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HomeClinical InformationGuidelines

Guidelines

    Clinical Guidelines & Recommendations

    ACP's goal is to provide clinicians with recommendations based on the best available evidence; to inform clinicians of when there is no evidence; and finally, to help clinicians deliver the best health care possible.

    ACP develops several different types of clinical recommendations:

    • Clinical Practice Guidelines
    • Clinical Guidance Statements
    • Best Practice Advice

    Comparative Guideline Tables

    Succinct summaries of recommendations from US and international organizations regarding controversial topics in screening, prevention, and management.

    Additional Information

    Appropriate Antibiotic Use

    High Value Care Advice

    Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Adults: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Adults: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)
    Summary for Patients

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    Cardiac Screening

    High Value Care Advice

    Cardiac Screening With Electrocardiography, Stress Echocardiography, or Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Cardiac Screening With Electrocardiography, Stress Echocardiography, or Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    Cervical Cancer Screening

    Best Practice Advice

    Cervical Cancer Screening in Average Risk Women: Best Practice Advice from the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Cervical Cancer Screening in Average Risk Women: Best Practice Advice from the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    Delivery of High Value Care

    Best Practice Advice

    High-Value, Cost-Conscious Health Care: Concepts for Clinicians to Evaluate the Benefits, Harms, and Costs of Medical Interventions (2011)
    Full text (13Mb)

    Patient Materials

    High-Value, Cost-Conscious Health Care: Concepts for Clinicians to Evaluate the Benefits, Harms, and Costs of Medical Interventions (2011)
    Summary for Patients

    Depression

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Nonpharmacologic Versus Pharmacologic Treatment of Adult Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Full text | Video

    Evidence Review:

    Comparative Benefits and Harms of Antidepressants, Psychological, Complementary, and Exercise Treatments for Major Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (2016)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Nonpharmacologic Versus Pharmacologic Treatment of Adult Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Summary for Patients | Video

    More Patient Resources

    Diabetes

    Guidance Statements

    Hemoglobin A1c Targets for Glycemic Control With Pharmacologic Therapy for Nonpregnant Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Guidance Statement Update From the American College of Physicians (2018)
    Full text

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Oral Pharmacologic Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2017)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Diabetes Medications as Monotherapy or Metformin-Based Combination Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (2016)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Hemoglobin A1c Targets for Glycemic Control With Pharmacologic Therapy for Nonpregnant Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (2018)
    Summary for Patients

    Oral Pharmacologic Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2017)
    Summary for Patients

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    End of Life Care

    High Value Care Advice

    Communication About Serious Illness Care Goals: A Review and Synthesis of Best Practices (2014)
    Abstract

    Patient Materials

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    Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism

    Best Practice Advice

    Evaluation of Patients With Suspected Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Best Practice Advice From the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Full Text

    Patient Materials

    Patient Summary

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    Generic Medications

    Best Practice Advice

    Improving Adherence to Therapy and Clinical Outcomes While Containing Costs: Opportunities From the Greater Use of Generic Medications: Best Practice Advice From the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Full Text

    Patient Materials

    Patient Summary

    Gout

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Diagnosis of Acute Gout: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Full text

    Management of Acute and Recurrent Gout: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Diagnosis of Gout: A Systematic Review in Support of an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline (2016)
    Full text

    Management of Gout: A Systematic Review in Support of an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline (2016)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Diagnosis and Management of Acute Gout: Clinical Practice Guidelines From the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Summary for Patients

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    Hematuria

    High Value Care Advice

    Hematuria as a Marker of Occult Urinary Tract Cancer: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Hematuria as a Marker of Occult Urinary Tract Cancer: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Summary for Patients

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    Hepatitis B

    High Value Care Advice

    Hepatitis B Vaccination, Screening, and Linkage to Care: Best Practice Advice from the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Hepatitis B Vaccination, Screening, and Linkage to Care (2017)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    Hypertension

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Pharmacologic Treatment of Hypertension in Adults Aged 60 Years or Older to Higher Versus Lower Blood Pressure Targets: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians (2017)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Benefits and Harms of Intensive Blood Pressure Treatment in Adults Aged 60 Years or Older: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (2017)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Pharmacologic Treatment of Hypertension in Adults Aged 60 Years or Older to Higher Versus Lower Blood Pressure Targets: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians (2017)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    Insomnia

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Management of Chronic Insomnia Disorder in Adults: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Pharmacologic Treatment of Insomnia Disorder: An Evidence Report for a Clinical Practice Guideline by the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Full text

    Psychological and Behavioral Interventions for Managing Insomnia Disorder: An Evidence Report for a Clinical Practice Guideline by the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Management of Chronic Insomnia Disorder in Adults: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2016)
    Summary for Patients

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    Low Back Pain

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2017)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Systemic Pharmacologic Therapies for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline (2017)
    Full text

    Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline (2017)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2017)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    Nephrolithiasis

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Dietary and Pharmacologic Management to Prevent Recurrent Nephrolithiasis in Adults (2014)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Medical Management to Prevent Recurrent Nephrolithiasis in Adults (2013)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Dietary and Pharmacologic Management to Prevent Recurrent Nephrolithiasis in Adults (2014)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    Obstructive Sleep Apnea

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults (2014)
    Full text | Video

    Patient Materials

    Patient Resources

    Osteoporosis

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Treatment of Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures in Men and Women: A Clinical Practice Guideline Update from the American College of Physicians (2017)
    Full text | Video

    Evidence Review:

    Comparative Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Treatments to Prevent Fractures: An Updated Systematic Review (2014)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Treatment of Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures in Men and Women: A Clinical Practice Guideline Update from the American College of Physicians (2017)
    Summary for Patients

    Patient Resources

    Pressure Ulcers

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Risk Assessment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Full text

    Guideline:

    Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Pressure Ulcer Treatment Strategies: A Systematic Comparative Effectiveness Review (2013)
    Full text

    Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment and Prevention: A Systematic Comparative Effectiveness Review (2013)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Risk Assessment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Summary for Patients

    Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Summary for Patients

    Screening for Cancer

    High Value Care Advice

    Screening for Cancer: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Full text

    A Value Framework for Cancer Screening: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Screening for Cancer: Advice for High-Value Care From the American College of Physicians (2015)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    Screening Pelvic Examination

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Screening Pelvic Examination in Adult Women (2014)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Screening Pelvic Examinations in Asymptomatic, Average-Risk Adult Women
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Screening Pelvic Examination in Adult Women (2014)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    Urinary Incontinence

    Current Guidelines

    Guideline:

    Nonsurgical Management of Urinary Incontinence in Women (2014)
    Full text

    Evidence Review:

    Benefits and Harms of Pharmacologic Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Women (2012)
    Full text

    Patient Materials

    Nonsurgical Management of Urinary Incontinence in Women (2014)
    Summary for Patients

    More Patient Resources

    For more screening and preventive care guidelines, the ACP recommends visiting the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care websites. For HIV Screening and related guidelines, the ACP recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    Requests for bulk reprints (minimum, 100 copies) of all guidelines published in Annals of Internal Medicine may be made to Helen Canavan, via phone at 215-351-2842 or via email at hcanavan@acponline.org.