Evidence-Based Medicine and the Art of Medicine

AbstractPurpose of ReviewEvidence-based medicine since its inception offered the potential for increased use of effective interventions and consequently a potential to improve quality of care and to reduce health care costs.Recent FindingsOne great accomplishment of the evidence-based medicine movement has been a renewed focus on the scientific process and the development of systematic reviews and meta-analysis that condense the best evidence available. However, the well-being and goals of the patient are at the center of patient-physician and at the core of the clinical decision-making process.SummaryEvidence-based medicine is a tool that contributes with the best scientific evidence available. Clinical judgment and expertise are necessary elements that help integrate the patient ’s specific circumstances and values with the best scientific evidence to provide therapeutic options to the patient. Applying general evidence to the individual patient is part of the art of caring and comforting, part of the art of being a physician.
Source: Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports - Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research