New Decision Support & Summarization Tool: Do you struggle with how to
present and summarize complex evidence-based information and other
considerations in a condensed way that can help decision-makers? We
are very pleased to present what we affectionately call our
?Semaphore? decision support tool (so nicknamed as it is a color-coded
tool that points to various considerations and helps sort out
complexities). The tool provided here is an example that you can
adapt, as we have, to other evidence reviews. The history of the
development of the tool is this: Last fall we completed a systematic
review on the use of MRI for women at high risk of breast cancer. As
is frequently the case, the evidence was a mixed bag, and the decision
considerations were highly complex. Inspired by Dr. Jeff Thompson of
the Washington State Health Care Authority, we created a tool to
summarize these complexities. We?ve used the concept for several
other projects since that time with great results! We hope it is
helpful to you. It is available at
http://www.delfini.org/delfiniNew.htm.
The wonderful and brilliant Dr. Bat Shunatona gives us some guidance
for quality improvement and more in an interview at
www.medicalleaders.org.
Also, we have a letter published in The Atlantic. We find that
roughly 10 percent of randomized controlled trials that we critically
appraise pass our screening for validity and clinical usefulness. We
weigh in on the wonderful article by David H. Freedman featuring the
work of one of our heroes, Professor John Ioannides: ?Lies, Damn Lies
and Medical Science.?
More recommended reading (short articles), updates of tools, and
thanks to the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, we now
have online Mike and colleagues? article on ?balance sheets? to help
make implementation of quality improvement projects better and easier.
http://www.delfini.org/delfiniNew.htm
Our March training program for Pharmacy & Therapeutics committees is
close upon us, and here is a sampling of what is new at our site since
our last DelfiniGram at What?s New at Delfini:
http://www.delfini.org/delfiniNew.htm.
Michael E Stuart MD
President and Medical Director, Delfini Group
Clinical Asst Professor, UW School of Medicine
6831 31st Ave N.E.
Seattle, Washington 98115
206-854-3680 Mobile Phone
206-527-6146 Home Office
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