Developing guidelines for allocating catheterization laboratory resources:Lessons from an Ontario consensus panel

In March 1997, the Ontario Ministry of Health asked the Cardiac Care Networ k of Ontario (CCN) to develop guidelines for allocating cardiac catheteriza tion laboratory resources. A consensus panel of providers and planners used findings from the literature and expert opinion to recommend guidelines fo r the operation of cardiac catheterization laboratories and criteria to be considered when allocating additional cardiac catheterization laboratory re sources. This article summarizes the consensus panel's major findings that may be of value to other jurisdictions, including need identification, clin ical practice, system issues, location criteria and cost considerations. Th e article reflects the advice given to the Ontario Ministry of Health by th e CCN and is not an official position paper of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.