The effects of evidence-based patient care on the quality of care

Evidence-based patient care can improve the quality of care in different ways. Research findings allow finding failures in care, provide valuable information on new treatment options, help to generate new ideas and learn from experiences. In recent study, researchers found that evidence-based practice helps to identify failures in care provided to patients. According to John James (2013), “the epidemic of patient harm in hospitals must be taken more seriously if it is to be curtailed” (p. 122). Evidence-based practice assists in combating a wide range of problems that cause harm to patient health outcomes. It is necessary to succeed in “fully engaging patients and their advocates during hospital care, systematically seeking the patients’ voice in identifying harms, transparent accountability for harm, and intentional correction of root causes of harm” (James, 2013, p. 122). Hence, nurses can use academic literature to identify specific evidence in medical records that points to adverse events and activities that may harm patients. In addition, evidence taken from research studies suggests that performance data stimulates quality of care through improved activities at the hospital level (James, 2013).