Development of the Champlain primary care cardiovascular disease prevention and management guideline: tailoring evidence to community practice.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED A well documented gap remains between evidence and practice for clinical practice guidelines in cardiovascular disease (CVD) care. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM As part of the Champlain CVD Prevention Strategy, practitioners in the Champlain District of Ontario launched a large quality-improvement initiative that focused on increasing the uptake in primary care practice settings of clinical guidelines for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and CVD risk factors. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Champlain Primary Care CVD Prevention and Management Guideline is a desktop resource for primary care clinicians working in the Champlain District. The guideline was developed by more than 45 local experts to summarize the latest evidence-based strategies for CVD prevention and management, as well as to increase awareness of local community-based programs and services. CONCLUSION Evidence suggests that tailored strategies are important when implementing specific practice guidelines. This article describes the process of creating an integrated clinical guideline for improvement in the delivery of cardiovascular care.