OASIS-Central

Q: What is the difference between a best practice and an evidence-based practice?

A: Although the difference is slight, it is an important distinction.

Best practice: techniques, procedures, processes, and interventions that are identified through health literature, research and one’s own performance improvement initiatives. Best practices reflect optimal interventions and produce superior results.

Example: An agency develops an intervention protocol for improving ambulation in patients over 65 years of age. A best practices statement for this agency would be: Every patient with an OASIS response of 1, 2, or 3 to M0700 at start of care will receive a physical therapy evaluation to determine if it is appropriate to request that gait and balance training be added to the plan of care.

Evidence-based practice (EBP): using the best scientific evidence available to guide clinical decision making for the purposing of attaining the best outcomes. EBP are shown to prevent exacerbation of serious conditions, can improve care received by individual patients and guide the agency to improve care, avoid adverse outcomes. They are reflected in clinical practices guidelines, evidence reports, and evidence summaries.

Example: The new recommendation for hypertension is to take an accurate blood pressure reading, which can be enhanced by having the patient avoid exercise and caffeine and sit quietly for 30 minutes prior to the reading. The application of this evidence-based practice can help improve accuracy of the reading, which can in turn allow the physician to more aptly treat the diagnosis.