A New Method of Assessing the Impact of Evidence-Based Medicine on Claim Outcomes : Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

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A New Method of Assessing the Impact of Evidence-Based Medicine on Claim Outcomes

Hunt, Dan L. DO; Tower, Jack MS; Artuso, Ryan D. PhD; White, Jeffrey A. MS; Bilinski, Craig MS; Rademacher, James BA; Tao, Xuguang MD, PhD; Bernacki, Edward J. MD, MPH

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Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 58(5):p 519-524, May 2016. | DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000718

Abstract

Objective: 

The objective of this study is to develop a method of quantifying compliance with Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) guidelines as a means of assessing the relationship between the use of EBM guidelines and illness absence and costs in workers’ compensation.

Methods: 

A total of 45,951 indemnity claims with two years of development filed between 2008 and 2013 were utilized to develop the methodology.

Results: 

The newly developed methodology adequately assessed the relationship between claim outcomes (duration and medical incurred) and adherence to EBM guidelines, controlling for medical complexity, distinct number of International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 codes, and other confounding factors.

Conclusions: 

The compliance score described in this paper may be a useful tool for determining the impact of worker's compensation treatment guidelines on claim outcomes.

Copyright © 2016 by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

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