Research will also serve as a continuing education module
Bolingbrook IL - As the healthcare industry grows and changes, it has become even more important to and incumbent upon clinicians to examine their outcomes in a routinized and consistent fashion. A new article by the ATI Physical Therapy Department of Research and Data Analytics aims to provide physical therapists with information about risks and caveats of considering evidence-based practice.
The article “The Conundrum of Outcomes”, published online by Today in PT.com, is authored by Chris E. Stout, PsyD; Lynn S. McGivern, BS (PT), LLM, JD; Brent Smith, DHSc, ATC; and Grace Wang, BA.
According to Dr. Stout, ATI’s Director of Research and Data Analytics, the article canvasses ATI’s approach to the nascent start of an outcomes management system as well as some newer thinking on evidence-based practice.
“As the landscape of healthcare changes dramatically in light of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the healthcare industry will continue to find even more value in research and outcomes. However, while clinical expertise must be informed, it cannot be replaced by evidence alone, as the exclusive use of evidence-based approaches could actually limit or diminish patient recovery, future treatment innovations, or clinical advancements,” said Stout.
The authors discuss the history and definitions of evidenced-based medicine, healthcare law changes and regulatory aspects, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of various types of studies, including observational studies and Randomized Clinic Trials. In addition, the article describes why patient involvement in decision-making can be helpful to healthcare providers and describes the danger of evidence-based practice becoming too prescriptive and how to avoid this danger.
As noted in the article, “while every clinician recognizes the value and significance of evidence-based practice…the ultimate question concerns that of effectiveness versus efficacy.”
Following Today in PT’s peer review process, this paper was deemed worthy of serving as a Continuing Education Module as well.
“This unexpected compliment means that our manuscript will likely be read by even more physical therapists across the country and have an even longer (library) shelf-life,” said Stout.
To view the article, please visit Today in PT at http://ce.todayinpt.com/course/pt62/the-conundrum-of-outcomes/.
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About Today in PT.com
The leading source of physical therapy continuing education courses (with free CE), PT and PTA jobs, and the latest Physical Therapy news, Today in PT.com is published by Gannett Healthcare Group.
About ATI Physical Therapy
ATI Physical Therapy is a comprehensive orthopedic rehabilitation provider, specializing in research-based physical therapy; hand therapy; work conditioning/hardening; functional capacity evaluations; sports medicine; and women's health. Based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, ATI has grown to over 300 locations in ten states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. For more information, please visit ATIpt.com.