Bedside clinical guidelines: the missing link.

Clinical guidelines for acute general (adult) medicine, general (adult) surgery, nursing and acute paediatrics, for use at the bedside, were developed over 10 years in North Staffordshire. The guidelines have been adopted by 15 other hospitals, all members of the Bedside Clinical Guidelines Partnership. The guidelines include advice on clinical management, prescribing aids, and practical procedures. Recommendations are validated against published evidence, and provide the 'missing link' between this evidence and practical clinical care, by taking current consensus into account. The guidelines are clear, brief and specific, informing and guiding the actions of clinicians. Annual updating involves checking evidence and compatibility with national recommendations, and soliciting feedback from users to eliminate ambiguity or misunderstanding. Continued human effort and financial investment are required to ensure that the guidelines remain a 'living' document.