Until now, the impact of evidence-based practice centers (EPCs) on hospital decision making has been relatively unclear-but new data from Penn Medicine researchers suggest that hospital EPCs can accurately distribute clinical evidence and are useful in influencing the stakeholder decision-making process.
Until now, the impact of evidence-based practice centers (EPCs) on hospital decision making has been relatively unclear—but new data from Penn Medicine researchers suggest that hospital EPCs can accurately distribute clinical evidence and are useful in influencing the stakeholder decision-making process.
The findings come from University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Medicine Center for Evidence-Based Practice (CEP)’s recent analysis of its own EPC, the first examination of evidence synthesis activities by a hospital EPC in the United States.
The center—staffed by a hospitalist director, research analysts, physician and nurse liaisons, a health economist, a biostatistician, administrator, and librarians—regularly conducts rapid systematic reviews of published research to create evidence-based reports for hospitals to follow.
“By synthesizing this valuable data, EPCs can inform healthcare leaders on how to make decisions that improve care, cut costs, and achieve other positive changes throughout their operations,” Craig A. Umschied, MD, MSCE, director of CEP and senior author of the study, said in a press release.
This latest study comprised a descriptive analysis of the center’s review database from its inception in July 2006 to June 2014, followed by a questionnaire of those who requested reviews from its last 4 fiscal years. Requestors included clinical departments, chief medical officers, and purchasing committees—and requests covered reviews of everything from care processes, organizational systems, and policies to medical and surgical procedures. Evaluations of drugs and devices were the 2 most commonly requested topics.
Using a 5-point Likert scale to indicate level of agreement/satisfaction, the questionnaire found that most requestors found their reviews prompt, accurate, and helpful. Nearly all (98%) of the 46 respondents said the scope of their requested reviews and level of detail was “about right,” and 77% said the reports confirmed their tentative decision. Furthermore, 79% “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the report informed their decision. Respondent satisfaction was also high, as most stated that reports from the CEP were “easy to request, easy to use, timely, and relevant.” Finally, 10% of reports even went on to be used in developing modules in the hospital’s electronic health record.
Through efforts to optimize patient care, hospitals have long been tenacious in their search for solutions and the results of this study suggest that the answer may indeed lie in EPCs. The findings hint at a step toward standardizing the use of evidence-based care strategies in healthcare institutions in the future.
"[With the creation of the Center,] we wanted to create a forum to develop clinical practices and policies that would span the whole health system," P.J. Brennan MD, chief medical officer of the Penn health system, said. "The ultimate goal is to significantly improve patient safety and clinical outcomes."
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
Listen
Government agencies have created an online portal for the public to report potential anticompetitive practices in health care; there are changes coming to the “boxed warning” section for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR T) to highlight T-cell blood cancer risk; questions about the safety of obesity medications during pregnancy have arisen in women on them who previously struggled with fertility issues.
Read More
Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
Listen
Gene, Light Therapy Combo Shows Promise Against Prostate Cancer Cells in Proof-of-Concept Study
April 18th 2024In their preclinical model, the researchers found efficacy both in vitro and in vivo by using CRISPR-Cas9 to mimic porphyria and combining the technology with light therapy.
Read More