2019 Methodology for Creating Expert Consensus Decision Pathways: A Report of the American College of Cardiology

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 74; no. 8; p. 1138
• Main Authors: Januzzi, Jr, James L, Ahmad, Tariq, Binder, Lea G, Hucker, William J, Kumbhani, Dharam J, Maddox, Thomas M, Marine, Joseph E, Morris, Pamela Bowe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Limited 27.08.2019
• Subjects: Acuity; Cardiology; Cardiology - methods; Cardiology - trends; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - therapy; Clinical Decision-Making - methods; Clinical medicine; College professors; Committees; Consensus; Diabetes; Expert Testimony - methods; Expert Testimony - trends; Group selection; Heart failure; Hierarchies; Humans; Medicine; Peer review; Pharmacy; Planning; Presidents; Research Report - trends; Task forces; Time use; United States - epidemiology; Writing; United States; clinical guidance; decision support expert consensus; Expert Consensus Decision Pathways; clinical policy; methodology; ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.05.035

[...]of these recommendations, the publications previously known as “Expert Consensus Documents” were rebranded as “Expert Consensus Decision Pathways.” While no specific number of Expert Consensus Decision Pathways has been established for a given year, the oversight committee considers the limitations in resources and the acuity of the need for guidance in determining which topics will be pursued and which will be deferred or referred to other College committees for action.4 Content Development Work Groups Content Development Work Groups support the creation of Expert Consensus Decision Pathways. Because Expert Consensus Decision Pathways are a type of ACC clinical policy, those selected to support these efforts will adhere to the same standards outlined in ACC’s relationships with industry (RWI) policy for ACC-led clinical policy documents (see Section 4.3 Relationships With Industry for additional details). Responsibilities of the chair are detailed in Table 2.4.2 Content Development Work Group Selection Content Development Work Groups are selected by the oversight committee chairs in coordination with the Chair of the Science and Quality Committee. Because of the varied subject matter of Expert Consensus Decision Pathways, the number of members differs from one to another, but is generally limited to 5 to 7 members. [...]existing Expert Consensus Decision Pathways are reviewed for need of update.