Practice parameters in pediatric allergy.

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.