Clinical Practice Guidelines

Since 1998, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has convened the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of non- Federal experts in prevention and primary care. AHRQ staff provides scientific, technical, and administrative support for the Task Force, and assist in disseminating its findings and recommendations to key audiences.

In that role, we are pleased to make The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services 2012 available to those who seek to ensure that their patients receive the highest quality clinical preventive services. Previous iterations of the USPSTF Guide to Clinical Preventive Services are used around the Nation to provide appropriate and effective preventive care.

This year's Guide includes some changes that will make it more user-friendly for practicing clinicians. The Guide comprises 64 preventive services, which now are presented in an easy-to-use, one-page summary table format. In addition, the Guide provides information on resources that clinicians can use to educate their patients on appropriate preventive services, as well as brief descriptions of and links to tools that they can use to improve their practices, including the electronic Preventive Services Selector, MyHealthfinder, and the Guide to Community Preventive Services.

Information is available on the following Clinical Preventative Services:

  • Alzheimers
  • Anxiety
  • Asthma
  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Brachytherapy
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Generalized Anxiety
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  • Hepatitis C
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Micrographic Surgery (MOHS)
  • Osteoporosis
  • Proton-Neutron Beam
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Vertebroplasty

2023 Preventive Health and Clinical Practice Guidelines:

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