Evidence-based Practice

The Network is to establish a regional forum that can support the Neurosciences Commissioning Network in building a resource of evidence to inform future commissioning.

Aims

The aim of the Group is to act as a single focal point which will harness and produce a region wide evidence base to support Commissioners.

The group will:

Develop a toolkit that would produce Person Reported Outcome Measures on a patient's experience of a service and their quality of life, in addition to clinical outcome measures
Provide a focus for professionals to enhance and develop evidence based practise
Enable active engagement of professionals across the region

Objectives

• To develop a matrix of outcome measures that apply to neurological services (NSF LTnC)
• To explore methods of gathering 'unmet need'
• To 'pilot' one or more PROM in service areas across the Region
• To produce outcomes are a.) Organisational b.) Professional and c.) Personal

Rationale

There is a considerable amount of time, effort, energy and resource going into medical research. This group can add value by producing information and evidence that complements the medical research. The broad range of experience and expertise of the Group's members can add the value of the patient, carer and other professionals. The Group will also look to engage with clinicians to help drive up the standards of commissioning particularly in service areas where clinical neurology may not be the prime focus.

Membership

There will be a core membership/steering group as well as associate members. Associate membership will be open to all and will be made up of members from the health, social, independent, academic and voluntary sectors

Key Relationships

Clinicians

Universities

Social Care

Service Users (experts by experience)

Local North East Neuro Forums, where they exist

Summary

In summary the group will:

• Establish an initial steering group
• Develop and pilot a toolkit/matrix that will measure clinical as well as outcomes such as�patient experience, quality of life and PROMS
• Include the Independent and Voluntary sectors in the building of evidence
• Build a Culture of evidence gathering / evaluation as an integral feature of initiatives, developments or service changes in Neurosciences
• Raise standards of practise and enhance outcomes to and from future commissioning of neuro services in the North East