Research Activities, June 2012, No. 382 Main June 2012, No. 382 ContentsAbout Research ActivitiesFeature StoryDisparities Report highlights health care challenges for minorities, underscores importance of Affordable Care ActFrom the DirectorAccess to CareVulnerable populations with heart failure less likely to receive early physician followup after dischargeDual Veterans Administration/Medicare users are not hospitalized more for ambulatory care sensitive conditionsPatient Safety and QualityA hospital's ability to rescue patients from complications after high-risk surgery determines mortality ratesInfrequent physician use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators presents potential risks to patient safetyPatients recovering in the hospital from total knee or hip replacement have increased risk of fallsContact isolation of new patients reduces adherence to process-of-care quality measures for pneumonia1 in 10 computer-generated prescriptions include at least one errorMagnet® hospitals offer better work environment for nurses than non-Magnet hospitalsHealth Care Costs and FinancingLarge variations in Medicare payments for surgery underscore savings potential from bundled payment programsRemote intensive care monitoring is cost effective for sickest patientsHealth Information TechnologyClinicians find triggers and algorithms in e-prescribing software helpful in avoiding inappropriate medications in older adultsPaper previsit reminders for doctors do not add value to electronic reminders from an electronic health record systemClinical decision support systems are effective but research is needed to promote widespread useAcute Care/HospitalizationUse of pulmonary artery catheters provides no patient benefit and increases costsDecision support may aid emergency physicians in interpreting benign from serious eye movement patterns in dizzy patientsRisk of venous thromboembolism low for young trauma patients without a central venous catheterChild/Adolescent HealthJapanese cultural beliefs linked to increased female infant mortality in 1966, the year of the fire horseNo evidence of serious cardiovascular events in children and young adults using medications for ADHDComparative Effectiveness ResearchEvidence lacking on effectiveness of antipsychotics for childrenSupplemental phenylketonuria therapies may help someEffectiveness of noninvasive diagnostic tests for breast abnormalities depends on woman's historyLimited evidence prevents firm conclusions on psoriatic arthritis drug therapiesGlaucoma treatments can lower eye pressureElderly/Long-Term CareRisks high for elderly patients receiving angioplasty to fix narrowed heart arterySeveral risk factors point to the use of high-risk medications in older veteransDrug industry-sponsored patient assistance programs are seldom used by older adultsStudy of Medicare beneficiaries validates Medical Expenditure Panel Survey's prescription drug dataPreventionPatients recovering from stroke tend to continue using secondary preventive medicationsChronic DiseaseInmates remain at risk for HIV and HCV after release from prisonAgency News and NotesMen more likely to be readmitted to hospital after dischargeAnnouncementsAHRQ seeks comments on a proposed children's health care quality measures projectResearch BriefsResearch BriefsSubscribe to AHRQ's Electronic NewsletterHealthcare 411Follow AHRQ news on Twitter Current as of June 2012 Internet Citation: Research Activities, June 2012, No. 382 Main: June 2012, No. 382. June 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/research-activities/jun12/index.html
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