24-10-2012, 05:47 PM
Evaluation of the Low Back Pain Practice Guideline Implementation in the Army Medical Department
ABSTRACT
Rand is assisting the Army Medical Department to develop and test methods to effectively implement clinical practice
guidelines in the Army treatment facilities to achieve consistent and quality clinical care practices across the Army health
system. This report presents the final results of the evaluation that RAND conducted as part of the demonstration for the low
back practice guideline, which was conducted in 1999 and 2000. The evaluation includes (1) a process evaluation of the
experiences of the participating military/medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and (2) a quantitative evaluation to assess effects
on processes of care associated with the introduction of best practices recommended by the practice guideline. In the
evaluation, the authors assess the performance of demonstration participants on these factors: (1) visible an consistent
commitment by the U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) leadership at all levels, (2) ongoing monitoring and reporting
of implementation progress in carrying out an action plan, (3) implementation guidance to the MTFs by MEDCOM, (4)
identification of an effective physician guideline champion at each MTF, (5) dedicated time and adequate resources for the
guideline champions, and (6) rapid integration of new practices into a clinic’s normal procedures. Guided by the experiences
of the low back pain demonstration, as well as the subsequent asthma and diabetes guideline demonstrations, a corporate
implementation strategy emerged that was found to be an effective and efficient approach for practice guideline
implementation in the Army Medical Department.