The NYTimes recently published a column on the resistance to use of the best evidence in health care. They report that one of the biggest problems in getting good health care is the resistance of health care providers to changing the voodoo that they do to treatment that actually works.

This article references the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research’s guidelines on treating lower back pain.  Spine surgeons were so upset that it excluded their favorite treatment – surgery – that they tried to kill the agency and they did quite a good job. The Times article reports the reason that surgery was not recommended: research didn’t show it was effective but it did show that spinal manipulation was effective (Chiropractic).

Personally I have to practice evidence based care to be able to sleep at night, it only makes sense and it’s best for patients.

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