Clinical Guidelines & Recommendations
ACP's goal is to provide clinicians with recommendations based on the best available evidence; to inform clinicians of when there is no evidence; and finally, to help clinicians deliver the best health care possible.
ACP develops several different types of clinical recommendations:
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Additional Information: Development Process | Inactive Statements |Future Topics
Acute Pain from Musculoskeletal Injuries
Current Guidelines
Guideline:
Non-Pharmacological and Pharmacological Management of Acute Pain from Non-Low Back, Musculoskeletal Injuries in Adults: A Clinical Guideline from the American College of Physicians and American Academy of Family Physicians (2020)
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Evidence Review:
Management of Acute Pain From Non–Low Back Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials (2020)
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Predictors of Prolonged Opioid Use After Initial Prescription for Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies (2020)
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Appropriate Antibiotic Use
Best Practice Advice
Appropriate Use of Short Course Antibiotics in Common Infections: Best Practice Advice from the American College of Physicians (2021)
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Patient Materials
Appropriate Use of Short Course Antibiotics in Common Infections: Best Practice Advice from the American College of Physicians (2021)
Summary for Patients
Breast Cancer Screening
Guidance Statements
Screening for Breast Cancer in Average-Risk Women: A Guidance Statement From the American College of Physicians (2019)
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Patient Materials
Breast Cancer Screening in Average-Risk Women (2019)
Summary for Patients
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Guidance Statements
Screening for Colorectal Cancer in Asymptomatic Average-Risk Adults: A Guidance Statement from the American College of Physicians (2023)
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Patient Materials
Colorectal Cancer Screening in Asymptomatic Average-Risk Adults (2023)
Summary for Patients
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Practice Points
(Update Alert 1, published online July 2024) Outpatient Treatment of Confirmed COVID-19: Living, Rapid Practice Points From the American College of Physicians (Version 2)
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(Version 2, published online September 2023) Outpatient Treatment of Confirmed COVID-19: Living, Rapid Practice Points From the American College of Physicians
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(Version 1, published online November 2022) Outpatient Treatment of Confirmed Mild or Moderate COVID-19: Living and Rapid Practice Points from the American College of Physicians
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Practice Points
(Version 2, published online January 2022) What is the Antibody Response and Role in Conferring Natural Immunity Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection? Rapid, Living Practice Points from the American College of Physicians
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(Version 1, published online March 2021) What is the Antibody Response and Role in Conferring Natural Immunity Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection? Rapid, Living Practice Points from the American College of Physicians
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Practice Points
(Update Alert 3, published online February 2022) Should Remdesivir Be Used for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19? Rapid, Living Practice Points From the American College of Physician (Version 2)
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(Update Alert 2, published online October 2021) Update Alert: Should Remdesivir Be Used for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19? Rapid, Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians (Version 2)
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(Update Alert 1, published online July 2021) Update Alert: Should Remdesivir Be Used for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19? Rapid, Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians (Version 2)
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(Version 2, published online February 2021) Should Remdesivir Be Used for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19? Rapid, Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians
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(Version 1, published online October 2020) Should Remdesivir Be Used for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19? Rapid, Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians
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Practice Points
(Update Alert 2, published online July 2020) Update Alert: Should Clinicians Use Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine Alone or in Combination With Azithromycin for the Prophylaxis or Treatment of COVID-19? Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians
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(Update Alert 1, published online June 2020) Update Alert: Should Clinicians Use Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine Alone or in Combination With Azithromycin for the Prophylaxis or Treatment of COVID-19? Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians
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(Version 1, published online May 2020) Should Clinicians Use Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine Alone or In Combination with Azithromycin for the Prophylaxis or Treatment of COVID-19? Living Practice Points from the American College of Physicians
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Practice Points
(Update Alert 1, published online October 2020) Use of N95, Surgical, and Cloth Masks to Prevent COVID-19 in Health Care and Community Settings: Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians
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(Version 1, published online June 2020) Use of N95, Surgical, and Cloth Masks to Prevent COVID-19 in Health Care and Community Settings: Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians
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Delivery of High Value Care
Best Practice Advice
High-Value, Cost-Conscious Health Care: Concepts for Clinicians to Evaluate the Benefits, Harms, and Costs of Medical Interventions (2011)
Full text (13Mb)
Patient Materials
High-Value, Cost-Conscious Health Care: Concepts for Clinicians to Evaluate the Benefits, Harms, and Costs of Medical Interventions (2011)
Summary for Patients
Depression
Current Guidelines
Guideline:
(Update Alert 2, published online July 2024) Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatments of Adults in the Acute Phase of Major Depressive Disorder: A Living Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (Version 1)
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(Update Alert 1, published online March 2024) Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatments of Adults in the Acute Phase of Major Depressive Disorder: A Living Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (Version 1)
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Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatments of Adults in the Acute Phase of Major Depressive Disorder: A Living Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2023)
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Evidence Review:
(Update Alert 2, published online July 2024) Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatments of Adult Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis for a Clinical Guideline by the American College of Physicians
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(Update Alert 1, published online March 2024) Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatments of Adult Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis for a Clinical Guideline by the American College of Physicians
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Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatments of Adult Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis for a Clinical Guideline by the American College of Physicians (2023)
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Values and Preferences of Patients With Depressive Disorders Regarding Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatments: A Rapid Review (2023)
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Cost-Effectiveness of First- and Second-Step Treatment Strategies for Major Depressive Disorder: A Rapid Review (2023)
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Patient Materials
Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatments of Adults in the Acute Phase of Major Depression (2023)
Summary for Patients
Diabetes
Current Guidelines
Guideline:
Newer Pharmacological Treatments in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Clinical Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2024)
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Evidence Review:
Newer Pharmacologic Treatments in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis for the American College of Physicians
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Cost-Effectiveness of Newer Pharmacologic Treatments in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Studies for the American College of Physicians
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Visual Clinical Guideline
Newer Pharmacologic Treatments in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Visual Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2024)
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Diverticulitis
Current Guidelines
Guideline:
Diagnosis and Management of Acute Left-Sided Colonic Diverticulitis: A Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2022)
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Colonoscopy for Diagnostic Evaluation and Interventions to Prevent Recurrence After Acute Left-Sided Colonic Diverticulitis: A Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2022)
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Evidence Review:
Diagnostic Imaging and Medical Management of Acute Left-Sided Colonic Diverticulitis: A Systematic Review (2022)
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Evaluation and Management After Acute Left-Sided Colonic Diverticulitis: A Systematic Review (2022)
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Hepatitis C
Best Practice Advice
World Health Organization Guidelines on Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Best Practice Advice From the American College of Physicians (2020)
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High Flow Nasal Oxygen for Acute Respiratory Failure
Current Guidelines
Guideline:
Appropriate Use of High Flow Nasal Oxygen in Hospitalized Patients for Initial or Post-Extubation Management of Acute Respiratory Failure: A Clinical Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2021)
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Evidence Review:
Effectiveness and Harms of High-Flow Nasal Oxygen for Acute Respiratory Failure: An Evidence Report for a Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2021)
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Osteoporosis
Current Guidelines
Guideline:
(Update Alert 1, published online May 2024) Pharmacologic Treatment of Primary Osteoporosis or Low Bone Mass to Prevent Fractures in Adults: A Living Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (Version 1)
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Pharmacologic Treatment of Primary Osteoporosis or Low Bone Mass to Prevent Fractures in Adults: A Living Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians (2023)
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Evidence Review:
(Update Alert 1, published online May 2024) Effectiveness and Safety of Treatments to Prevent Fractures in People With Low Bone Mass or Primary Osteoporosis: A Living Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis for the American College of Physicians
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Effectiveness and Safety of Treatments to Prevent Fractures in People With Low Bone Mass or Primary Osteoporosis: A Living Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis for the American College of Physicians (2023)
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Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Acute Dyspnea
Current Guidelines
Guideline:
Appropriate Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Patients with Acute Dyspnea in Emergency Department or In-patient Settings: A Clinical Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2021)
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Evidence Review:
Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Patients With Acute Dyspnea: An Evidence Report for a Clinical Practice Guideline by the American College of Physicians (2021)
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Testosterone Treatment
Current Guidelines
Guideline:
Testosterone Treatment in Adult Men with Age-Related Low Testosterone: A Clinical Guideline from the American College of Physicians (2020)
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Evidence Review:
Efficacy and Safety of Testosterone Treatment in Men: An Evidence Report for a Clinical Practice Guideline by the American College of Physicians (2020)
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Patient Materials
Testosterone Treatment in Adult Men with Age-Related Low Testosterone (2020)
Summary for Patients
For more screening and preventive care guidelines, the ACP recommends visiting the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care websites. For HIV Screening and related guidelines, the ACP recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Requests for bulk reprints (minimum, 100 copies) of all guidelines published in Annals of Internal Medicine may be made to Aileen McHugh, via phone at 215-351-2642 or via email at reprints@acponline.org.