title: Practice parameters in pediatric allergy.
abstract: The primary role of practice parameter/guidelines and other boundaries developed for the field of medicine is to improve the quality of patient care. Practice parameters/guidelines are also important for education, interaction with managed care and third-party payers, establishing appropriate variables for outcome assessment, reducing inappropriate variation in clinical practice, and resolving medical-legal issues. National specialty organizations, the American Medical Association, and government agencies have been actively involved in developing and promoting practice parameters. These documents provide a framework within which pediatricians can provide the best quality of care for their patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Allergy, George Washington University Medical Center, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA. nicklas@cder.fda.gov
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nicklas
mesh_terms: D000486:Allergy and Immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010372:Pediatrics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'