Practice Guidelines

In compliance with Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) contractual requirements, PrimeWest Health has adopted preventive and chronic disease practice guidelines appropriate for preconception, prenatal, and postpartum care; children; adolescents; young adults; and adults. The guidelines are approved by the Quality and Care Coordination Committee (QCCC) and the Joint Powers Board (JPB), reviewed annually, and updated as appropriate. Links to these guidelines are below.

Clinical Practice Guidelines

Cardiovascular Health – Heart Failure and High Blood Pressure

• Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America (AHA/ACC/HFSA) 
• Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA1
• 2023 European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Hypertension Guideline Update: American College of Cardiology

Diabetes

• Standards of Care in Diabetes: American Diabetes Association (ADA)

Lung Health – Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Asthma Management Guidelines: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)

Mental Health – Depression and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Depression Across Three Age Cohorts: American Psychological Association (APA)
• Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Oncology

• Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)

Perinatal Care

• Tailored Prenatal Care Delivery for Pregnant Individuals: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Optimizing Postpartum Care: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Preventive Services and Immunizations – Adults

• Guidelines for Preventive Services for Adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
  • Includes breast cancer, cervical cancer, and chlamydia screenings and body mass index (BMI) assessment 
• Immunization Schedule for Adults: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Includes influenza and pneumococcal immunizations

Substance Use – Alcohol and Tobacco

• Practice Guideline for the Pharmacological Treatment of Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder: American Psychiatric Association (APA)
• Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
• Clinical Interventions to Treat Tobacco Use and Dependence Among Adults: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

DHS Guidelines

The DHS guidelines below are also followed by PrimeWest Health:

• Minnesota Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) Schedule of Age-Related Screening Standards
  • Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age: CDC
• Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS)
• Dental Services
• Minnesota Fee-for-Service and Managed Care Medicaid Uniform Preferred Drug List

Guideline Databases

• Guideline Central
• Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network

¹American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/American Academy of Physician Assistants/Association of Black Cardiologists/American College of Preventive Medicine/American Geriatrics Society/American Pharmacists Association/American Society of Hypertension/American Society for Preventive Cardiology/National Medical Association/Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

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Updated_09/30/2025