Article
Combining evidence-based clinical information retrieval and decision support at the point-of-care: A National service
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Published: | July 10, 2012 |
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Background: While scientific evidence has grown massively, the implementation remains low among healthcare providers. Too often clinical decisions are based only upon experience and expert opinions. Properly designed point-of-care information systems are now being promoted to deal with this problem.
Context: In Belgium a new on-line point-of-care information service is being built that provides free access to Belgian healthcare providers. The goals are to develop an up-to-date database of guidelines, to integrate this with Belgian EBM-information other than guidelines and to provide a computerised clinical decision support system linked to the electronic medical record.
Description of best practice: EBMpracticeNet was officially founded by the end of 2011 as a non-profit organisation. It formally unites the different Belgian EBM organisations. The National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance ( INAMI-RIZIV) provides funding. To increase coverage of medical conditions, a foreign guideline database was purchased with the intention to adapt the guidelines. This database also provides the computerised decision support technology. In the first phase we will focus primarily on general practitioners, in subsequent phases also information for specialists, allied health personnel and patients will be integrated.
Lessons for guideline developers, adaptors, implementers, and/or users: In this presentation we present the building strategy, the overall content and future directions of EBMpracticeNet. The link between all the EMRs from different companies with a National database held on a unique platform and controlled by all EBM organisations in Belgium is the strength of this program.