Evidence Based Medicine: Not Just for Doctors Any More
Masood Haque, MDMarch 05, 2009
Dr. David L. Sackett is frequently credited with providing the first comprehensive definition of Evidence Based
Medicine (EBM) in 1996. He defined it as, "the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient. It means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research." EBM is an integrative decision making process that takes into consideration the clinical data, patient values and the best evidence available.
Dr. Newman, author of Hippocrates' Shadow, considers evidence based medical practice to be an important tool for improving in our healthcare system. He points out EBM makes the practice of medicine transparent, and provides the patient with enough knowledge to make an informed decision about his or her own body. He is particularly interested in incorporating Numbers Needed to Treat (NNT) in the doctor-patient interaction when considering risks and benefits of therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Newman is a member of the Evidence Based Health Care section of the New York Academy of Medicine.
Next, David Newman ties good medical practice to saving the nation's health care system.
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