A statement, reached through consensus, which clearly identifies the desired outcome. Usually used within audit as a measure of success. 

For example: 

The A1C test can be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes alone or in combination with other diabetes tests. When the A1C test is used for diagnosis, the blood sample must be sent to a laboratory that uses an NGSP-certified method for analysis to ensure the results are standardized.

ECRI Guidelines Trust replaces AHRQ'S National Guideline Clearinghouse and launched ECRI Guidelines Trust, a repository of clinical practice guidelines.

From AHRQ: "Funding to support AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) ended on July 16, 2018."

Here's a great Explainer on the NGC situation.

Statement from ClinicalKey about coverage of guidelines in its database: "The guidelines that are sourced through the Agency for Healthcare Research (AHQR) and Quality National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) website will no longer be available on ClinicalKey after July 16th, 2018. Guidelines from the NGC represented about 22% of the total guidelines on Clinicalkey, this is why you are seeing the decrease in numbers. ClinicalKey will continue to host guidelines that are available as full-text journal articles. In addition as a replacement to the NGC, ClinicalKey will include clinician-curated guidelines and links to the full-text of additional practice guidelines available on the websites of professional and government agencies."

An agreed framework outlining the care that will be provided to patients in a designated area of practice. They do not describe how a procedure is performed, but why, where, when and by whom the care is given.

For example:

Nutrition Services protocol to designate food tray for patient with food allergy:

• The diet office notifies the tray line supervisor of the patient’s name, room number, and identified food allergies. 

• Special provisions include a designated workspace for the preparation of menu items to avoid cross-contamination.

• Food trays are lined with red placemats as a visual cue to staff that the meal tray is for a patient with a life-threatening food allergy.

•The supervisor then takes ownership of the meal tray to prevent cross-contamination, hand delivering the tray to the patient’s unit.

A formal written statement detailing the particular action to be taken in a particular situation that is contractually binding.

For example:

"It is hospital policy that patients may not be released until they receive medication instructions from a staff pharmacist prior to their discharge," or

"After a patient has been discharged, transportation services will deliver the patient to the exit in a wheelchair to ensure patient does not fall or injure themselves."

http://www.wipp.nhs.uk/tools_gpn/toolu5_using_protocols.php