German specialist agencies to draft medical guidelines:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The member groups of the German Association of the Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF) are to draw up procedural guidelines for diagnosis and therapy as requested by the Concerted Action in Healthcare. The guidelines will address whether treatment should be on an inpatient or outpatient basis and the doctor's right to prescribe will not be affected. In areas of conflicting specialities the relevant agencies should work together. The AWMF emphasises that specialist groups should only consider medical aspects in drawing up the guidelines.