Evidence-Based Medicine
What is evidence-based medicine (EBM)?
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a systemic approach within medicine where healthcare providers and other healthcare professionals make decisions regarding patient care based on the best available scientific evidence from clinical trials.
EBM utilizes the following techniques to determine which care is best for the patient at the current time:
- decision analysis
- meta-analysis
- randomized controlled trials
- risk-benefit analysis
In addition to using the best research to influence patient care plans, EBM also relies on patient preferences and individual patient characteristics to choose the best care for each patient.
How does evidence-based medicine improve healthcare?
Using EBM can help healthcare providers plan the best possible treatment, improving patient outcomes and quality of care.
This approach to medicine requires providers to be lifelong learners, continually looking at scientific research to see advancements that have been made since the best care is often constantly evolving.
With EBM, patients are never given an outdated care plan, and they can feel confident that the care they receive is the most recent and up-to-date option that will provide the best care outcome.