RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Bedside clinical guidelines: the missing link
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 98
OP 104
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.6-1-98
VO 6
IS 1
A1 Charles Pantin
A1 John Mucklow
A1 David Rogers
A1 Marion Cross
A1 Janine Wall
A1 The Bedside Clinical Guidelines Partnership
YR 2006
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/6/1/98.abstract
AB Clinical guidelines for acute general (adult) medicine, general (adult) surgery, nursing and acute paediatrics, for use at the bedside, were developed over 10 years in North Staffordshire. The guidelines have been adopted by 15 other hospitals, all members of the Bedside Clinical Guidelines Partnership. The guidelines include advice on clinical management, prescribing aids, and practical procedures. Recommendations are validated against published evidence, and provide the ‘missing link’ between this evidence and practical clinical care, by taking current consensus into account. The guidelines are clear, brief and specific, informing and guiding the actions of clinicians. Annual updating involves checking evidence and compatibility with national recommendations, and soliciting feedback from users to eliminate ambiguity or misunderstanding. Continued human effort and financial investment are required to ensure that the guidelines remain a ‘living’ document.