Information systems: the key to evidence-based health practice (2)
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Hello:
If I may, I would like to add just a cautionary reminder on this
topic. Since the dawning of time, evidence-based health practices
have been based in significant measure on the reliability and respect
of the speaker/scientist reports, followed by reproduction by others.
This very general statement holds true, today. We rely on governmen-
tal regulation of healthcare products/practices, which, in turn base
their decisions on the information provided by the "speaker/scientist
reports". Unfortunately, governmental regulatory authorities in-
variably view the information last, rather than during clinical data
collection. As a result, we continue to have great problems with the
integrity of the data presented, whether inadvertent mistakes are
made at this clinical research stage, or otherwise.
Until the world community insists that the present system provides
reliable, accurate research data, all the additional information
technology input won't cure the problem.
My suggestion would be to examine the clinical data collection proc-
ess followed by industry, today, and compare it to known reliable,
accurate automated clinical data collection system[s], and ask your-
self why this is not insisted upon by our governmental regulatory au-
thorities. More suspect information sources do not give us the level
of data integrity we need to protect ourselves.
Just a thought,
Thomas A. Poe, M.D., Director
The World Center For Clinical Research
2044 Plumas Street Reno, NV 89509-3708
Phone: +775-829-1799
mailto:admin@worldccr.org
http://worldccr.org
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