Choosing The <cite>Bright Futures Guidelines</cite>: Lessons from Leaders and Early Adopters

Abstract

<P>The <cite>Bright Futures Guidelines for the Health Supervision of Infants, Children and Adolescents</cite>, third Edition was developed under a cooperative agreement between the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). More than 50 experts and more than 1,000 reviewers — pediatricians and family physicians, nurse practitioners, mental health colleagues, pediatric dentists, nutritionists, and families — worked collaboratively to assure completeness and accuracy. When published in 2008, it became the uniform guideline for the health supervision care for U.S. youth.</P><H4>ABOUT THE AUTHORS</H4><P>Gregory S. Blaschke, MD, MPH, FAAP, is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; practices at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA; and is a Captain in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy. Joseph O. Lopreiato, MD, MPH, FAAP, is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; practices at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA; and is a Captain in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy. Bruce Bedingfield, DO, FAAP, FACOP, is a private practitioner in Hoffman Estates, IL. Francis C. Rash, MD, FAAP, is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; practices at Naval Medical Center, San Diego; and is a Captain (retired) in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy. Ann E. Burke, MD, FAAP, is Program Director of Pediatrics and practices inpatient and outpatient general pediatrics at Dayton Children’s Hospital, Wright State University, Dayton, OH. Rick Goldstein, MD, FAAP, is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine; Associate Program Director of the Boston Combined Residency Program; and practices in a group practice in Cambridge, MA, and Boston Medical Center. Timothy R. Shope, MD, MPH, FAAP, is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; practices at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA; and is a Captain in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy. Christine Johnson, MD, FAAP, is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; practices at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA; and is a Commander in the Medical Corps of the United States Navy. Frances E. Biagioli is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University; sees patients and serves as the Medical Director at the OHSU Gabriel Park Family Health Center and is the Family Medicine Associate Residency Director. Nathaniel S. Beers, MD, MPA, FAAP, is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University, Washington, DC, and practices at Children’s National Medical Center. Joseph F. Hagan, Jr., MD, FAAP, is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT; co-editor of <cite>Bright Futures</cite>, third edition; and primary care pediatrician in Burlington, VT.</P><P>The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government.</P><P>The Bright Futures Text is published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Since its inception in 1990, the ongoing development of this guideline has been funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Maternal Child Health Bureau. Editors, authors, contributors and reviewers of Bright Futures, third edition do not benefit from the sale or dissemination of the guidelines. Most invited authors have had varying involvement in formulating, leading, informing, writing, reviewing, researching, disseminating and/or implementing Bright Futures; none has any financial benefit to this specific guideline’s incorporation into health supervision practice. </P><P>Address correspondence to: Gregory S. Blaschke, MD, MPH, FAAP, Captain, Medical Corps, United States Navy, Naval Medical Center, Pediatrics, San Diego, CA, 92134-2100; fax 619-532-9902; e-mail <a href="mailto:Gregory.Blaschke@med.navy.mil">Gregory.Blaschke@med.navy.mil</a>.</P><P>Dr. Blaschke, Dr. Lopreiato, Dr. Bedingfield, Dr. Rash, Dr. Burke, Dr. Goldstein, Dr. Shope, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Biagioli, Dr. Beers, and Dr. Hagan have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. </P>