Agency for health care policy and research clinical practice guidelines

OBJECTIVE: To review and summarize past activities of guidelines development at the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) to enhance understanding of its new role and facilitate the development of new guidelines. DATA SYNTHESIS: The current Congressional climate and past criticisms of the guidelines development process have caused the AHCPR to reevaluate the way it produces guidelines. This assessment has resulted in the AHCPR restructuring its role to serve now as a science partner with private and public organizations. CONCLUSIONS: The development and role of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are discussed, and the new roles of the AHCPR are described.