Press Room

03.17.08
National Working Group on Evidence Based Health Care Gathers Leaders For Dialogue on Restoring Patient Voice in Healthcare Decision-Making

On March 6 and 7, 2008, the National Working Group on Evidence Based Health Care convened leading experts to promote patient/consumer inclusion in public policy decisions about healthcare.  A two-day forum organized by the Working Group, “Advancing the Evidence of Experience: Practical Issues for Patient/Consumer Inclusion,” brought together healthcare policy-makers, researchers, healthcare providers, payers, and patient and consumer advocates for an open dialogue on the role of patients/consumers in all aspects of the evidence-based healthcare process. Full reports on forum themes and proceedings and a video webcast of both days, is available at: http://www.evidencebasedhealthcare.org/index.cfm?objectid=80363086-1372-4D20-C8275AD1BBB7C263.

04.19.07
National Working Group on Evidence-Based Health Care Hosts Consumer Forum

The National Working Group on Evidence-Based Health Care (The Working Group) hosted a public forum on the central role patients should play in evidence-based health care (EBH). The forum featured patient and expert panelists who discussed trends and approaches for including patient insight and preferences in health care decision making. Attendees learned about three approaches to inclusion of patient and consumer perspectives, the U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's Patient and Public Involvement Programme, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Patient Representative Program and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Health Effectiveness Program and John D. Eisenberg Clinical Decisions and Communications Science Center. The Working Group plans to translate this discussion into principles to guide all health care decision makers about how to involve patients and consumers in a meaningful way. To hear the audio webcast or for more information visit: http://www.evidencebasedhealthcare.org/index.cfm?objectid=3755440B-1372-4D20-C85553A83DE7E5B4

08.01.06
National Working Group on Evidence-Based Health Care Responds to EBM Series in Health Affairs  

In the letter entitled, Balancing Individual Needs with Scientific Evidence,” the Working Group provideHealth Affairs readers with a consumer's perspective on the Drug Effectiveness Review Project (DERP).  By highlighting best practices in other evidence-based review programs, the Working Group makes tangible recommendations for improving the development and use of DERP reports.  The full text of letter is available at http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/eletters/25/4/W262.