EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE (EBM)

LEGISLATION from Washington is expediting the translation of evidence based research findings into improved health care services.

In this context, the industry is undertaking scientific analysis and evidence syntheses on topics of high priority to its public and private health care partners and the health care community in general, to improve the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care delivery.

Evidence based medicine reports and evidence based technology assessments will provide the foundation for developing and implementing practice guidelines, performance measures, educational programs, and other strategies to improve the quality of health care and decision-making related to the effectiveness and appropriateness of health care technologies and services.

Evidence Based Practice (EBP)

The legislative system will employ evidence based medicine reports and evidence based technology assessments to modify coverage and reimbursement policies.

Professional societies, employers, insurers, consumer groups, and patient advocacy organizations see great value in these evidence based medicine reports and evidence based technology assessments that cover such topics as prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment of particular clinical and behavioral conditions, use of alternative or complementary therapies, and appropriate use of commonly provided services, procedures, or technologies.

Performance measures and provider payment mechanisms will focus on specific aspects of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and/or management of a particular condition, individual procedure, treatment, or technology.

Factors considered in evidence based medicine's selection of clinical guidelines:

  • Burden of disease including severity, incidence and/or prevalence or relevance to the general population, including low-income groups, minority groups, women, children, the elderly, and individuals with special health care needs, such as those with disabilities, need chronic care or end-of-life healthcare, or live in inner-city and rural areas.
  • Controversy or uncertainty about the supporting scientific data.
  • Total costs associated with a condition, procedure, treatment, or technology.
  • Potential impact for reducing clinically significant variations in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or management of a disease or condition, or in the use of a procedure or technology.
  • Potential impact for informing and improving patient and/or provider decision-making, improving health outcomes, and/or reducing costs.
  • Relevance to the needs of the Medicare, Medicaid and other Federal healthcare programs.
  • Physicians are being financially rewarded to collaborate with health care reforms and promote evidence based practices. They will be measured and evaluated based upon how well they integrate new scientific findings and innovations in care delivery.