In healthcare, have you ever wondered what we mean when we talk about evidence-based care? It makes sense that you might, since it’s more of an industry term.
As you may imagine, evidence-based care is healthcare that is thoughtfully delivered to patients based on universally acknowledged research — but since research is ongoing in medicine and new discoveries are always being uncovered, evidence-based care is continuously changing and evolving.
There’s more to this care model than just this focus, however. In addition to the most advanced treatment recommendations, evidence-based care also takes into consideration a provider’s individual expertise and clinical experience and the patient’s unique needs.
The most current evidence that exists about any type of care, from wound care and sepsis prevention to healthcare screening and cancer care, is the best source for informing a provider’s decisions as they approach patient care. However, the provider must still routinely evaluate how applicable and relevant research is to a particular patient’s situation.
When evidence can be assessed and, if found to be sound, summarized, it can then factor into the creation of clinical guidelines that providers are able to consider, along with other factors, as they create a customized treatment plan for a patient. Again, like the evidence, a treatment plan evolves as well, as a provider takes into account new evidence and a patient’s progress.
A real-life example of evidence-based care that we are using today at Mission Hospital McDowell (MHM) are our stroke protocols. If a patient arrives at the Emergency Department with symptoms of a stroke, we, as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital (ASRH), provide stroke care that is rapid, advanced, and supported by emergency department physicians and expert neurologists. It also meets established standards in terms of getting the patient the care they need within a certain amount of time after they have arrived at the hospital, giving them access to excellent rehabilitation care, and more.
Another example is sepsis, an infection that can turn life-threatening very quickly. We use technology, rounding, and other protocols to ensure that a patient does not develop sepsis. Infection prevention is another instance where MHM team members follow the same prevention strategies and practices as other HCA Healthcare hospitals across the country.
When care is standardized like this, it enables us to keep the patient as the focus of care, ensures that they receive the most up-to-date care, and allows our providers to thrive in a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
I have talked about various benefits of MHM being part of HCA Healthcare in the past, and our association as it relates to evidence-based care means that we have enhanced access to cutting-edge research, approaches to treatment, and medical protocols that we wouldn’t otherwise have.
For example, the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute in Nashville is the largest cancer research institute in the country, which benefits us and our patients who receive cancer care. This is true of all the care we deliver as well. The best practices that HCA Healthcare follows extend to every service line and type of care that MHM provides.
This should not only reassure our community that they are receiving the best care possible, but it should also give them faith in MHM so they can turn to us for any type of care.
Because the standards of care that we follow here at MHM are based on a solid foundation, community members can feel confident that MHM offers care, close to home, that’s backed by solid research and successful outcomes. We, in turn, appreciate that you rely on us.
Lee Higginbotham is Chief Executive Officer of Mission Hospital McDowell in Marion. He is an accomplished healthcare leader with nearly three decades of diverse experience in healthcare. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Higginbotham earned his Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) from The Medical College of Virginia and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He resides in Marion. Lee is most proud to be a husband to his best friend and father of three remarkable children.