ECRI Evidence Boot Camp 2021 Recap: Effective Methods for Rapidly Assessing the Best Available Evidence

Refresh your evidence assessment knowledge of important topics discussed at ECRI's Evidence boot camp event: Effective Methods for Rapidly Assessing the Best Available Evidence. 

Healthcare payers, providers, and other audiences gathered this past fall to gain strategic insights in discussion about clinical evidence assessment of healthcare technologies. The event was backed by an experienced team consisting of multi-disciplinary experts across ECRI–PhD-level analysts and directors from Clinical Evidence Assessment, Clinical Excellence, Evidence-based Practice Center; Master-level Librarians; and guest panelists, who made the event interactive and informative.

Key learning objectives included:

• Demonstrate key clinical evidence concepts

• Understand considerations for choosing The Evidence Bar™, an at-a-glance visual representation of the balance of benefits and harms, in ECRI’s rapid clinical evidence assessment reports about healthcare technologies

• Identify real-world evidence examples and considerations in clinical evidence assessment and decision-making

• Recognize the highest standards and evolving tools employed in ECRI’s rapid assessment of the best available evidence

In opening remarks, Dr. Andrew Furman, MD, MMM, FACEP, Executive Director Clinical Excellence noted the expanding information universe and how healthcare decisions are not always based on outcomes most valuable to patient care. As a solution to these complex realities, he discussed how ECRI’s content brings truth to its members and gave attendees a glimpse into the rigorous process ECRI follows to obtain the truth behind its guidance.

The educational workshop included diverse presentation topics such as literature searching techniques, assessing the evidence and assigning the evidence bar, inclusion of evolving tools like interactive evidence maps, and a real-world evidence (RWE) panel discussion. 

The agenda included the introduction of four interactive, breakout sessions led by key analyst leaders, who carefully reviewed recently assessed clinical evidence assessments topics about the key question, the relevant PICOTS (Patient population, Intervention, Comparators, Outcomes, Timeframe, and Care setting), assessment of the best available evidence, and how ECRI chose The Evidence Bar in evidence assessment reports.. Attendees were encouraged to listen, ask questions, and share their thoughts and perspectives. Topics included: 

• A reflux management system for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Implants for total joint arthroplasty,
• A system for embolizing varicose veins, and
• Platelet-rich plasma for knee osteoarthritis

Attendees also had the opportunity to learn about real-world evidence in clinical evidence assessment and decision-making during a panel discussion featuring guest panelist Eugean Jiwanmall, MPH, MBA, Senior Research Analyst – Medical Policy & Technology Evaluation, Medical & Claim Payment Policy – Medical Affairs, Facilitated Health Networks, Independence Blue Cross, and panelists and panelists Stacey Uhl, MS, Associate Director, and Dave Snyder, PhD, Senior Research Analyst, from ECRI’s Clinical Excellence team.

Looking ahead: ECRI plans to offer similar, short-format, virtual learning modules in 2022, so stay tuned for upcoming clinical evidence assessment topics that the team will explore in depth and share. 

To request access to this event, contact clientservices@ecri.org or visit Clinical Evidence Assessment to learn more.