic animals while ensuring humane treatment of the experimental subjects. At a practical level, the Guidelines are intended to provide general recommendations on field and laboratory endeavors, such as sampling, holding, and handling fishes; to offer information on administrative matters, including regulations and permits; and to address typical ethical concerns, such as perceptions of pain or discomfort experienced by experimental subjects. These Guidelines must be recognized as guidelines. They are not intended to provide detailed instructions but rather to alert investigators to a broad array of topics and concerns to consider prior to initiating study. At a comprehensive level, the principles upon which these Guidelines are based are broadly applicable, and many of the described practices and approaches can be adapted to situations involving other aquatic animal species and conditions. Understanding the differences between fishes and other vertebrates, especially mammals, is critically important to conducting scientifically sound research with fishes. Disparities in life histories and mortality rates in fishes versus other vertebrates are critical in designing sustainable sampling levels in fish populations. The UFR Committee points out that (1) compared to mammalian populations, adult populations of many fish species persist despite very high natural mortality rates in juvenile stages by virtue of the fact that most species lay thousands or tens of thousands of eggs; (2) because of these mortality patterns, research on fishes, especially field research or research on early life stages, can involve, and often requires, much larger numbers of research subjects than does research on mammals; and (3) the animal handling and husbandry requirements for fishes are fundamentally different from those for

  7. The Earth Science Afternoon Constellation Contingency Procedures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Case, Warren F.; Richon, Karen

    2005-01-01

    The Earth Science Afternoon Constellation comprises NASA missions Aqua, Aura, CloudSat and the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), the joint NASA/CNES mission CALIPSO and the CNES mission PARASOL. Both NASA and CNES offices are responsible for ensuring that contingency plans or other arrangements exist to cope with contingencies within their respective jurisdictions until the conclusion of all Afternoon Constellation operations. The Mission Operations Working Group, comprised of members from each of the missions, has developed the high-level procedures for maintaining the safety of this constellation. Each contingency situation requires detailed analyses before any decisions are made. This paper describes these procedures, and includes defining what constitutes a contingency situation, the pertinent parameters involved in the contingency analysis and guidelines for the actions required, based on the results of the contingency analyses.

  8. Update on recent guidelines for the management of urinary tract infections in children: the shifting paradigm

    PubMed Central

    Paintsil, Elijah

    2016-01-01

    Purpose of review Recent guidelines on the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children have seen a shift from aggressive imaging studies and the use of prophylactic antibiotics to a more restrictive and targeted approach. This review focuses on new additions to the literature on management of UTI from January 2011 to September 2012. Recent findings The causal relationship between UTI–vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and renal scarring has been challenged by several studies. Concerns about unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation, invasiveness of some of the procedures, and risk of infection have also been raised. With improved prenatal ultrasound, a ‘top-down’ approach to investigating febrile UTI in children using renal bladder ultrasound alone as an initial study has become popular. Several studies have reported that prophylactic antibiotics and imaging studies after first UTI can be reduced substantially without affecting the risk of recurrent UTI or renal scarring. Summary The use of targeted imaging approach in evaluating febrile UTI in children may lead to improved resource use and reduction of potential harmful procedures and interventions, without affecting outcomes of UTI in children. Providers using current guidelines should endeavor to collect practice-based evidence to validate and inform future guidelines. PMID:23241875

  9. Research Disclosure Procedures for the Kamehameha Early Education Project. Technical Report #21.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Omori, Sharon; And Others

    This report describes research disclosure procedures and materials developed for the Kamehameha Early Education Program (KEEP) to fulfill the informed consent principle of the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association. A requirement for registration of children in the program is that parents attend one of two disclosure…

  10. Guidelines for the Standardization of Genital Photography.

    PubMed

    Joumblat, Natalie R; Chim, Jimmy; Sanchez Aguirre, Priscila Gisselle; Bedolla, Edgar; Salgado, Christopher J

    2018-02-06

    Plastic surgery relies on photography for both clinical practice and research. The Photographic Standards in Plastic Surgery laid the foundation for standardized photography in plastic surgery. Despite these advancements, the current literature lacks guidelines for genital photography, thus resulting in a discordance of documentation. The authors propose photographic standards for the male and female genitalia to establish homogeneity in which information can be accurately exchanged. All medical photographs include a sky-blue background, proper lighting, removal of distractors, consistent camera framing, and standard camera angles. We propose the following guidelines to standardize genital photography. In the anterior upright position, feet are shoulder-width apart and arms are placed posteriorly. The frame is bounded superiorly by the xiphoid-umbilicus midpoint and inferiorly by the patella. For circumferential documentation, frontal 180 degree capture via 45 degree intervals is often sufficient. Images in standard lithotomy position should be captured at both parallel and 45 degrees above the horizontal. Images of the phallus should include both the flaccid and erect states. Despite the increasing incidence of genital procedures, there lacks a standardized methodology in which to document the genitalia, resulting in a substantial heterogeneity in the current literature. Our standardized techniques for genital photography set forth to establish a uniform language that promotes more effective communication with both the patient as well as with colleagues. The proposed photography guidelines provide optimal visualization and standard documentation of the genitalia, allowing for accurate education, meaningful collaborations, and advancement in genital surgery. © 2018 The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc. Reprints and permission: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  11. Surgical site infection after breast surgery: impact of 2010 CDC reporting guidelines.

    PubMed

    Degnim, Amy C; Throckmorton, Alyssa D; Boostrom, Sarah Y; Boughey, Judy C; Holifield, Andrea; Baddour, Larry M; Hoskin, Tanya L

    2012-12-01

    Reported surgical site infection (SSI) rates after breast operations ranges 0.8-26 % in the literature. The aims of the present study were to characterize SSI after breast/axillary operations and determine the impact on the SSI rate of the 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting guidelines that now specifically exclude cellulitis. Retrospective chart review identified 368 patients with 449 operated sides between July 2004 and June 2006. SSI was defined by CDC criteria: purulent drainage (category 1), positive aseptically collected culture (category 2), signs of inflammation with opening of incision and absence of negative culture (category 3), and physician diagnosis of infection (category 4). The impact of excluding cellulitis was assessed. Prior CDC reporting guidelines revealed that among 368 patients, 32 (8.7 %) experienced SSI in 33 (7.3 %) of 449 operated sides. Of these, 11 (33 %) met CDC criteria 1-3, while 22 (67 %) met CDC criterion 4. Excluding cellulitis cases per 2010 CDC SSI reporting guidelines eliminates 21 of the 22 infections previously meeting CDC criterion 4. Under the new reporting guidelines, the SSI rate is 12 (2.7 %) of 449 operated sides. SSI rates varied by procedure, but these differences were not statistically significant. Cellulitis after breast and axillary surgery is much more common than other criteria for SSI, and SSI rates are reduced almost threefold if cellulitis cases are excluded. Recently revised CDC reporting guidelines may result in underestimates of the clinical burden of SSI after breast/axillary surgery.

  12. Biosafety: guidelines for working with pathogenic and infectious microorganisms.

    PubMed

    Coico, Richard; Lunn, George

    2005-11-01

    This unit, in conjunction with local and national guidelines and regulations, provides the basic biosafety information needed to perform the procedures detailed in this manual. Topics discussed include routine precautions when working with biohazards, disinfectants, disposal of biohazards, biosafety levels (as established by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), animal facilities, and clinical laboratories. In addition, resources for more information are provided in the Literature Cited and Key References sections and in URLs given text and within the Internet Resources section.

  13. Risk reduction in pediatric procedural sedation by application of an American Academy of Pediatrics/American Society of Anesthesiologists process model.

    PubMed

    Hoffman, George M; Nowakowski, Rhonda; Troshynski, Todd J; Berens, Richard J; Weisman, Steven J

    2002-02-01

    Guidelines for risk reduction during procedural sedation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) rely on expert opinion and consensus. In this article, we tested the hypothesis that application of an AAP/ASA-structured model would reduce the risk of sedation-related adverse events. Prospectively coded sedation records were abstracted by a hospital quality improvement specialist with practical and administrative experience in pediatric sedation. Process variables included notation of nulla per os (NPO) status, performance of a guided risk assessment, assignment of ASA physical status score, obtaining informed consent, generation of a sedation plan, and assessment of sedation level using a quantitative scoring system. Content variables included adherence to AAP NPO guidelines, ASA class, target sedation level, actual sedation level, age, procedure, and drugs used. Complication risk was assessed by logistic regression and Mantel-Haenszel odds ratios (OR). Complications were identified in 40 of 960 records (4.2%). The complication rate was 34 of 895 (3.8%) with planned conscious sedation and 6 of 65 (9.2%) with planned deep sedation ([DS]; OR: 2.6). Complications were reduced by performance of structured risk assessment (OR: 0.10), adherence to all process guidelines (OR: 0), and avoiding actual DS (OR: 0.4). The only drug associated with higher risk was chloral hydrate (OR: 2.1). Failure to adhere to NPO guidelines did not increase risk in this assessment; however, the adverse event rate was 0 if all process guidelines were followed. Presedation assessment reduces complications of DS. Repeated assessment of sedation score reduces the risk of inadvertent DS. The data provide direct evidence that AAP/ASA guidelines can reduce the risk of pediatric procedural sedation.

  14. Measure Guideline: Installing Rigid Foam Insulation on the Interior of Existing Brick Walls

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Natarajan, H.; Klocke, S.; Puttagunta, S.

    2012-06-01

    This measure guideline provides information on an effective method to insulate the interior of existing brick masonry walls with extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation board. The guide outlines step-by-step design and installation procedures while explaining the benefits and tradeoffs where applicable. The authors intend that this document be useful to a varied audience that includes builders, remodelers, contractors and homeowners.

  15. Measure Guideline. Installing Rigid Foam Insulation on the Interior of Existing Brick Walls

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Natarajan, Hariharan; Klocke, Steve; Puttagunta, Srikanth

    2012-06-01

    This measure guideline provides information on an effective method to insulate the interior of existing brick masonry walls with extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation board. The guide outlines step-by-step design and installation procedures while explaining the benefits and tradeoffs where applicable. The authors intend that this document be useful to a varied audience that includes builders,remodelers, contractors and homeowners.

  16. Performance and Health Test Procedure for Grid Energy Storage Systems

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Baggu, Murali M; Smith, Kandler A; Friedl, Andrew

    A test procedure to evaluate the performance and health of field installations of grid-connected battery energy storage systems (BESS) is described. Performance and health metrics captured in the procedures are: round-trip efficiency, standby losses, response time/accuracy, and useable energy/state of charge at different discharge/charge rates over the system's lifetime. The procedures are divided into reference performance tests, which require the system to be put in a test mode and are to be conducted in intervals, and real-time monitoring tests, which collect data during normal operation without interruption. The procedures can be applied on a wide array of BESS with littlemore » modification and can thus support BESS operators in the management of BESS field installations with minimal interruption and expenditure. Simulated results based on a detailed system simulation of a prototype system are provided as guideline.« less

  17. Adherence to AIOM (Italian Association of Medical Oncology) lung cancer guidelines in Italian clinical practice: Results from the RIGHT-3 (research for the identification of the most effective and highly accepted clinical guidelines for cancer treatment) study.

    PubMed

    Barni, Sandro; Maiello, Evaristo; Di Maio, Massimo; Ardizzoni, Andrea; Cappuzzo, Federico; Maranzano, Ernesto; Novello, Silvia; Bennati, Chiara; Ori, Alessandra; Rizzoli, Sara; Crinò, Lucio

    2015-11-01

    Clinical practice guidelines represent a key tool to improve quality and reduce variability of cancer care. In 2004, Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) launched the RIGHT (research for the identification of the most effective and highly accepted clinical guidelines for cancer treatment) program. The third step, RIGHT-3, evaluated the concordance between AIOM lung cancer guidelines and Italian clinical practice. RIGHT-3 was a retrospective observational study, conducted in 53 Italian centers treating lung cancer. Sampling from AIOM database of 230 centers was stratified by presence of thoracic surgery and geographic distribution. To describe the adherence to AIOM guidelines (2009 edition), 11 indicators regarding diagnostic and treatment procedures were identified. Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis who had first visit in 2010 were divided into 3 groups, based on TNM stage: I-II-IIIA (5 indicators), IIIB (3 indicators) and IV (3 indicators). 708 patients were enrolled; 680 were eligible: 225 patients in stage I-II-IIIA; 156 patients in stage IIIB; 299 patients in stage IV. Cyto-histological diagnosis was available in 96%, 97%, 96% of stage I-II-IIIA, IIIB, IV respectively. Positron-emission tomography was performed in 64% of stage I-II-IIIA and 46% of stage IIIB. 88% of stage I-II patients eligible for surgery underwent lobectomy; after surgery, 61% of stage II and 57% of stage IIIA patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Among stage IIIB patients who received combined chemo- radiotherapy, sequential approach was more common than concomitant treatment (86% vs. 14%). Among stage IV patients, 87% received platinum-based first-line treatment, and 70% received second-line. The RIGHT-3 study showed that, in 2010, adherence to Italian NSCLC guidelines was high for many indicators (including those related to treatment of stage IV patients), but lower for some diagnostic procedures. Guidelines adherence monitoring can be useful to reduce

  18. Spatial effect of new municipal solid waste landfill siting using different guidelines.

    PubMed

    Ahmad, Siti Zubaidah; Ahamad, Mohd Sanusi S; Yusoff, Mohd Suffian

    2014-01-01

    Proper implementation of landfill siting with the right regulations and constraints can prevent undesirable long-term effects. Different countries have respective guidelines on criteria for new landfill sites. In this article, we perform a comparative study of municipal solid waste landfill siting criteria stated in the policies and guidelines of eight different constitutional bodies from Malaysia, Australia, India, U.S.A., Europe, China and the Middle East, and the World Bank. Subsequently, a geographic information system (GIS) multi-criteria evaluation model was applied to determine new suitable landfill sites using different criterion parameters using a constraint mapping technique and weighted linear combination. Application of Macro Modeler provided in the GIS-IDRISI Andes software helps in building and executing multi-step models. In addition, the analytic hierarchy process technique was included to determine the criterion weight of the decision maker's preferences as part of the weighted linear combination procedure. The differences in spatial results of suitable sites obtained signifies that dissimilarity in guideline specifications and requirements will have an effect on the decision-making process.

  19. Bridging the guideline implementation gap: a systematic, document-centered approach to guideline implementation.

    PubMed

    Shiffman, Richard N; Michel, George; Essaihi, Abdelwaheb; Thornquist, Elizabeth

    2004-01-01

    A gap exists between the information contained in published clinical practice guidelines and the knowledge and information that are necessary to implement them. This work describes a process to systematize and make explicit the translation of document-based knowledge into workflow-integrated clinical decision support systems. This approach uses the Guideline Elements Model (GEM) to represent the guideline knowledge. Implementation requires a number of steps to translate the knowledge contained in guideline text into a computable format and to integrate the information into clinical workflow. The steps include: (1) selection of a guideline and specific recommendations for implementation, (2) markup of the guideline text, (3) atomization, (4) deabstraction and (5) disambiguation of recommendation concepts, (6) verification of rule set completeness, (7) addition of explanations, (8) building executable statements, (9) specification of origins of decision variables and insertions of recommended actions, (10) definition of action types and selection of associated beneficial services, (11) choice of interface components, and (12) creation of requirement specification. The authors illustrate these component processes using examples drawn from recent experience translating recommendations from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's guideline on management of chronic asthma into a workflow-integrated decision support system that operates within the Logician electronic health record system. Using the guideline document as a knowledge source promotes authentic translation of domain knowledge and reduces the overall complexity of the implementation task. From this framework, we believe that a better understanding of activities involved in guideline implementation will emerge.

  20. A guidelines handbook for GPR surveys in tunnels: a COST Action TU1208 contribution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bianchini Ciampoli, Luca; Alani, Amir M.; Pajewski, Lara; Benedetto, Andrea; Loizos, Andreas; Tosti, Fabio

    2016-04-01

    A significant open issue concerning the reliability of geophysical methods and in particular of ground penetrating radar (GPR), both in research and professional context, is a general lack of international standards. This is a major problem to be faced, in order to gain scientific strictness for the GPR practices, and to easily extend to the international community the results achieved within the area of single virtuous countries. Producing international guidelines can represent an important step forward, in this sense. In the memorandum of understanding of the COST Action TU1208 is clearly stated that one of the main purposes of the Action is the "development of innovative protocols and guidelines which will be published in a handbook and constitute a basis for European Standards, for an effective GPR application in CE tasks; safety, economic and financial criteria will be integrated within the protocols". Of course this is not a simple task to be accomplished. Firstly, survey procedures are highly dependent on the objective of the survey itself. On the basis of the objective of each geophysical test, the GPR system, the antenna configuration, and even the processing procedures may change. Besides, these procedures are also influenced by the environmental conditions in which the tests are performed. This affects several aspects spanning from hardware to software, but including, for instance, also safety issues. Due to these reasons, one of the main goal of the COST Action TU1208 is the development of several guidelines related to the main applications of GPR in the field of civil engineering. In this work, the structure of a guidelines handbook for GPR activities in tunnels is outlined. In the first sections, the principal references in the field are provided, and the most common GPR equipment and complementary technologies are described. Subsequently, the survey methodologies are explained. Particular attention is paid to the preliminary activities to be carried

  1. Clinical Practice Guideline: Hoarseness (Dysphonia) (Update).

    PubMed

    Stachler, Robert J; Francis, David O; Schwartz, Seth R; Damask, Cecelia C; Digoy, German P; Krouse, Helene J; McCoy, Scott J; Ouellette, Daniel R; Patel, Rita R; Reavis, Charles Charlie W; Smith, Libby J; Smith, Marshall; Strode, Steven W; Woo, Peak; Nnacheta, Lorraine C

    2018-03-01

    Objective This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on treating patients who present with dysphonia, which is characterized by altered vocal quality, pitch, loudness, or vocal effort that impairs communication and/or quality of life. Dysphonia affects nearly one-third of the population at some point in its life. This guideline applies to all age groups evaluated in a setting where dysphonia would be identified or managed. It is intended for all clinicians who are likely to diagnose and treat patients with dysphonia. Purpose The primary purpose of this guideline is to improve the quality of care for patients with dysphonia, based on current best evidence. Expert consensus to fill evidence gaps, when used, is explicitly stated and supported with a detailed evidence profile for transparency. Specific objectives of the guideline are to reduce inappropriate variations in care, produce optimal health outcomes, and minimize harm. For this guideline update, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation selected a panel representing the fields of advanced practice nursing, bronchoesophagology, consumer advocacy, family medicine, geriatric medicine, internal medicine, laryngology, neurology, otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, pediatrics, professional voice, pulmonology, and speech-language pathology. Action Statements The guideline update group made strong recommendations for the following key action statements (KASs): (1) Clinicians should assess the patient with dysphonia by history and physical examination to identify factors where expedited laryngeal evaluation is indicated. These include, but are not limited to, recent surgical procedures involving the head, neck, or chest; recent endotracheal intubation; presence of concomitant neck mass; respiratory distress or stridor; history of tobacco abuse; and whether the patient is a professional voice user. (2) Clinicians should advocate voice therapy for patients with dysphonia from a

  2. [Algorithm of nursing procedure in debridement protocol].

    PubMed

    Fumić, Nera; Marinović, Marin; Brajan, Dolores

    2014-10-01

    Debridement is an essential act in the treatment of various wounds, which removes devitalized and colonized necrotic tissue, also poorly healing tissue and all foreign bodies from the wound, in order to enhance the formation of healthy granulation tissue and accelerate the process of wound healing. Nowadays, debridement is the basic procedure in the management of acute and chronic wounds, where the question remains which way to do it, how extensively, how often and who should perform it. Many parameters affect the decision on what method to use on debridement. It is important to consider the patient's age, environment, choice, presence of pain, quality of life, skills and resources for wound and patient care providers, and also a variety of regulations and guidelines. Irrespective of the level and setting where the care is provided (hospital patients, ambulatory or stationary, home care), care for patients suffering from some form of acute or chronic wound and requiring different interventions and a large number of frequent bandaging and wound care is most frequently provided by nurses/technicians. With timely and systematic interventions in these patients, the current and potential problems in health functioning could be minimized or eliminated in accordance with the resources. Along with daily wound toilette and bandaging, it is important to timely recognize changes in the wound status and the need of tissue debridement. Nurse/technician interventions are focused on preparation of the patient (physical, psychological, education), preparation of materials, personnel and space, assisting or performing procedures of wound care, and documenting the procedures performed. The assumption that having an experienced and competent person for wound care and a variety of methods and approaches in wound treatment is in the patient's best interest poses the need of defining common terms and developing comprehensive guidelines that will lead to universal algorithms in the field.

  3. 75 FR 70664 - Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-18

    ... Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures; Extension of Comment Period AGENCY: Environmental Protection..., 2010, EPA proposed changes to analysis and sampling test procedures in wastewater regulations. These...

  4. National Economic Development Procedures Manual - Agricultural Flood Damage,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-10-01

    based on the conceptual framework of the Economic and Environmental Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation...the planning process and the NED evaluacion ’- ". procedures for agriculture, as described in the P&G, are thei presented. Also identified are some...ood Ioss compu t at ion approach de ’(’ op4 t hie f I ond damage for hypothetical frequency flood events and weights the result to I V- II1. + . IV-11

  5. Improving the adaptability of WHO evidence-informed guidelines for nutrition actions: results of a mixed methods evaluation.

    PubMed

    Dedios, Maria Cecilia; Esperato, Alexo; De-Regil, Luz Maria; Peña-Rosas, Juan Pablo; Norris, Susan L

    2017-03-21

    and challenges related to collaborative work within interdisciplinary groups. Overall, our study found that the nutrition evidence-informed guidelines are of good methodological quality but that the implementability requires improvement. The recommendations to improve guideline adaptability address the guideline content, the dynamics shaping interdisciplinary work, and actions for implementation feasibility. As WHO relies heavily on a standardized procedure to develop guidelines, the lessons learned may be applicable to guideline development across the organization and to other groups developing guidelines.

  6. Reporting Items for Updated Clinical Guidelines: Checklist for the Reporting of Updated Guidelines (CheckUp)

    PubMed Central

    Vernooij, Robin W. M.; Alonso-Coello, Pablo; Brouwers, Melissa

    2017-01-01

    Background Scientific knowledge is in constant development. Consequently, regular review to assure the trustworthiness of clinical guidelines is required. However, there is still a lack of preferred reporting items of the updating process in updated clinical guidelines. The present article describes the development process of the Checklist for the Reporting of Updated Guidelines (CheckUp). Methods and Findings We developed an initial list of items based on an overview of research evidence on clinical guideline updating, the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II Instrument, and the advice of the CheckUp panel (n = 33 professionals). A multistep process was used to refine this list, including an assessment of ten existing updated clinical guidelines, interviews with key informants (response rate: 54.2%; 13/24), a three-round Delphi consensus survey with the CheckUp panel (33 participants), and an external review with clinical guideline methodologists (response rate: 90%; 53/59) and users (response rate: 55.6%; 10/18). CheckUp includes 16 items that address (1) the presentation of an updated guideline, (2) editorial independence, and (3) the methodology of the updating process. In this article, we present the methodology to develop CheckUp and include as a supplementary file an explanation and elaboration document. Conclusions CheckUp can be used to evaluate the completeness of reporting in updated guidelines and as a tool to inform guideline developers about reporting requirements. Editors may request its completion from guideline authors when submitting updated guidelines for publication. Adherence to CheckUp will likely enhance the comprehensiveness and transparency of clinical guideline updating for the benefit of patients and the public, health care professionals, and other relevant stakeholders. PMID:28072838

  7. Digital PET compliance to EARL accreditation specifications.

    PubMed

    Koopman, Daniëlle; Groot Koerkamp, Maureen; Jager, Pieter L; Arkies, Hester; Knollema, Siert; Slump, Cornelis H; Sanches, Pedro G; van Dalen, Jorn A

    2017-12-01

    Our aim was to evaluate if a recently introduced TOF PET system with digital photon counting technology (Philips Healthcare), potentially providing an improved image quality over analogue systems, can fulfil EANM research Ltd (EARL) accreditation specifications for tumour imaging with FDG-PET/CT. We have performed a phantom study on a digital TOF PET system using a NEMA NU2-2001 image quality phantom with six fillable spheres. Phantom preparation and PET/CT acquisition were performed according to the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) guidelines. We made list-mode ordered-subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) TOF PET reconstructions, with default settings, three voxel sizes (4 × 4 × 4 mm 3 , 2 × 2 × 2 mm 3 and 1 × 1 × 1 mm 3 ) and with/without point spread function (PSF) modelling. On each PET dataset, mean and maximum activity concentration recovery coefficients (RC mean and RC max ) were calculated for all phantom spheres and compared to EARL accreditation specifications. The RCs of the 4 × 4 × 4 mm 3 voxel dataset without PSF modelling proved closest to EARL specifications. Next, we added a Gaussian post-smoothing filter with varying kernel widths of 1-7 mm. EARL specifications were fulfilled when using kernel widths of 2 to 4 mm. TOF PET using digital photon counting technology fulfils EARL accreditation specifications for FDG-PET/CT tumour imaging when using an OSEM reconstruction with 4 × 4 × 4 mm 3 voxels, no PSF modelling and including a Gaussian post-smoothing filter of 2 to 4 mm.

  8. Bridging the Guideline Implementation Gap: A Systematic, Document-Centered Approach to Guideline Implementation

    PubMed Central

    Shiffman, Richard N.; Michel, George; Essaihi, Abdelwaheb; Thornquist, Elizabeth

    2004-01-01

    Objective: A gap exists between the information contained in published clinical practice guidelines and the knowledge and information that are necessary to implement them. This work describes a process to systematize and make explicit the translation of document-based knowledge into workflow-integrated clinical decision support systems. Design: This approach uses the Guideline Elements Model (GEM) to represent the guideline knowledge. Implementation requires a number of steps to translate the knowledge contained in guideline text into a computable format and to integrate the information into clinical workflow. The steps include: (1) selection of a guideline and specific recommendations for implementation, (2) markup of the guideline text, (3) atomization, (4) deabstraction and (5) disambiguation of recommendation concepts, (6) verification of rule set completeness, (7) addition of explanations, (8) building executable statements, (9) specification of origins of decision variables and insertions of recommended actions, (10) definition of action types and selection of associated beneficial services, (11) choice of interface components, and (12) creation of requirement specification. Results: The authors illustrate these component processes using examples drawn from recent experience translating recommendations from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's guideline on management of chronic asthma into a workflow-integrated decision support system that operates within the Logician electronic health record system. Conclusion: Using the guideline document as a knowledge source promotes authentic translation of domain knowledge and reduces the overall complexity of the implementation task. From this framework, we believe that a better understanding of activities involved in guideline implementation will emerge. PMID:15187061

  9. AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Information and Procedural Guidelines for Providing Services to Persons with AIDS/HTLV-III.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Montana State Dept. of Health and Environmental Sciences, Helena.

    This manual presents information about the disease, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and guidelines for service delivery to Montana residents who have been diagnosed with AIDS or related disorders. The first section describes the disease's causes, symptoms, and transmission; risk factors; high-risk populations; prevention suggestions;…

  10. 28 CFR 42.404 - Guidelines.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 28 Judicial Administration 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Guidelines. 42.404 Section 42.404... Guidelines. (a) Federal agencies shall publish title VI guidelines for each type of program to which they extend financial assistance, where such guidelines would be appropriate to provide detailed information...

  11. Children and Youth Assisted by Medical Technology in Educational Settings: Guidelines for Care. Second Edition.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Porter, Stephanie, Ed.; Haynie, Marilynn, Ed.; Bierle, Timaree, Ed.; Caldwell, Terry Heintz, Ed.; Palfrey, Judith S., Ed.

    This manual is intended to provide specific guidelines for meeting the needs of students who are assisted by medical technology in the educational setting. The manual is divided into two sections: Section 1 discusses principles and issues concerned with applying medical technology in schools, and Section 2 details the various procedures and…

  12. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians' 2016 Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs.

    PubMed

    Griffin, Brenda; Bushby, Philip A; McCobb, Emily; White, Sara C; Rigdon-Brestle, Y Karla; Appel, Leslie D; Makolinski, Kathleen V; Wilford, Christine L; Bohling, Mark W; Eddlestone, Susan M; Farrell, Kelly A; Ferguson, Nancy; Harrison, Kelly; Howe, Lisa M; Isaza, Natalie M; Levy, Julie K; Looney, Andrea; Moyer, Michael R; Robertson, Sheilah Ann; Tyson, Kathy

    2016-07-15

    As community efforts to reduce the overpopulation and euthanasia of unwanted and unowned cats and dogs have increased, many veterinarians have increasingly focused their clinical efforts on the provision of spay-neuter services. Because of the wide range of geographic and demographic needs, a wide variety of spay-neuter programs have been developed to increase delivery of services to targeted populations of animals, including stationary and mobile clinics, MASH-style operations, shelter services, community cat programs, and services provided through private practitioners. In an effort to promote consistent, high-quality care across the broad range of these programs, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians convened a task force of veterinarians to develop veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs. These guidelines consist of recommendations for general patient care and clinical procedures, preoperative care, anesthetic management, surgical procedures, postoperative care, and operations management. They were based on current principles of anesthesiology, critical care medicine, infection control, and surgical practice, as determined from published evidence and expert opinion. They represent acceptable practices that are attainable in spay-neuter programs regardless of location, facility, or type of program. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians envisions that these guidelines will be used by the profession to maintain consistent veterinary medical care in all settings where spay-neuter services are provided and to promote these services as a means of reducing sheltering and euthanasia of cats and dogs.

  13. 12 CFR Appendix J to Part 717 - Interagency Guidelines on Identity Theft Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    .... Detecting Red Flags The Program's policies and procedures should address the detection of Red Flags in... Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation J Appendix J to Part 717 Banks and Banking NATIONAL CREDIT UNION...—Interagency Guidelines on Identity Theft Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation Section 717.90 of this part...

  14. 12 CFR Appendix J to Part 717 - Interagency Guidelines on Identity Theft Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    .... Detecting Red Flags The Program's policies and procedures should address the detection of Red Flags in... Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation J Appendix J to Part 717 Banks and Banking NATIONAL CREDIT UNION...—Interagency Guidelines on Identity Theft Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation Section 717.90 of this part...

  15. 12 CFR Appendix J to Part 717 - Interagency Guidelines on Identity Theft Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    .... Detecting Red Flags The Program's policies and procedures should address the detection of Red Flags in... Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation J Appendix J to Part 717 Banks and Banking NATIONAL CREDIT UNION...—Interagency Guidelines on Identity Theft Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation Section 717.90 of this part...

  16. 12 CFR Appendix J to Part 717 - Interagency Guidelines on Identity Theft Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    .... Detecting Red Flags The Program's policies and procedures should address the detection of Red Flags in... Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation J Appendix J to Part 717 Banks and Banking NATIONAL CREDIT UNION...—Interagency Guidelines on Identity Theft Detection, Prevention, and Mitigation Section 717.90 of this part...

  17. National Bookmobile Guidelines, 1988.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ohio State Library, Columbus.

    These guidelines were developed by the bookmobile community that has met in Columbus, Ohio, since 1985 for their annual conference. The guidelines comprise the collaborative effort of hundreds of conference participants and representatives from 79 libraries throughout the United States and Canada, who discussed the guidelines in regional and state…

  18. Guidelines for the standardization of preanalytic variables for blood-based biomarker studies in Alzheimer’s disease research

    PubMed Central

    Gupta, Veer; Henriksen, Kim; Edwards, Melissa; Jeromin, Andreas; Lista, Simone; Bazenet, Chantal; Soares, Holly; Lovestone, Simon; Hampel, Harald; Montine, Thomas; Blennow, Kaj; Foroud, Tatiana; Carrillo, Maria; Graff-Radford, Neill; Laske, Christoph; Breteler, Monique; Shaw, Leslie; Trojanowski, John Q.; Schupf, Nicole; Rissman, Robert A.; Fagan, Anne M.; Oberoi, Pankaj; Umek, Robert; Weiner, Michael W.; Grammas, Paula; Posner, Holly; Martins, Ralph

    2015-01-01

    The lack of readily available biomarkers is a significant hindrance towards progressing to effective therapeutic and preventative strategies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Blood-based biomarkers have potential to overcome access and cost barriers and greatly facilitate advanced neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker approaches. Despite the fact that preanalytical processing is the largest source of variability in laboratory testing, there are no currently available standardized preanalytical guidelines. The current international working group provides the initial starting point for such guidelines for standardized operating procedures (SOPs). It is anticipated that these guidelines will be updated as additional research findings become available. The statement provides (1) a synopsis of selected preanalytical methods utilized in many international AD cohort studies, (2) initial draft guidelines/SOPs for preanalytical methods, and (3) a list of required methodological information and protocols to be made available for publications in the field in order to foster cross-validation across cohorts and laboratories. PMID:25282381

  19. National screening guidelines and developments in prenatal diagnoses and live births of Down syndrome in 1973-2016 in Denmark.

    PubMed

    Lou, Stina; Petersen, Olav B; Jørgensen, Finn S; Lund, Ida C B; Kjaergaard, Susanne; Vogel, Ida

    2018-02-01

    Denmark was the first country in the world to implement a national, free-for-all offer of prenatal screening for Down syndrome to all pregnant women. It has a high uptake (>90%) compared to other countries. Thus, Denmark offers an interesting case for investigating the consequences of implementing comprehensive, national prenatal screening guidelines. The aim of this study was to describe the historical developments in invasive procedures, pre-/postnatal diagnoses of Down syndrome and Down syndrome live births in the period 1973-2016 in Denmark. Data on invasive procedures, pre- and postnatal Down syndrome diagnoses were retrieved from the Danish Cytogenetic Central Registry. From 1973 to 1993, screening based on maternal age and high-risk indications resulted in a constant increase in invasive procedures. After the introduction of the triple test in 1994, invasive procedures decreased for the first time in 20 years. Following the introduction of an offer of combined screening to all pregnant women in 2004, the number of invasive procedures decreased markedly, while there was a concurrent increase in prenatal diagnoses of Down syndrome. Additionally, the number of Down syndrome live births decreased suddenly and significantly, but subsequently stabilized at 23-35 annual live births. Of these, the majority were diagnosed postnatally. Though prenatal screening technologies constantly improve, it was the introduction of and adherence to national guidelines that resulted in marked shifts in screening procedures and outcome in Denmark. © 2017 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

  20. 36 CFR Exhibit B to Part 906 - Guidelines for Establishing Strategy To Implement Affirmative Action Personnel Plan

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... Strategy To Implement Affirmative Action Personnel Plan B Exhibit B to Part 906 Parks, Forests, and Public Property PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY AND PROCEDURE Pt. 906, Exh. B Exhibit B to Part 906—Guidelines for Establishing Strategy To Implement Affirmative Action...