Different Paths, Same Destination: The Road to Harmonization
With a study of the size and scope of EvidenceNOW, there could have been ample opportunity for each of the different Cooperatives to travel their own routes towards discovery, leaving no window for national-level findings. That’s why ESCALATES, AHRQ and the Cooperatives dedicated themselves to data harmonization, from the very beginning. Here, they offer their personal perspectives and lessons learned.

Michael Parchman, MD, MPH
Says that without harmonization, EvidenceNOW could have ended up looking like the Seven Blind Men and an Elephant parable

Donna Shelley, MD, MPH
Offers her Cooperative’s experience in the context of a national trend toward data harmonization