Evidence-based medicine and public policy: implications of nephrology

The fundamentals of evidence-based medicine inform public policy and, in particular, the products derivative therefrom, namely, clinical practice guidelines, clinical performance measures, and point-of-care clinical decision making. Each provides a component of the foundation of a national quality enterprise. The national organizations engaged in developing and endorsing these applications and the interrelationships among these applications are outlined. The challenges being faced by these organizations and the implications of these initiatives for nephrology, in general, are discussed.