Many clinicians are concerned about the development of practice guidelines that seek to define appropriate healthcare services that should be provided to a patient who has been diagnosed with a specific condition. To avoid the risk associated with using such guidelines, health plans should advise clinicians that the existence of such a guideline:

1. Establishes standards of care to be routinely utilized with all patients presenting a specific condition

2. Preempts a physician's judgment when assessing the specific factors related to a patient's condition