Call for Members of the Public to Participate in the Development of Practice Recommendations for Physicians

Role Description

We are seeking members of the public to participate in activities of the Clinical Guidelines Committee (CGC) for the American College of Physicians (ACP). The CGC makes recommendations for healthcare providers and patients on which tests and treatments should be considered for a given medical problem. These recommendations, called clinical practice guidelines, are based on the most current available evidence and are intended to summarize multiple types of information into a clear and understandable message about the best health care. Examples of topics include tests and treatments for low back pain, osteoporosis, depression, and screening for various cancers.

We are looking for individuals to serve as committee members or public jury members.

Ø  Committee members will serve as part of the CGC itself, attend 3 committee meetings per year, and vote just like the rest of the CGC members (2 open spots)

Ø  Jury members will attend 1 CGC meeting per year and provide comments on CGC’s guidelines and patient materials via emails and phone calls (8 open spots)

Time Commitment and Responsibilities

Duty / # per year / When / Where
Training conference call (1 hour) / 2 / April – May 2016 (TBD) / Online meeting
In-person training (half day) / 1 / June 7, 2016 / Philadelphia, PA
In-person meetings (1.5 days) / 3† / 2016: June 7-8, September 6-7,
2017: February 7-8 / Philadelphia, PA
Conference calls (1 hour) / 3-5‡ / Throughout the year / Online meeting
Document review and discussion / 20 hours‡ / Ongoing / Via email

†Jury members will only attend one in-person meeting each year, in June

‡ Estimated, may be subject to change

Length of appointment

1 year, eligible for renewal up to 3 times (4 year maximum term)

What are the responsibilities of public participants?

Public members will be expected to:

Ø  Set aside time to attend meetings or calls, or to respond to emails discussions

Ø  Read and review documents, provide comments

Ø  Participate actively in discussions

Ø  Ask questions when the process doesn’t make sense or if you need more information to understand the issues

Ø  Act professionally and be courteous

Ø  Be impartial and consider all evidence and viewpoints

Ø  Disclose personal and professional interests (e.g. stock holdings, employment, participation in advocacy organizations) to avoid any potential bias affecting the guidelines

Ø  Maintain confidentiality of all discussions and documents until final recommendations are published

Compensation

ACP will cover all travel, meals, and accommodations for attending the meetings in Philadelphia, PA. Members will also receive a stipend of $500/meeting for attendance at in-person meetings and $250 to complete the training materials and in-person workshop.

Why consider participating?

You will play a direct role in improving health care. The public is directly affected by guidelines, since they help physicians make decisions about care. The ACP’s goal is to ensure that the public’s values and preferences are heard and understood during this process. By participating on the committee, you become a key part of the voice of the public in developing trustworthy guidelines.

How to Apply and for More Information

Please contact Trish Siemion at ACP to learn more about this opportunity and to receive an application.

Email:

Phone number: 215-351-2837

To be considered, applicants must complete:

·  All application materials (application and DOI form)

·  Phone interview (selected applicants)

Equality and Diversity

ACP values diversity and views it as one of its greatest strengths. The College welcomes prospective members regardless of race; ethnicity; gender; religion; age; sexual orientation; nationality; disability; appearance; geographic location; and professional activity, such as private practice, research, or academic medicine.

ACP believes that a commitment to diversity strengthens the organization's capacity to respond to the needs of its members and their patients, i.e., to recognize that diversity is an important aspect of infrastructure that enhances relevance and effectiveness.