The Medical journal of Australia
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Although difficult to quantify, there is known widespread variation in the way that best available evidence is applied in clinical practice. The reasons for gaps between evidence and practice are complex, and efforts to improve uptake are unlikely to be successful if they are one-dimensional or focus on individual health professionals. This article provides contextual reference for articles in this Supplement in addressing how and why clinical variation exists, the importance of reducing it and strategies to drive a more streamlined approach to evidence-based care in Australian health care systems.
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To evaluate the impact of psychiatric inpatient bed closures, accompanied by a training program aimed at enhancing team effectiveness and incorporating data-driven practices, in a mental health service. ⋯ Our findings should reassure clinicians concerned about psychiatric bed numbers that service redesign with planned bed reductions will not necessarily affect clinical care, provided data literacy and team training programs are in place to ensure smooth transition of patients across ED, inpatient and community services.
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Comment Letter Meta Analysis
Suicide in Australia: meta-analysis of rates and methods of suicide between 1988 and 2007.
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The variable life-adjusted display is a graphical, statistical methodology used in Queensland to monitor patient outcomes of clinical indicators. The quality improvement cycle is a systematic approach employed by patient safety and quality programs worldwide to improve patient care. ⋯ Indicators with definitional issues that are not subject to the quality improvement cycle may initially prompt quality improvement opportunities, but are more likely to potentially lead to unnecessary chart and clinical reviews, which will disengage coders and clinicians. Queensland recently used the quality improvement cycle to refine the laparoscopic cholecystectomy complications of surgery indicator definition and several maternity definitions.