Pay For What Works Jan 18, 2008
Several Democratic candidates, including Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, have endorsed the need for institutes that would lay the foundation for evidence-based medicine. For a revitalized AHRQ or a clone thereof to work as it should will require that a new president follow through with adequate funding, an assurance that Medicare (and, as a consequence, other insurers) will consider seriously its findings and, perhaps most important, a Federal Reserve like independence from the... (Scientific American)
Antidepressant Effectiveness Probably Overstated Jan 18, 2008
The buzzword in health care these days is "evidence-based medicine," meaning therapies and preventive strategies that are based on careful, scientific evidence as reported in clinical trials. However, the study authors pointed out, such evidence-based practices are helpful only insofar as the data available is complete and unbiased. (MEDLINEplus)
Antidepressants Not All That Effective Jan 17, 2008
The growing movement of evidence-based medicine depends on analysis of published studies to make treatment decisions. Dr. Turner, who once worked at the FDA reviewing data on psychotropic drugs, said the idea for the study was triggered in part by colleagues who questioned the need for further clinical drug trials looking at the effectiveness of anti-depressants. (SmartMoney)
Selective Publication of Antidepressant Trials Jan 17, 2008
Background Evidence-based medicine is valuable to the extent that the evidence base is complete and unbiased. Selective publication of clinical trials and the outcomes within those trials can lead to unrealistic estimates of drug effectiveness and alter the apparent risk benefit ratio. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Wiley-Blackwell and the Cochrane Collaboration extend publishing partnership Jan 16, 2008
The Cochrane Library is a comprehensive resource at the cutting-edge of evidence-based medicine, which helps practitioners and patients worldwide understand treatment options, said Sue Corbett, Managing Director, Medicine, Wiley-Blackwell ... Since Wiley first published The Cochrane Library in 2003 we have been delighted to see knowledge of evidence-based medicine spread all over the world, as more and more people take advantage of what is, for half the worlds population, vital information... (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe Dec 27, 2007
There are plenty of medical beliefs and practices that have little basis in fact; when done properly, evidence-based medicine can be an invaluable tool for weeding these practices out. The real problem arises when physicians arrogantly conceive of themselves and their profession as beyond the influence of cultural forces. (New York Times)
Insurer relaxes policies for test Dec 22, 2007
30-day news archives. "The Melbourne-based health care provider recently invested $3 million to purchase six or seven digital machines, which will be in place soon at its three area hospitals and several imaging centers, now using conventional film-based mammography, according to Lundquist."We still feel the (digital) technology is more appropriate for certain women," he said, "but we don't want to irritate or upset any of our members. (Florida Today)
Drugmakers withheld studies of cholesterol medication, FDA reports Dec 21, 2007
"We keep telling people we want to practice evidence-based medicine, and what we keep finding out is that much of the evidence is obscured," said Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a cardiologist at Yale, when told about the previously undisclosed studies. "There is important evidence, but it's not in public view. It's hidden from investigators.". (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Insurer hit on mammogram policy Dec 10, 2007
"But Dr. Joseph Collins, Health First Health Plans' vice president and medical director, said the payment policy is based on what's known as evidence-based medicine -- specifically, results of a federal study published in 2005 that found digitalmammography of greatest benefit to women under 50, premenopausal women, or those of any age with dense breast tissues.He said the latest study, of which results appeared in the September issue of Radiology, still leaves "many questions unanswered," as to... (Florida Today)
Homeopaths complain Dec 10, 2007
Three homeopaths joined the Faculty to bring complaints about Ben Goldacre's November article, which pitched homeopathy against evidence-based medicine. Two have also complained to the Press Complaints Commission. (Guardian Unlimited -- Life)
Research Shows What Works to Cut Smoking Rates Dec 8, 2007
"In the same way that evidence-based medicine has been built from rigorous evaluation of treatment options, our goal is to contribute to the development of a sound science base for tobacco-control policies," Cummings said. He launched the study in four countries in 2002 and has expanded it into 15 countries with the help of 60 investigators from 17 research institutes. (MEDLINEplus)
Wiley-Blackwell and U. of Penn Health System's Center for Evidence-Based Practice launch InfoPOEMs Dec 5, 2007
Evidence-based medicine is vital to advancing patient care and increasing clinical efficiency, said Shawn Morton, Wiley-Blackwell Vice President and Publishing Director, Medicine ... We will use InfoPOEMs and InfoRetriever to support the practice of evidence-based medicine at the point of primary care. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Wiley-Blackwell to relaunch InfoPOEMs with InfoRetriever Nov 28, 2007
Evidence-based medicine resource will feature new content. Hoboken, NJ, November 27, 2007 Wiley-Blackwell, the scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley Inc. (NYSE: JWa), (NYSE: JWb), today announced the relaunch in January 2008 of an enhanced version of its evidence-based medicine (EBM) content resource InfoPOEMs with InfoRetriever under the new name Essential Evidence Plus ... Evidence-based medicine has progressed to the point where it is a central... (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Nov 17, 2007
Dr. Harer's suggested rate is 40%, as maternal/fetal harm is lowest at that rate per evidence-based medicine, but he would easily accept a 50% primary rate (1st Cesarean). I thank all of my many loyal patients, friends, and colleagues (as well as some anonymous correspondents) who have called, written, or visited--and those of you planning to write--my heart is deeply touched. (SunOnline)
Commonwealth Fund Commission issues reform recommendations for next president Nov 15, 2007
AIMING HIGHER FOR QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY: Investing in ways to help all doctors and health care systems practice evidence-based medicine and provide the highest quality care possible, and ultimately report their quality data to the public. This includes investment in health information technology like electronic medical records. (EurekAlert!)
A heart stent gets a reprieve from doctors Nov 12, 2007
While none of last year's concerns have been proved unfounded, Topol said, the newer data indicate that a return to higher use of drug-coated stents is appropriate "if you are going to practice evidence-based medicine.". Some experts still contend that the lesson of the last year is that all but the sickest patients should think twice about getting any form of stent. (International Herald Tribune)
Vitamin D Deficiency Nov 8, 2007
Data supporting much higher levels for bone or general health are weak and do not fulfill the criteria of evidence-based medicine. 3,4,5 Requiring levels above 32 ng per milliliter implies that more than 80% of the European population and half of the world population are vitamin D deficient. (New England Journal of Medicine)
U of M study: Medicare lacks tools, incentives to enforce evidence-based coverage policies Nov 1, 2007
There has been much discussion among providers, payers, and policymakers to encourage evidence-based medicine as a means to improve quality and reduce costs, said Susan Bartlett Foote, J.D., M.A., the principal investigator, and University of Minnesota professor in the School of Public Healths Division of Health Policy and Management ... The bottom line is that Medicare simply doesnt have the tools to make evidence-based medicine work, Foote said. (EurekAlert!)
Corporate gifts weaken the integrity of physicians Oct 31, 2007
The very institutions that uphold the concepts of professionalism, evidence-based medicine and patient well-being continue to allow the manipulation of their students. With the current policies and attitudes that persist in the medical profession, one suggestion can certainly be made: Perhaps more physicians should go into politics. (The Daily Lobo, NM)
Randomised controlled trials for evaluating the prescribing impact of information meetings led by pharmacists and of new information formats, in General Practice in Italy Sep 29, 2007
This is quite noticeable in Italy, where the philosophy and methods of Evidence-Based Medicine still enjoy limited diffusion among practitioners. Academic detailing and pharmacist outreach visits are interventions of proven efficacy to make independent and evidence-based information available to physicians; this approach and its feasibility have not yet been tested on a large scale and, moreover, they have never been formally tested in Italy. (BioMed Central)
Hospital overhaul 'under attack' Sep 28, 2007
It is disturbing that in an era of evidence-based medicine, midwife-led units are being promoted before their safety has been established ... He added: "It is disturbing that in an era of evidence-based medicine, midwife-led units are being promoted before their safety has been established.". (BBC News -- UK)
Doctors ignorant of natural therapies Sep 25, 2007
"It's simple - if we have evidence-based complementary medicines and we are truly practising evidence-based medicine, then we need to use complementary medicines.". A general practitioner and former federal president of the Australian Medical Association, Professor Kerryn Phelps, agreed, saying doctors must learn more about alternative therapies. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
For paralysed footballer, breakthrough surgery brings hope out of despair Sep 14, 2007
"We haven't publicised it because it's not evidence-based medicine, which means hundreds of patients over several years," Dr Barth said. Everett has changed all that. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Initiatives Recognized for Increasing Patient Safety and Efficiency Sep 11, 2007
Q-P3 incorporates outcome, process and quality measures to reward evidence-based medicine and other best practices. Based on data provided by the first eight hospitals with participating physicians, results were encouraging - complication rates in 2004 for angioplasty and cardiac catheterization decreased 50 percent and 29 percent, respectively, from 2003 levels. (PR Newswire)
Clinics a key part of health reform Sep 10, 2007
MinuteClinic, accredited by The Joint Commission, contributes to healthcare quality because it practices evidence-based medicine. A recent study showed, for example, that patients who sought care at MinuteClinic for sore throats received best-practice treatment 99 percent of the time, compared with 55 percent for the medical community nationwide. (Boston Globe -- Editorial)
Many Medical Residents Lack Biostatistics Knowledge Needed To Interpret Clinical Research Sep 7, 2007
"Physicians must keep current with clinical information to practice evidence-based medicine," the authors write. "... to answer many of their clinical questions, physicians need to access reports of original research. This requires the reader to critically appraise the design, conduct, and analysis of each study and subsequently interpret the results." Little is known about residents' ability to understand statistical methods or how to appropriately interpret research outcomes. (Science Daily)
Institutions band together to benefit from $30M grant Sep 5, 2007
"It's a wonderful opportunity to look at a large population and lead us to evidence-based medicine, because so much of what we do in medicine is anecdotal," Kirschner said. As far as Joiner knows, no other applicants nationwide are taking the same approach. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
Muguti Hails Medical Labs Aug 29, 2007
"Right now, there are some tests that we are not able to do and we want to fill this gap."We have the expertise, but need to empower laboratory personnel by giving them skills and tools of the trade," Dr Muguti said. He said this would promote and cement evidence-based medicine whereby diseases would be scientifically confirmed beyond any doubt than just guessing."Guess work is subject to dangerous interpretation on patients' diseases, which might lead to negative outcomes," he said.However, Dr... (AllAfrica.com)
American College of Medical Genetics responds to new FDA labeling decision for warfarin Aug 24, 2007
Available online at , this 74-page report is the most thorough review of the scientific and clinical evidence surrounding the use of genetic testing to guide dosing of warfarin and was undertaken by a multidisciplinary group convened in 2006 of clinical pharmacologists, doctors of pharmacy, clinical geneticists, physicians with expertise in the use of warfarin, pharmacoeconomists, and experts in evidence-based medicine. The purpose of the rapid-ACCE review was to provide an independent,... (EurekAlert!)
Docs Urged to Curb Beta-Blockers Aug 10, 2007
"We in medicine like to say that we practice evidence-based medicine," said Messerli, who is a cardiologist at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York. "What's the evidence here?" he asked, for continuing to use beta-blockers. (Newsmax)
Needing to Improve Care versus Knowing How to Do It Aug 9, 2007
Argument 6: The Framework of Evidence-Based Medicine Does Not Apply to Quality Improvement. Argument 7: Developing Evidence in Quality Improvement Is Too Costly. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Doctors urged to curb reliance on beta-blockers Aug 7, 2007
"We in medicine like to say that we practice evidence-based medicine," said Dr. Franz H. Messerli, an author of the study and a cardiologist at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York. "What's the evidence here" for continued use of beta-blockers to treat hypertension, Messerli asked. (Boston Globe)
Abstinence Programs Don't Cut HIV Risk Aug 5, 2007
"We found no evidence at all that these abstinence-only programs resulted in lower HIV infection rates for any targeted subgroup," researcher Paul Montgomery, DPhil, of the University of Oxford's Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, tells WebMD. ... Kristen Underhill of the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine tells WebMD that an additional$1 billion annually is spent on abstinence-only education through a larger aid program targeting the spread of HIV in Africa and other underdeveloped countries... (WebMD)
Mental-Health Care Reform Advocate Gogo Lidz: You Need To Know Me Aug 4, 2007
It also made her the poster child for the mental-health care reform movement, since her experience exposes the need for more evidence-based medicine, patient/doctor face time, monitoring of side effects and consumer education about psychiatric treatments. "I'm not anti-prescription, I'm not anti-drugs," Gogo emphasized. (VHI.com -- Music News)
New Study Reaffirms HRT-Breast Cancer Link Jul 26, 2007
"This is an interesting look at the picture but really is not evidence-based medicine," said Dr. Lila Nachtigall, director of the women's wellness program at New York University Medical Center and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine. The study did not correlate individual cases of breast cancer with hormone use, therefore issues of causality cannot be decided, she added. (MEDLINEplus)
Testing social policy Jul 21, 2007
Iain Chalmers, founder of the Cochrane Collaboration and champion of evidence-based medicine, once described putting several obstetricians in a room - all absolutely certain they knew best for individual patients, and objected to trials - simply so they could witness the disagreement and certainty of their colleagues. There is wider professional resistance. (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
Steve Bushee Recognized For Training Education, Mentoring Jul 18, 2007
According to the program's release, "Bushee and his staff have become one of the premier educational sites in the country, teaching and practicing evidence-based medicine, delivering outstanding health care, and modeling professional and personal behaviors that allow students to see athletic training in the context of their lives. The support of Boston College and its staff in providing a complete educational experience to athletic training students that includes opportunities for direct patient... (Bceagles.com)
Rapid-acting insulin analogues in diabetes mellitus type 1 -- superiority not proven Jul 18, 2007
The Institute's responsibilities include the evaluation of pharmaceuticals, surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, and clinical practice guidelines, following the principles of evidence-based medicine. . (EurekAlert!)
VerusMed Names Dr. Jeff Andrews Chair of Editorial Advisory Board Jul 13, 2007
Dr. Andrews, a board certified OB/GYN, is an Associate Professor of Medical Education and Administration, and the Senior Physician of the Vanderbilt Center for Evidence-Based Medicine ... "His knowledge and experience will be invaluable to us as we grow our core business and expand our product offerings to meet the information needs of physicians." Before joining Vanderbilt, Dr. Andrews held many leadership roles, including Medical Director of Women's Services and Clinical Advisor for... (PR Newswire)
Vandy administrator to head Deloitte research center Jul 12, 2007
The idea behind evidence-based medicine is that, by identifying medical best practices by researching patient populations, guidelines can be formed that will lead to more effective care and cost reductions. Before heading up the Vanderbilt Center for Evidence-based Medicine, Keckley was an associate professor at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine and associate professor of health management at the Owen Graduate School of Management. (Nashville Business Journal, TN)
Is it safe to get pregnant after breast cancer? Jul 11, 2007
But, as usual, some of that advice was based on anecdotal evidence and not the long-term follow-up of appropriate numbers of women that can give the validity of evidence-based medicine. . (MSNBC -- Health)
Wiley extends publishing partnership with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Jul 11, 2007
Today, Wiley InterScience features must-have content from more than 2,500 journals, books, reference works, databases, laboratory manuals and the Cochrane Library, which is the worlds best-known resource for evidence-based medicine. More than half of Wileys journals on Wiley InterScience are digitized back to Volume 1, Issue 1 as part of the development of the journal backfile initiative. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Holistic Medicine Jul 6, 2007
Evidence-based medicine. However, also prevalent among doctors is the current paradigm of evidence-based medicine. (Suite101.com)
* Evidence-based medicine hasn't led health policy Jun 30, 2007
Evidence-based medicine hasn't led health policy ... So-called "evidence-based medicine" entails a hierarchy of empirical proof that ranks medical studies according to their quality ... But awareness that principles of evidence-based medicine should guide health policy has been slow to take root. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Echinacea's Fortunes Brighten Again as Cold Remedy Jun 28, 2007
June 26 -- Echinacea, the irrepressible alternative cold remedy, is ascendant again in the topsy-turvy world of evidence-based medicine. Action Points. (MedPage Today)
Medical standards in 21 states based on local rule, not national standards Jun 20, 2007
But this has become a double-edged sword for many physicians, because it can inhibit the adaptation of scientific advancement, and means that some doctors who want to practice the best evidence-based medicine are at risk if they do so, Lewis says. . (EurekAlert!)
Body scans: Handy or harmful? Jun 16, 2007
OHSU emphasizes evidence-based medicine, he said. Eccles wont allow a test if there is no evidence it will help identify the cause of specific symptoms. (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
READ MORE > Jun 15, 2007
"Along with the highly capable, skilled physicians, nurses and other professionals directly taking care of the patient in Sioux City, another team of seasoned physicians and experienced critical care nurses will use leading-edge technology and evidence-based medicine to provide added support and monitoring from an off-site location. The result will be extraordinary care for the patient," Sellers added. Sellers and other Mercy leaders emphasized that the patient's own attending physician still... (Sioux City Journal)
Family seeks new procedure for child Jun 7, 2007
"We offer cutting-edge treatment plans based on sound, evidence-based medicine practiced at highly regarded research institutions around the world. We won't participate in treatments that we don't back, but in no way does that stop this or any family from pursuing treatment anywhere they want," wrote Etzl, director of the hospital's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. A spokeswoman for PCH suggested that The Republic research Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski's questionable history. (AZCentral)
High-Need Physician Workforce Incentives Act endorsed by American College of Physicians Jun 7, 2007
2) Decision-making guided by evidence-based medicine and clinical decision support tools. 3) Physician accountability for continuous quality improvement through voluntary participation in performance measurement. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
New Study Shows Doxorubicin Plus Paclitaxel Followed by Weekly Paclitaxel as Adjuvant Therapy for High Risk Breast Cancer Warranted in Place of Doxorubicin Plus Cyclophosphamide Followed by Paclitaxel Jun 5, 2007
D.: Phase II study of eribulin mesylate (E7389) halichondrin b analog in patients with refractory breast cancer -- Alexander Spira, M.D.: Phase II study of eribulin mesylate (E7389), a mechanistically novel inhibitor of microtubule dynamics, in patients with advanced Non-Small Cell-Lung Cancer (NSCLC) -- John Pippen, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.P.: "A Historical Overview of the Treatment of Prostate Cancer and the Evolution of Bone Marrow Transplantation" -- Marcus Neubauer, M.D., Co-Chair: Lung Cancer... (PR Newswire)
Shop Talk for May 23, 2007 May 23, 2007
These guidelines represent evidence-based medicine made available to hospitals as best practices in improving outcomes for patients with coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure. Specifically, the guidelines address acute stroke management, primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, the prevention of second strokes and the establishment of primary stroke centers. (Gaylord Herald Times, MI)
Unhealthy records May 21, 2007
Physicians are moving from an intuitive way of practicing medicine, in which they treat a patient based on their own knowledge and experience, to so-called evidence-based medicine guided largely by mountains of data analyzed for patterns and trends, he said. What we are really seeing is a very traumatic historic change. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
W.Va. schools get poor grades on limiting drug firms' influence May 12, 2007
Prescott said evidence-based medicine is taught throughout the WVU curriculum. No one at Marshalls School of Medicine could be reached for comment, but university spokesman Bill Bissett said the AMSA report was too narrowly focused. (Charleston Gazette, WV -- Business)
'Marked departure' in Medicare practice of paying physicians in Geriatric Care Improvement Act May 10, 2007
Evidence-based medicine and clinical decision-support tools guide decision making. Physicians in the practice accept accountability for continuous quality improvement through voluntary engagement in performance measurement and improvement. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Priced out of pain relief May 8, 2007
" Stevens has been paid by Remicade's maker for speaking engagements. Dr. Michael Schweitz, a rheumatologist in West Palm Beach, Fla., said insurers have started denying reimbursement for one biologic infusion out of a series of treatments a patient regularly receives. "It's part of a pattern of what appears to be capricious and irregular delays in payments that make no logical sense," said Schweitz, adding that the treatment ultimately gets approved after considerable effort. Insurers, for... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Business)
We're Number Two: Canada Has as Good or Better Health Care than the U.S. May 4, 2007
Gordon H. Guyatt, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, who coined the term "evidence-based medicine," collaborated with 16 of his colleagues in an exhaustive survey of existing studies on the outcomes of various medical procedures in both the U.S. and Canada. Their work appears in the inaugural issue of the new Canadian journal Open Medicine, and comes at a time when many in Canada are debating whether or not to move that country's... (Scientific American)
Study: Heart attack deaths drop sharply May 3, 2007
" For every 1,000 patients admitted to hospitals, he said, there are 39 fewer deaths and 90 fewer patients with new heart failures compared with only six years ago. In the United States, with as many as 5 million patients suffering the conditions each year, that would translate to nearly 200,000 fewer deaths if all hospitals were following the treatment guidelines. "There have been a lot of lives saved, a lot of complications averted," said Dr. Joel M. Gore of the University of Massachusetts... (San Francisco Chronicle)
Heart patients' survival rate on the upswing May 2, 2007
"We're very encouraged to see that people are using all of the evidence-based medicine and showing excellent results," Gore said. The study, called the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events, enrolled 44,372 patients at 113 hospitals from 1999 to 2006. (Houston Chronicle)
Report: Heart attack death rate in hospitals cut nearly in half May 2, 2007
"We're very encouraged to see that people are using all of the evidence-based medicine and showing excellent results.". There was also, he said, "a marked reduction in the use of ineffective medications," including clot-dissolving enzymes, calcium-channel blockers, and unfractionated heparin. (Boston Globe)
Studies split on shaken baby syndrome Apr 29, 2007
In May, he and other specialists who are members of the self-styled Evidence-Based Medicine Group are meeting in Chicago to present papers on shaken-baby syndrome. Bohan, who is also vice president of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, says it's not good enough to say you can't really study shaken-baby because you can't shake actual babies to test the hypothesis. (USA Today)
Do you know who your doctor's 'friends' are? Apr 25, 2007
Humility, for example, can work in the offices of skeptical doctors who demand evidence-based medicine. "I play dumb and have the doc explain the significance of my article," Mr. Ahari says. (Globe and Mail)
Most patients don't need antibiotics before dental procedures Apr 20, 2007
" The guidelines also do not recommend any prophylactic antibiotics to prevent IE for common gastrointestinal procedures or procedures on the urinary tract. This holds true even for patients with the highest risk of bad outcomes from IE, Wilson said the revised guidelines were prompted in part by the growing body of scientific research that raised questions about the usefulness of widespread prophylactic antibiotic use. The new recommendations are also more in line with international practice.... (EurekAlert!)
Executive check-up Apr 18, 2007
Members: Not Registered. for free extra services. (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)
Radiation Therapy Benefits Elderly Brain Cancer Patients Apr 13, 2007
"The importance is in the fact that caring for elderly people will be the future of medicine, and all evidence-based medicine is based on trials done in younger people. We don't know how good we are or how harmful we are when we deal with this (elderly) population," he said ... The trial could be a step toward "evidence-based medicine for a segment of the population that so far has not been studied a lot," he said. (MEDLINEplus)
