Join the Alliance

The Alliance for Better Medicine is a coalition of healthcare providers, health organizations, ethnic organizations, and academic experts united to educate policymakers and the public about the need for individualized medical care and to empower physicians and patients to influence positive change.

Our most urgent priority is to ensure that the evolving concept of “Evidence Based Medicine” is defined and implemented in a way that protects the most appropriate treatment for the individual patient or consumer.

The type of evidence-based medicine that truly benefits patients is defined by David Sackett as “the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of the individual patient.” In other words, treatment decisions about the individual patient must be based upon a review of the relevant evidence by a physician interpreted in the light of the patient’s individual condition, including age, gender, other medical conditions and ethnicity.  The final treatment decision should always be made jointly by the physician and the patient.

However, some government and health plans are misusing the term evidence-based medicine.  Too often, they fail to consider the savings in overall health costs and improved quality of life that result from managing the patient’s condition with the most effective medications that address the specific needs of the individual patient and  the clinical experience of the physician. 

A strong proponent of evidence-based medicine is the Oregon Health Sciences University.  Unfortunately, their reports, narrowly based only on randomized drug trials, without outcome data or other evidence, have too often been narrowly applied as an excuse to deny care by payors. 

It is imperative that we steer this movement back towards its original, intended goals— which not only improves care, but can also reduce costs.

We urge you to learn more about appropriate evidence-based medicine and the current threats to individualized medical care. We also encourage you or your group to join the Alliance for Better Medicine and help us, at a grassroots level, create positive change for patients, consumers and physicians.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please feel free to contact us.