Leveraging Social Network Analysis to Improve the Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices and Systems in Healthcare

In healthcare, evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates clinical expertise with the best available external evidence from systematic research. Yet even with the aid of technology, implementation of EBP in many settings remains a challenge. This paper combines research from the fields of healthcare implementation science and social networks to present an integrated framework for the study of EBP-related information systems. We explore the application of the framework to a complex healthcare collaborative, the MRSA infection control project, a project intended to foster the implementation of EBP's to reduce the spread of MRSA infections. We also consider how the framework can be used with other theories, to inform EBP-related information system implementations.