health policy initiatives

clinical guidelines

Clinicians often have to consider national and local guidelines before adopting a new treatment and have to be prepared to audit their decisions against the guidelines. It is important to understand what guidelines exist and how they are developed. In some cases these may support a new technology but more often they serve as a barrier to entry and it takes time and a careful programme of work with key decision leaders for guidelines to encompass a new technology. Translucency advises on current guidelines, how they are interpreted and used, how they were developed and how they are updated and modified. Our work with health technology assessment and decision-makers can influence the development of clinical and other professional guidelines.