Systematic Evaluation to Improve the Quality of Patient Care: From Hope to Hopeful

Abstract

Clement provides a case study that illustrates an excellent approach toward treatment. The approach conveys concretely the interplay of research and clinical application, assessment and systematic evaluation, and benchmarking of case progress based on similar cases in clinical applications and in research studies. The present comment underscores the important role of systematic evaluation as exemplified in this case report and as a key to high quality patient care. In addition, evaluation accumulated across multiple cases can contribute to the knowledge base both by testing and generating hypotheses about treatment. Evaluation is placed in the context of current discussions about evidence-based treatments and the ongoing debates about clinic practice and research.