Technology assessment in medicine. The role of the American Medical Association.
Public policy decisions about health care and decisions about an individual patient's care are only as sound as the data and information on which they are founded. The formal systematic evaluation of the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of a medical technology provides such information and is essential to the appropriate application of technology in patient care. The American Medical Association (AMA) historically has recognized the need for the practicing medical community to develop and communicate accurate and balanced evaluative information to physicians and other health care professionals. In recent years, the association has established formal programs to accomplish this objective. This article describes the AMA's three major assessment programs, the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology Assessment program, the Council on Scientific Affairs, and AMA Drug Evaluations. The implications of these activities for patient care and public policy are discussed.
McGivney
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Department of Technology Assessment, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL 60610.
Hendee
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D000574:American Medical Association / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D049673:History, 20th Century; D033181:Information Dissemination; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration / Q000266:history