The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is dedicated to promoting and encouraging dermatology research and the application of these findings to improving patient care. This includes development of rigorous, evidence-based guidelines of care on dermatologic conditions.
Guidelines serve as decision-making and educational aids for clinical practice to support and improve quality dermatologic care, and are used as the framework for:
- Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).
- Maintenance of Certification (MOC).
- Reimbursement decisions.
- Advocacy efforts.
- Public messaging.
- Identification of research gaps.
The American Academy of Dermatology's (AAD) clinical guidelines are produced for dermatology topics that are of importance to members and their patients in a process that combines a comprehensive review of the best available scientific literature with the clinical judgment of an expert volunteer physician work group.
The Academy follows a board-approved methodology for developing clinical guidelines that adheres to a strict conflict-of-interest policy. Direct funding of guideline development from medical industry is prohibited.