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The Effectiveness of Medical Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Mary D. Nettleman
Mary D. Nettleman*
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
*
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, C41GH, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
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Extract

Medical care has come a long way in the last century. People live longer; deadly diseases are prevented, cured, or ameliorated. In short, medical care is more effective than at any previous time. In this sense, effectiveness is a straightforward concept that measures changes in life expectancy, quality of life, and occurrence of disease. Effectiveness is sometimes difficult to quantitate; yet it is an important part of clinical decision making. For example, is the use of universal precautions effective in preventing the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus? Is antibiotic prophylaxis effective in preventing postoperative wound infections? Is chest percussion effective in the therapy of' pneumonia? Is a brain biopsy more effective than empiric therapy in treating encephalitis?

Type
Special Sections
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 9 , Issue 11 , November 1988 , pp. 510 - 512
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1988

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References

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