Leading Medical Societies Unite to Improve Patient Care
Multiple organisations have collaborated to develop recommendations for new clinical guidelines
[Beverly, MA: October 22, 2024] — A consortium of leading medical organizations, including the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS), has devised an innovative new initiative to develop and implement more rigorous and transparent clinical practice guidelines (CPGs).
The Harmonizing Guidelines and Other Clinical Practice Documents: A Joint Comprehensive Methodology Manual by AATS, EACTS, ESTS, and STS addresses the absence of universally accepted standards for developing CPGs. These essential tools for healthcare providers offer evidence-based recommendations to improve patient care.
However, current guidelines often vary widely in quality and consistency. To address this challenge, these organisations are working together to create a standardized approach to guideline development.
“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,” said Faisal Bakaeen, MD, Professor of Surgery at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and the Surgical Director of the Coronary Center at the Cleveland Clinic. “Our collaborative efforts will foster a more transparent healthcare system where doctors can trust the information they use to make critical decisions.”
The new initiative will focus on:
- Standardization: Creating a consistent framework for guideline development, including clear criteria for selecting topics, assembling expert panels, and conducting evidence reviews.
- Transparency: Ensuring guideline development processes are open and accessible to the public, with clear disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.
- Collaboration: Working together to share expertise and resources and writing guidelines that address the needs of patients and healthcare providers worldwide.
The organizations recommend creating several document types to address specific needs in cardiothoracic surgery. All documents should follow a standard development process, including a thorough review of existing research, careful analysis of the findings, and strict adherence to established guidelines. These documents have been categorized into three main types, each representing distinct characteristics.
- Clinical practice guidelines: Comprehensive documents providing evidence-based recommendations for specific medical conditions.
- Expert consensus statements: Documents offering expert opinions on topics with limited evidence.
- Clinical statements/white papers: Brief documents addressing emerging issues or new technologies.
Types of Clinical Practice Documents
Clinical Practice Guidelines |
Expert Consensus Statements |
Clinical Statements/White Papers |
|
Definition |
Evidence-based documents containing systematically developed recommendations with an explicit clinical scope and explicit consideration of benefits, harms, values, and preferences. |
Expert position on a controversial or specific clinical topic, formulated as a statement of facts based on available evidence and expert consensus in situations where high-level evidence is unavailable. |
Extensive reports outlining positions on critical clinical issues while highlighting areas of ongoing uncertainty or concern for patient safety. |
Source of Evidence |
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are available and serve as the primary source of information; observational data are used if considered robust. |
Robust observational data are available and serve as the primary source of information in conjunction with a limited number of RCTs. |
Any research and healthcare regulations |
Number of Writing Committee Members |
Up to 20 |
Up to 20 |
Up to 10 |
Review |
Following the writing committee's established composition principles, a lead reviewer and up to five anonymous reviewers from each participating entity in collaboration with the governing bodies |
Following the writing committee's established composition principles, a lead reviewer and up to five anonymous reviewers from each participating entity in collaboration with the governing bodies |
Following the writing committee's established composition principles, up to 3 anonymous reviewers from each participating entity |
Length |
Up to 30,000 words and a total of 500 references |
Up to 15,000 words and a total of 300 references |
Up to 5,000 words and a total of 50 references |
Time Frame |
24 months |
12 months |
6 months |
Authors of this document include Milan Milojevic, MD MSCE PhD; Nick Freemantle, PhD; JW Awori Hayanga, MD MPH; Rosemary F. Kelly, MD; Patrick O. Myers, MD; René Horsleben Petersen, MD PhD; Isabelle Opitz, MD; Joseph F Sabik 3rd, MD; and Faisal G. Bakaeen, MD.
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About AATS
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) is an international organization that encourages, promotes, and stimulates the scientific investigation of cardiothoracic surgery. Founded in 1917 by a respected group of the earliest pioneers in the field, its original mission was to “foster the evolution of an interest in surgery of the Thorax.” Today, the AATS is the premier association for cardiothoracic surgeons in the world and works to continually enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality of patient care. Its more than 1,500 members have a proven record of distinction within the specialty and have made significant contributions to the care and treatment of cardiothoracic disease. Visit aats.org to learn more.
About the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Founded in 1964, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 7,800 cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The Society’s mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy.
About the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) traces its roots to the 1970s. Initially a small group of thoracic surgeons, it evolved through various stages, including a club, a section with in the Societas Europaea Pneumologica, and a more prominent role within the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). The ESTS was formally established in 1993, driven by the need for a dedicated platform for thoracic surgeons.
About the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) is a global membership organisation for the cardiothoracic surgical community. EACTS exists to improve outcomes for patients with heart and lung conditions by supporting the global surgical community with education and learning opportunities and informing best practice with journals, clinical guidelines, a quality improvement programme and research.