"Best help with evidence-based medicine available." Martin Gabica MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthwise
"Along with the help of organizations like Delfini providing us with superb evidence reviews, we are showing a way that the US should follow, in my opinion..." Brian R. Budenholzer, MD, FAAFP, former Health Technology Clinical Committee Chair, Health Care Authority, State of Washington
"I believe the evidence-based approach used by Delfini is the right way to approach inappropriate variation in healthcare. I fully support Delfini's step-wise approach to assessing medical technologies...If we are to assure that our patients receive appropriate care, we as health care professionals must be able to search for and critically appraise the medical literature and commit to a statement about the quality of the evidence before making recommendations to others. Only then can we have informed discussions with our patients and colleagues about reasonable management strategies.
"One of the biggest problems in healthcare is that new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are instituted without the support of good science..." Doug Dammrose, MD, former Senior Vice President & Medical Director of Blue Cross of Idaho
"The guidelines and tools that you provided have been invaluable and are used on an almost daily basis as I review journal articles...." Maribeth M. Bettarelli, PharmD
Sound medical decisions require sound medical evidence. However, did you know that many estimate that the majority of published medical research studies are not reliable or are of uncertain reliability?
You need an evidence-based process for quality patient care and to avoid waste. An evidence-based approach requires that evidence be evaluated for reliability and clinical usefulness. This book can help you.
1.How do you hire and evaluate an evidence-based staff if you lack evidence-based skills yourself?
2.What are some helpful resources and tips to save time?
3.Creating high quality technology assessments
4.How do you make decisions on factors other than evidence?
5.If you are making decisions "by committee," how do you avoid typical pitfalls?
Delfini medical evidologists and information scientists, Sheri Ann Strite and Michael E. Stuart MD, answer these questions and more.
The authors have extensive experience with medical technology assessment to help you establish and operate a truly evidence-based process. Benefit from their experience and tips for evidence-based practice and efficiencies.
Note: Contents are similar to our P&T book, but targeted for an MTA audience.
About the Author: Delfini Group is a public service entrepreneurship founded to advance applied evidence- and value-based clinical quality improvements through practice, training and facilitation. Much of Delfini's work is dedicated to solving medical misinformation problems. Delfini has contributed to text books, advised government entities, worked with health care systems, payers and manufacturers and has trained thousands in evidence-based quality improvement.
Michael E. Stuart MD & Sheri Ann Strite are medical information scientists, evidologists and clinical improvement experts who combine academic and practical experience to train people how to evaluate medical research studies, conduct evidence reviews, help health care systems apply evidence- and value-based clinical quality improvement methods including special help for work groups such as clinical guideline development teams, pharmacy & therapeutics and medical technology assessment committees, clinical quality improvement teams and more. They also train physicians and others in communicating with patients.
Sheri Ann Strite, Co-founder, Principal & Managing Partner, initiated many Delfini health care improvement strategies, tools and training programs including the popular Delfini critical appraisal training program. Formerly she was Associate Director, Program Development, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Family & Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, where she taught faculty, physicians, residents, students and others. She was also a member of the UCSD Family Medicine Research Leaders and faculty for their Research Fellowship in the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine. Prior to UCSD, Ms. Strite worked in clinical improvement, education and research at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, Washington, where she held various positions.
Michael E. Stuart MD, Co-founder, President & Medical Director, is a family physician and was appointed clinical faculty at the University of Washington in 1975. He is the former Director of the Department of Clinical Improvement and Education at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, Washington, where he led development of more than 35 evidence-based clinical guidelines and other clinical improvements, chaired the Pharmacy & Therapeutics and Medical Technology Assessment Committees. His work has received praise from prominent health care leaders such as David Eddy MD, Don Berwick MD, Health Ministry of New Zealand and the US Navy.
