Thinking ahead--the importance of exit strategies to successful implementation of clinical effectiveness initiatives

The Clinical Resource and Audit Group (CRAG) remains the focus for the development of clinical effectiveness with particular emphasis on strategic alignment and implementation. CRAG believes that early consideration and planning of exit strategies is essential to deliver successful dissemination and implementation of clinical effectiveness initiatives. Open sharing of results in encouraged, with due consideration of the challenges of presenting information fairly and clearly to avoid misinterpretation, particularly for the lay public. Valuable lessons from effectiveness initiatives should be shared widely and introduced quickly into normal clinical practice, releasing effectiveness resources for new challenges. CRAG will produce guidance to support the development of exit strategies later in the year; comments and contributions are welcome.