What are the strategies to effectively implement guideline implementation?
Guideline implementation strategies that are aimed at the patient, clinician, health system, and health plan are needed. Educational outreach or academic detailing visits are generally effective for improving process-of-care, clinical, cost-reduction, and cost-effectiveness. Audits of individual clinical performance and feedback are generally effective in improving process-of-care and clinical outcomes. Reminders and individual pay-for-performance are generally effective for cost reduction. Interventions aimed at the patient may improve adherence and clinical outcomes. Barriers to guideline implementation should be analyzed in advance, and implementation strategies should be tailored to the setting and target audience. Multiple strategies may be needed to effectively implement.