Cardiothoracic surgeons unite to improve clinical practice guidelines
Four leading cardiothoracic surgery societies have joined forces in the name of developing clinical practice guidelines that are more thorough and consistent. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) and European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) announced the new endeavor Tuesday, Oct. 22, highlighting the need for more standardization, transparency and collaboration between like-minded healthcare organizations.
The groups noted that medical society recommendations often take different forms. While clinical practice guidelines highlight the latest evidence related to any particular topic, expert consensus statements cover key topics with less clinical data and white papers address “emerging issues or new technologies.” The groups then proposed specific requirements for each document type, breaking down the writing process and even sharing how long they should take to complete.
The groups published their thoughts in multiple journals, including the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, an AATS publication.[1]
“By establishing clear, equitable, and reliable guidelines, we aim to significantly enhance the quality of patient care and contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge,” co-author Faisal Bakaeen, MD, professor of surgery at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery and surgical director of the Coronary Artery Disease Center at Cleveland Clinic, said in a statement. “Our collaborative efforts will foster a more transparent healthcare system where doctors can trust the information they use to make critical decisions.”
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.