Zeitschrift für ärztliche Fortbildung und Qualitätssicherung
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Clinical practice guidelines can be used to achieve optimal utilization of scarce resources for the medical management of defined patient groups. However, this does not mean that the total amount of resources allocated to these patient groups will be reduced automatically. Examples of different health economic consequences for guideline implementation will be discussed, especially with regards to the cost-effectiveness to therapy and to the total health care budget. ⋯ Quality criteria of sound evidence-based guidelines are introduced. Evidence-based guidelines that are developed in cooperation with recognized clinical experts attain wide acceptance among physicians. Sound evidence-based guidelines comprising cost-benefit relations of therapy can be the core of an internal health care reform.