STM publisher Elsevier, Netherlands, has announced the availability of the first in a series of issue briefs on evidence-based medicine (EBM). The issue brief, 'Building a Business Case for Evidence-Based Medicine,' reveals the urgent need for EBM, as identified in a roundtable discussion of healthcare industry thought leaders at the CMIO Leadership Forum: Transforming Healthcare Through Evidence-based Medicine, last fall in Chicago.
The roundtable discussion, which featured five physicians representing hospital and healthcare technology CMIOs, research directors and clinical professors, was convened by the developers of ClinicalKey, Elsevier's clinical insight engine designed to help physicians quickly locate accurate answers to their clinical questions. The issue brief, based on the roundtable, emphasises the need for a business case for EBM as a central necessity to enhancing the American healthcare system. According to findings highlighted within the brief, making the business case for EBM will not be attributed to a single event or destination, but will become more of a process or journey.
EBM is a long-term, problem-based learning process that involves conversion of information needs into focused questions; identification of the best evidence for answering a question; review of evidence for validity and clinical usefulness; application of results to clinical practice; and evaluation of how the evidence performs in clinical applications. Identified within this brief are opportunities and strategies that will assist the healthcare system through the EMB journey.
The issue brief is available for download at http://ckey.co/ckebmbiz. Subsequent briefs will focus on EBM implementation and the future of EBM.
