Research Activities, March 2012, No. 379 ContentsAbout Research ActivitiesFeature StoryHospital emergency departments get tips from AHRQ on how to reduce crowding and better triage patientsFrom the DirectorPatient Safety and QualityLearning networks can help implement strategies to improve emergency department patient flowTrauma patients with hospital-acquired infections have poor outcomes, including increased mortality riskHawaii's experience shows that a national collaborative effort can reduce central line-associated bloodstream infectionsCrisis checklists for the operating room can improve safety and managementEvaluation of TeamSTEPPS® implementation finds improved teamwork and clinical outcomesGuideline management of inpatient cellulitis and cutaneous abscess reduces antibiotic useEmergency CareEMS transport is underused by patients with a certain type of heart attackStudy characterizes patients receiving out-of-hospital endotracheal intubationHealth Care Costs and Financing24-hour intensivist care in ICUs can lead to cost savings for the sickest patients admitted at nightCosts of congenital heart operations vary among hospitalsPneumococcal disease continues to lead to substantial health care use and costsStudy provides rare look at patterns of use and spending for physical therapyChronic DiseasePatients with hepatitis C virus infection who adhere to their drug regimen are more likely to show long-term benefitOlder patients with chronic conditions have greater risk of problems and death following bilateral knee replacementNine percent of adults with hypertension have resistant hypertensionRoutinely collecting clinical data can improve pneumococcal vaccination of rheumatology patients on immunosuppressant drugsHealth Information TechnologyICU nurses show increasing acceptance of electronic health recordsPharmacists have limited awareness of the capabilities of their pharmacy information systemsStudy uncovers the time spent on writing and viewing hospital electronic health recordsElectronic health records in community health centers provide a better picture of care than insurance claims dataComparative Effectiveness ResearchBone marrow transplant is beneficial for some rare pediatric conditionsLittle evidence for benefit of interventions in the early stage of chronic kidney diseaseEvidence lacking to support surgery for pelvic painMore research needed to evaluate self-measured blood pressure monitoringEvidence lacking on how to match wheelchairs with patientsSome diabetes practice guidelines do not reflect all available evidenceDisparities/Minority HealthWatching patient stories on DVDs improves blood pressure control among blacksStudy identifies attributes of surgeons more willing to provide charity carePrimary CareGrowth in the physician assistant workforce will be insufficient to meet future needs of primary careChild/Adolescent HealthDespite recommendations against it, early discharge of late-preterm newborns remains commonPediatric nurses express differing perspectives on palliative careMental HealthDiagnosis and treatment rates for depression in older adults have grown over time, with medication edging out therapyMore patients are being prescribed antidepressants by non-psychiatrists and without a psychiatric diagnosisAdherence to bipolar medications may also promote adherence to antiretroviral therapyElderly/Long-Term CarePreventing pressure ulcers in the home requires creative solutions by nursesMedicaid nursing home reimbursement affects nursing homes' approach to end-of-life careHealth LiteracyHealth literacy issues less of a problem for patients with dental versus medical conditionsAgency News and NotesHospital stays involving C. difficile infections leveled off after 300 percent increase since 1993AHRQ publishes cancer hospitalization statisticsAHRQ releases pharmacy health literacy modules for facultyAnnouncementsNew public reporting funding opportunityOpportunities to improve primary care services for adults with complex needs highlighted in new white paper and briefResearch Briefs Current as of March 2012 Internet Citation: Research Activities, March 2012, No. 379. March 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/newsletters/research-activities/mar12/index.html
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