Practice Guidelines
Preventive and clinical practice guidelines are based on the health needs and opportunities for improvement identified as part of the Quality Assurance Program Improvement (QAPI) program. Whenever possible, Sunshine Health adopts preventive and clinical practice guidelines that are published by nationally recognized organizations or government institutions as well as state-wide collaborative and/or a consensus of healthcare professionals in the applicable field.
Sunshine Health has adopted the following:
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) ADHD: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents. (Published online October 16, 2011; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2654)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Clinical Practice Guideline:Treatment of the School-Aged Child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Pediatrics Vol. 108 No. 4 October 1, 2001 pp. 1033 -1044)
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Practice Parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AACAP Revised: 7/2007)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
The American Cancer Society’s Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer (2018).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. [You will be leaving the Sunshine Health internet to access the CDC.] This site provides a series of public health information and recommendations as well as State Health Statistics that can be very useful in the preventative care of adults.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention who systematically reviews the evidence of effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical preventive services. These reviews are published as U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations on the Task Force website. You will be leaving the Sunshine Health internet site to access.
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders (Revised: 2/2007)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; National Institute of Health; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Asthma Care Quick Reference Diagnosing and Managing Asthma. Guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Expert Panel Report 3. (Current as of February 2018)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; National Institute of Health; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (Full Report July 2007) and Changes to the Guidelines (August 2008)
Global Strategy For Asthma (GINA) Management and Prevention.
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
Adult Acute Low Back Pain (Updated November 2012) Institute for Clinical Improvement (ISCI)
American College of Physicians; American Pain Society Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: a joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society (October 2, 2007)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Psychiatric Association (APA) Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Bipolar Disorder. Second Edition. (April 2002) and Guideline Watch (November 2005)
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. (Revised: 1/2007)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Final Recommendation Statement Gonorrhea and Chlamydia: Screening, September 2014
This guideline was approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Updated 2016)
This guideline was approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents. The Report of the Expert Panel (Last Updated January 2013)
American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Task Force ACC/AHA Prevention Guideline: 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk. (Circulation. 2014; 129:S49-S73) (Published online November 12, 2013)
The Council on Clinical Cardiology and the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism AHA Scientific Statement: Exercise and Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (Circulation. 2003; 107:3109-3116)
American Heart Association AHA Scientific Statement: Secondary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults. (Circulation. 2013; 128:2422-2446)
American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Society of Hypertension AHA/ACC/ASH Scientific Statement Treatment of Hypertension in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease. (Circulation 2015;131:e435-e470)
American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Foundation AHA/ACCF Guideline: AHA/ACCF Secondary Prevention and Risk Reduction Therapy for Patients with Coronary and Other Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease, 2011 Update (Circulation. 2011; 124: 2458-2473)
American College of Chest Physicians The Primary and Secondary Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition)(June 2008)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
Society of Critical Care Medicine and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology AACE/ACE Guidelines: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology- Clinical Practice Guidelines for Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan (Endocrine Practice 2015, Volume 21, S1-87).
American Diabetes Association (ADA) Clinical Practice Recommendations – 2015. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (Diabetes Care 2016, Volume 39, S1-S112)
American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (Diabetes Care January 2016, 39: 1175-1395)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American College of Cardiology Foundation and American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines ACCF/AHA Practice Guideline 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure A Report of the ACC, AHA and HFSA (Circulation. 2017; CIR.0000000000000509, originally published April 28, 2017)
American Heart Association Committee on Exercise, Rehabilitation, and Prevention AHA Scientific Statement: Exercise and Heart Failure (Circulation. 2003; 107:1210-1225)
Heart Failure Society of America HFSA 2010 Comprehensive Heart Failure Practice Guideline. (June 2010; 16: e1-e194) And Heart Failure Guidelines (2010)
American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology Foundation, Heart Failure Society of American, and the Heart Failure Association and the European Society of Cardiology Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on Heart Failure: An International Alignment (May 2016)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines ACC/AHA Prevention Guideline: 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults. (Circulation 2014; 129:S1-S45)
National Institute of Health and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) Final Report September 2002
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 2014 Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: Report From the Panel Members Appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) (JAMA. 2014;311(5):507-520. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.284427)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7) (August 2004)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Adult Immunization Schedule, United States 2017
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger, United States, 2017
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) — United States, 2015–16 Influenza Season
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health had adopted:
Advisory Committee for Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call for Primary Prevention Report of the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (January 4, 2012)
Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning, Division of Environmental and Emergency Health Services, and National Center for Environmental Health Recommendations for Blood Lead Screening of Medicaid-Eligible Children Aged 1-5 Years: an Updated Approach to Targeting a Group at High Risk (Last Reviewed 07/28/2009)
All children enrolled in a Florida Medicaid health plan are required to have at least one blood lead screening before 2 years of age.
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.(Revised: 1/2007)
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with depressive disorders (Revised 11/2007)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder. (1/2007)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Psychiatric Association (APA) Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Panic Disorder. Second Edition. (January 2009)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
Periodicity Schedule: Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care (2017)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) AFP by Topic: Prenatal (2016)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Clinical Guidance For Treating Pregnant And Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder And Their Infants (2018)
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Guidelines for Perinatal Care, Seventh Edition (multiple). Available online for ACOG members only.
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
University of South Florida, College of Behavioral & Community Sciences Florida Medicaid Drug Therapy Program for Behavioral Health: Psychotherapeutic Medication Treatment Guidelines
The guideline was approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Practice parameter for the use of psychotropic medication in children and adolescents (9/2009)
The guideline was approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Adult and Pediatric treatment recommendations. (Last updated April 17, 2015)
Infectious Disease Society of America Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis: 2012 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. (Clin Infect Dis 2012; 55: e86-e102.) First published online Sept. 9, 2012.
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (Publication dates vary)
Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) Diagnosis and Treatment of Respiratory Illness in Children and Adults. (Updated January 2013)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Psychiatric Association (APA) The Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia. Second Edition.(April 2004) and Guideline Watch (September 2009)
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) The Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Schizophrenia (September 2013)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
Casey Family Programs (casey.org) Addressing Child Sex Trafficking from a Child Welfare Perspective (September 2014)
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States (2013)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sickle Cell Disease, Recommendations (Last updated September 14, 2015)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Psychiatric Association (APA) The Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. (November 2004) and Guideline Watch (March 2009)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American Psychiatric Association (APA) Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Substance Use Disorders (May 2006) and Guideline Watch (April 2007)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy (Obstet Gynecol 2010; 116: 1241-4)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Public Health Service Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 update (May 2008)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment A Treatment Improvement Protocol Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services
National Child Traumatic Stress Network CPP: Child-Parent Psychotherapy (April 2012)
National Child Traumatic Stress Network Creating Trauma-Informed Child Serving Systems (July 2007)
National Child Traumatic Stress Network Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (April 2012)
FSU Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy Trauma-informed Practices for Pediatricians (2016)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.
Sunshine Health has adopted:
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Adult Weight Management (AWM) Guideline (2014)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Managing Overweight and Obesity in Adults: Systematic Evidence Review from the Obesity Expert Panel (2013)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity: Summary Report (December 2007)
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Final Recommendation Statement Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Screening, January 2010
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity Through Increased Physical Activity. (Pediatrics Vol. No.5 May 1, 2006 pp.1834-1842)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity Through Increased Physical Activity. (Pediatrics Vol. No.5 May 1, 2006 pp.1834-1842)
These guidelines were approved by the Sunshine Health Quality Improvement Committee on 3/7/2018.