Promoting a Culture of Evidence-Based Practice Through a Change Request Process

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a problem-solving approach to health care clinical decision making that integrates the best evidence from well-designed studies with clinician expertise and a patient's preferences and values.1 Although EBP has been associated with a higher quality of care and improved patient outcomes, organizations continue to face challenges and barriers in implementing and sustaining a culture of EBP.2 These barriers include lack of knowledge and skills by health care providers, resistance to EBP, time, misunderstanding of EBP, and lack of financial commitment.1 This article describes how a 715-bed, 2-hospital health care system in Southwest Florida implemented a formal process to support clinical and organizational autonomy and foster a culture of evidence-based practice.