We recently posted the 2017-2018 Clinical Practice Guideline Summary,
which replaces the previous version on the Independence website. The revised
Summary includes a listing of all Clinical Practice Guidelines adopted by
Independence that are considered the accepted minimum standard of care in the
medical profession. Adherence to these guidelines may lead to improved patient
outcomes.
Guidelines are available for the following medical and behavioral health
conditions:
- asthma
- autism spectrum disorders
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- depression
- diabetes
- heart disease
- obesity
- substance abuse disorders
Changes in the
2017-2018 Clinical Practice Guideline Summary include
updates to the current guidelines, as well as the addition of the following
guidelines:
- COPD. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).
At-A-Glance Outpatient Management Reference. 2017.
- Diabetes. Oral Pharmacologic Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus:
A Clinical Practice Guideline Update from the American College of Physicians.
2017.
- Obesity. Update on Office-Based Strategies for the Management of
Obesity. 2016.
In addition, the following guidelines were removed:
- guidelines directed toward specialty care
- guidelines that do not have a direct evidence-based reference
- guidelines for heart failure, renal disease, and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder
Individual clinical decisions should be tailored to specific patient medical
and psychosocial needs. As national guideline recommendations evolve, please
update your practice accordingly. The Summary provides the reference for each
condition and links directly to the guidelines.
We update the guidelines annually based on changes made to nationally
recognized sources. Changes are reviewed by internal and external consultants,
as appropriate, and by the Independence Quality Committee, which is comprised
of network physicians.
You can access the 2017-2018 Clinical Practice Guideline Summary on
our website. Paper copies can be
ordered by submitting an online request.