CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES (CPG)

Each month, clinical trials publish nearly 8,000 articles relative to primary care. Based on conservative estimates, the average primary care physician would have to dedicate roughly 20 hrs a day to reading literature to stay abreast of current evidence.

An impossible task, obviously. Institutions will analyze this tremendous volume of data and inform practicing physicians of any relevant or significant changes in clinical guidelines via CME and other methods. They will also direct future research.

Government resources are encouraging quality and consistency of care:

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is collecting best practice data and dispensing it to the National Guideline Clearinghouse.