The healthcare industry faces many obstacles that make providing top-notch personal care difficult. According to the PwC Health Research Institute, core issues include improving the patient experience, dealing with a complicated and ever-changing regulatory environment, staying on top of new technologies and research, and managing cost.
Obviously, problems like these can’t be solved overnight. What healthcare facilities need is a strategy that best benefits patients and their organization.
That strategy just may be evidence-based medicine. Here’s why:
What actually is evidence-based medicine?
As defined in a report published by the US National Library of Medicine, “evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the conscientious, explicit, judicious and reasonable use of modern, best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. EBM integrates clinical experience and patient values with the best available research information.”
Or, to put it in more concise terms: evidence-based medicine is the effective balancing of data, professional input, and patient preferences.
It makes sense that health care facilities would want to employ EBM. After all, they naturally pursue the best possible outcomes for the patients they serve. To achieve that, healthcare teams must do more than effectively mesh clinical expertise and opinions with hard data and evidence. They must also consider patient preferences, such as their culture, religion, personal values, and expectations for quality of life.
What makes evidence-based medicine effective?
Evidence-based medicine enables hospitals and healthcare facilities to achieve three core objectives of improved quality of care, better patient satisfaction, and lower costs. EBM accomplishes those three goals in the following ways:
1. EMB gives physicians a way to keep up with evidence-based protocols
To actually stay updated on new research and technology in medicine, a doctor would have to read 17 articles every day. That’s not possible.
However, EMB standardizes evidence-based protocols, providing physicians a method for quickly finding out what are the best treatment options.
2. EMB enables healthcare teams to make personalized decisions based on global evidence
Healthcare facilities have instant access to everything from electronic medical records to global medical data warehouses. Sophisticated data analytics allow physicians to make decisions in a manner that properly blends the latest research and technology with the patient’s unique history and personal preferences. Doing this properly is crucial, and big data and EMB can combine to make it possible.
As stated in the article, “Evidence-Based Decision Making: Global Evidence, Local Decisions“, EMB can lead to “the ultimate local application of scientific information.”
3. EMB creates greater transparency and accountability
Since healthcare decisions must be made with full consideration of the most valid data and information and then must stand up to scrutiny and analysis, healthcare teams are held fully accountable for their choices. They must also consider patient preferences, which could be focused on anything from cost to lifestyle quality.
By doing this, EMB creates a path for healthcare facilities to choose the most effective treatment options. It also makes steering clear of unreasonably costly treatment or unnecessary care more possible.
4. EMB improves quality of care and outcomes
As a guide published by the University of Illinois-Chicago attests, “evidence-based medicine is a process of life-long, problem-based learning,” which involves “converting information needs into focused questions” and then tracking down the best evidence to those questions. The evidence is clinically appraised and applied in a way that suits the patient. Evaluation is continuous and improvements and changes are made accordingly.
Given just how thorough and problem-focused EBM is, it holds the key to improving care and outcomes. It can improve everything from cancer treatment to childbirth to surgical procedures.
Making evidence-based medicine a priority at your facility
Clearly, every healthcare facility can benefit from evidence-based medicine. It’s something that must be ingrained in your organization’s strategy and culture.
Additionally, bringing in physicians that value evidence-based medicine will ensure your healthcare facility can realize all the benefits of EBM and improve patient care and outcomes. Partnering with recruiting agencies, like Adaptive Medical Partners, could be a great method for finding EBM-focused doctors quickly and successfully.
