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The notions of Evidence-based medicine developed through two phases, which successively looked into the doctor-patient relationship and decision-making background. One of the new trends in evidence-based medicine deals with how to make theory into practice. Applying the practical model from post-SSK to interpret how the notions of evidence-based medicine changed, it is found that evidence-based medicine is an indivisible practical network integrating many natural and social factors as well as material and cultural factors which interconnect through "translation". Therefore, the involvement of various factors such as natural matter, social relations, regional factors, resources of traditional culture and scientific instruments leads up to the ultimate theory becoming the result of multiple factors in a continuous process of seeking the best way in scientific practice. In this motile process, the borderline between nature and society, material and human, natural science and social science vanishes and a new stage called humanistic medicine appears.

Science is coming from the background of social culture. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) was generated at the early 90's of 20th Century, and there were some landmark things before its appearance. The background of EBM included: (1) risk control of medical techniques at the 70s of 20th Century; (2) ethical ideas of Protestant, including secularism, rationalism and utilitarianism; (3) British positivism and its tradition.

Patient safety has become a hot topic and a big challenge for healthcare services globally during the past ten years. Patient safety is not a new concept but has its explicit cultural root. There were some related elaborations early in the collected works of Hippocrates. Reviewing the origin and developmental process of the concept of patient safety can benefit acquiring a deeper recognition of the basic concept of patient safety. "Medical risk is everywhere" has become the consensus of healthcare professions globally. Patient safety is a perpetual task of the medical area as well as the most basic starting point and final destination in healthcare service.