Submit a Guideline Topic Proposal

Guideline topic proposals are accepted no later than March 31 annually. Proposals may be submitted by any SCCM member, SCCM committee, SCCM section, or external organization via the online application form. Before submitting, please review the guidelines development process, which delineates important aspects of processes in accordance with standards set by the SCCM Council with implementation via the ACCM Board of Regents.

Submit a Proposal

Submit the required proposal form in its entirety no later than March 31 annually.
Email notification of review outcomes will be sent to the indicated contact by May 30.

The following core principles apply to guidelines development:

• Recommendations are based on systematic review of the best quality of evidence available from peer-reviewed journals.
• Panels will include knowledgeable, diverse, multiprofessional leaders.
• Transparent COI management will be incorporated into the guidelines cycle.
• Guidelines development will include the involvement of broadly defined stakeholders (including patients, when possible and if applicable).
• Industry funding will not be used for guidelines development.
• Updates are considered when new impactful science becomes available.
• Potential involvement of other organizations, as approved, is possible at various levels of engagement.

Criteria for Selection

The selection process engages the following criteria to rank the highest-priority topics and guideline revisions:

New Guidelines

• Areas of clinical uncertainty as evidenced by wide variation in practice or outcomes
• Conditions for which effective treatment is proven and where mortality or morbidity could potentially be reduced and where no guidelines exist
• Documented relevant and sufficient evidence that can be included in systematic evidence review
• Clinical priority areas as determined by SCCM needs assessments and executive leaders
• Documented need for the guidelines, as indicated by a larger network of relevant stakeholders

Guideline Revisions: Focused Update

• Modifications to no more than two PICO questions and two recommendations for a previously published guideline
• Availability of new research that may change the existing practice recommendations
• Data on guidelines access demonstrating its importance to the critical care community
• Continued interest in a topic as indicated by SCCM's annual needs assessments
• Number of citations indicating the value of the guidelines to the field