EXPERTISE

COMPREHENSION is to KNOWLEDGE as EXPERTISE is to KNOW-HOW.

But how does one get EXPERTISE?

The simple answer: Do something 10,000 times.

The number is not exact as the delineation of EXPERTISE is not exact, but the source of EXPERTISE is EXPERIENCE.

At DynaMed we have EXPERTISE in analysis and summarization of evidence and guidance for clinical practice. We apply clinical EXPERTISE and scientific EXPERTISE to this effort with methodological EXPERTISE. And there is nowhere else in the world that healthcare professionals can get the current, comprehensive, accurate information for practicing evidence-based healthcare in real time.

To do that the DynaMed editors employ many EXPERTs to make happen. But why and how are these people EXPERTs?

Is it because they are really smart? No. They are really smart and we have a rigorous interview and selection process so just getting hired is already a strong sign of success, but that is a beginning and the people who do this find it much more challenging than what came before. Whatever they did before and demonstrated success and ability to achieve EXPERTISE they become beginners taking on this task.

Is it because they are trained exceptionally well? No. There is intensive training, more so than learning the skills for a masters degree in graduate school. Typically three months of solid training before moving on, and that helps of course, but after this training they are often advanced beginners and still have much to learn.

There is no such thing as an "average" DynaMed editor (I can assure you they are all UNIQUE) but it is typically about a year into the work that one feels they are really getting it well.

And those that do it well, those that develop the EXPERTISE, will find aspects of it to focus on further, refine further, and develop greater EXPERTISE.

I am happy to boast about the QUALITY of the people, and we have great people, but that is "necessary but not sufficient" -- the major factor in the EXPERTISE is the intense EXPERIENCE of doing it every day for a long time. No matter how much we want to improve our efficiency (everyone wants more faster), the a critical ingredient to gain the EXPERTISE is the EXPERIENCE.

Of course not all EXPERIENCE results in the desired EXPERTISE. When bloodletting was a primary treatment modality for medical practice, were the EXPERTS those who did the most bloodletting?