Title: Evidence based medicine as a strategy for quality improvement

Authors: Jeffrey P. Harrison, Kim Radcliffe

Addresses: Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, College of Health, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, South, 32224, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. ' Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, College of Health, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, South, 32224, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Abstract: Evidence based medicine is a strategy to transfer knowledge about disease specific care among patients and healthcare providers. Additionally, evidence based medicine is an opportunity to increase the quality and efficiency of the healthcare system thereby improving the health status of the population. Data for this research was drawn from the 2005 HIMSS Analytics Database which surveyed over 4,000 US hospitals. The study found that healthcare organisations are developing an information technology infrastructure necessary to enhance the quality of healthcare by making the latest research available for improved clinical practice. For example, 99% of integrated delivery systems operate healthcare data centres. These organisations have an average of 1,584 PCs with over 75% of these PCs having internet access. The study has managerial implications on the use of evidence based medicine to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. It has policy implications supporting collaboration across the healthcare industry through evidence based practice.

Keywords: evidence based medicine; EBM; quality improvement; information technology; knowledge transfer; disease specific care; healthcare quality; health status; clinical practice; USA; United States; healthcare efficiency; personnal computers; internet access; healthcare data centres.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2010.030599

International Journal of Public Policy, 2010 Vol.5 No.2/3, pp.133 - 142

Published online: 26 Dec 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article