Two weeks ago, I had the distinct fortune to attend a truly international conference on evidence-based healthcare practice. The Joanna Briggs Colloquium, held in Chicago, hosted nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals from around the world. There were almost 50 countries represented and some of the participants came with interpreters so their stories could be told. The Joanna Briggs Institute was started 15 years ago by a nurse and researcher, Professor Alan Pearson. He and his team have successfully grown JBI into one of the most highly recognized global leaders in evidence-based healthcare resources. JBI is based in Adelaide, Australia but, make no mistake, this organization and its content is not Australian based. JBI is truly an international collaboration of countries and healthcare organizations who wish to improve the healthcare of those around the world.

So many times we think of the U.S. as being the most developed country in the world. I can tell you after listening to the presentations of the speakers and poster presenters, the U.S. is only a developing country when it comes to evidence-based healthcare. Many of the countries, despite worse economies than we have in the U.S., were better at providing healthcare to the masses than we are. It was truly awe inspiring to hear the stories about how healthcare practice and outcomes have been improved due to interventions based on evidence and best practice. The U.S. needs to learn from organizations like JBI, how to implement healthcare improvement and reform.

Wolters Kluwer Health / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins / Ovid Technologies believe that providing healthcare professionals with the best evidence-based, best practice information can improve practice and improve outcomes. I am happy to announce that we have partnered with JBI to begin providing their publication, PACEsetterS to healthcare professionals through  www.nursingcenter.com, our LWW journals website, and through Nursing@ovid starting in 2011. PACEsetterS will have a new section called, "Evidence in Action" that will provide clinicians with JBI tools and content. This information will be written by healthcare providers who have experience and success with putting evidence into practice. 

The Joanna Briggs Institute's publication PACEsetterS, will help you keep "pace" with evidence-based, best practice today!