Evidence-based medicine and data sharing in outpatient plastic surgery.

The Authors discuss the importance of evidence based medicine (EBM) as related particularly to outpatient surgery. They discuss the five core steps in current EBM and take the reader through each of the steps, listing methods the surgeon can follow to achieve a thorough and relevant evidence based plan. Challenges of EBM such as reporting bias and evidence grading are discussed along with solutions and tools to meet those challenges. The article concludes with a look at data sharing as a means of enabling surgeons to access outcomes and specific aspects of care for a surgical procedure.