Evidence based decision making is something that healthcare practices are adopting more and more. Most of these practices make it easier on the patient and staff. However, implementation of these type of decisions can be tricky because of the preferences that everybody has on how care should be optimized. This is why evidence-based decision making is a collaborative effort. Duggan et al. (2015) points out that evidence-based decision making involves top evidence, physicians’ knowledge, and the community preferences and needs. Patients need to be involved because healthcare revolves around them. They are the drivers and need to feel heard when new evidence-based decisions come through the organization.
Sometimes when making evidence-based decision making, clinician expertise can conflict with patient values and preferences. But it is important to have all viewpoints included and to find a common ground. The point of leadership is to make sure the team can collaborate, and that patient’s needs are met. Sometimes even though the evidence points in one direction, the patient might want something different. Patients have to feel like they are getting the best care available and its important with the way healthcare payments are now calculated. The Affordable Care Act has put more on quality than quantity.
When patients come into a healthcare organization, they are expecting the best care available. Williams and Kogan (2019) point out that patients have the belief that staff should work with patients on their care, and it shows an increase in the usage of evidence based decision making. Collaboration is the reason why it is important for patients needs and values to work with clinician judgement. Physicians have to take into account what the patient needs. For example, certain religions like Judaism and Jehovah Witness have certain things that cannot be done. One of those things is using other people’s blood. So, the evidence might say you will have to use other blood, they will not want that. Physicians have to find another way to perform the surgery but without using different blood. This is why it is important for all sides to be involved in care.
Another reason why it is important is because patients look to their physicians on how care should be handled. Clinicians have to be behind the decision but open to making changes when needed. If they do not look confident, it can affect the patient’s preference which can be detrimental to health. So, the whole organization has to get behind this evidence-based decision in order for patients to get behind it.
Duggan, K., Aisaka, K., Tabak, R. G., Smith, C., Erwin, P., & Brownson, R. C. (2015). Implementing administrative evidence based practices: lessons from the field in six local health departments across the United States. BMC Health Services Research, 15(1), 1–9.
Williams, N., & Kogan, R. (2019). Factors associated with evidence-based decision-making among patients and providers. Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, 8(9), 709-709–719. http://dx.doi.org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.2217/cer-2018-0152
