A group of 330 individuals, representing 38 states and 6 countries, gathered at the Health Science Center’s fourth annual Summer Institute for Evidence-Based Practice. Considered a great success, this year’s summer institute had five times more interdisciplinary participants than in previous years. Physicians, social workers and administrators also attended.
Funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the institute’s theme was “Infusing Quality into Practice.” It prepared health care providers for an increasing role in evidence-based practice (EBP) to improve quality health care through translation of research into practice.
“The best part of the conference was being able to see speakers from a variety of disciplines,” said one young participant. “Everyone was willing to share with those of us who are just starting our careers. This was a very encouraging and helpful conference.”
The institute featured a health journalists’ perspective, which was provided by Andrew Holtz, M.P.H., chief of Holtz Report. Topics were “EBP – What Do We Tell Our Patients? What Will They Tell Us?” and “Health Care Consumers as Partners in EBP.”
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| The institute included networking opportunities and several distinguished speakers. | |
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Other featured speakers included Carolyn Clancy, M.D., director of AHRQ, and Joseph Krier, president and chief executive officer of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
In addition, 56 posters were displayed by conference participants. Posters were in three categories:
• Education
• Administration
• Clinical
As another conference feature, the Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice presented the results of a three-year project to establish national consensus on competencies for evidence-based practice in nursing. It was made available in a book called, “Essential Competencies for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing.”
The Summer Institute on Evidence-Based Practice is planned by an interdisciplinary group, including: Kathleen R. Stevens, R.N., Ed.D., F.A.A.N., professor of family nursing and director of the Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice; Marthe J. Moseley, R.N., Ph.D., clinical nurse specialist of critical care at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System; Robert L. Ferrer, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of family and community medicine; and Lt. Col. Theresa L. Dremsa, U.S.A.F., M.S.N., Ph.D., director of nursing research, 59th Clinical Research Squadron at Wilford Hall Medical Center.
The 2006 Summer Institute on Evidence-Based Practice will take place June 28-July 1. The abstracts submission deadline is Monday, Feb. 27. For more information, contact
acestar@uthscsa.edu.
