The Patient Handoff: a Comprehensive Curricular Blueprint for Resident Education to Improve Continuity of Care

This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:

• Articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers.
• Articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ staff, activities, and publications/products.
• Articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers.
• Articles related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force or Put Prevention into Practice program.
• Articles mentioning the National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report.
• Other research using AHRQ data or products.

AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles

Academic Medicine
Wohlauer MV, Arora VM, Horwitz LI, et al. The patient handoff: a comprehensive curricular blueprint for resident education to improve continuity of care. Acad Med 2012 Apr; 87(4):411-18. [Supported in part by grant R03 HS18278-01 (to second and third authors).] Select to access the abstract.

ACC in Touch Blog (American College of Cardiology)
Clancy CM. ACC and AHRQ—partnering in improving healthcare. ACC Touch Blog 2012 Apr 24; Online. [Author is AHRQ director; discuses release of the 2011 National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR); mentions AHRQ's efforts in establishing its National Partnership Network, including ACC; highlights various AHRQ systematic reviews, comparative effectiveness reviews, patient-centered outcomes research, tools, and resources on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site, including AHRQ consumer summary Measuring Your Blood Pressure at Home: A Review of the Research for Adults, 2012.]

American Journal of Cardiology
Greiner MA, Hammill BG, Fonarow GC, et al. Predicting costs among Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure. Am J Cardiol 2012 Mar 1; 109(5):705-11. [Supported in part by grant U18 HS10548.] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Disease in Childhood, Fetal and Neonatal Edition
Profit J, Etchegaray J, Petersen LA, Sexton JB, Hysong SJ, Mei M, Thomas EJ. Neonatal intensive care unit safety culture varies widely. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2012 Mar; 97(2):F120-F126. [Supported in part by grants 1 P01 HS11544-01 (to last author, principal investigator), 1 UC1 HS14246 (to fourth author), and 1 K02 HS17145-02 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Profit J, Etchegaray J, Petersen LA, Sexton JB, Hysong SJ, Mei M, Thomas EJ. The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire as a tool for benchmarking safety culture in the NICU. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2012 Mar; 97(2):F127-F132. [Supported in part by grants 1 P01 HS11544-01 (to last author, principal investigator), 1 UC1 HS14246 (to fourth author), and 1 K02 HS17145-02 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Henderson LM, Reeder-Hayes K, Hinton SP, et al. Comparing physician-reported cancer management plans with Medicare services received. Arch Intern Med 2012 Apr 23; 172(8):664-6. [Supported by contract HHSA290-2005-0040-I-TO4-WA4 as part of the Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program.]

Pollack CE, Noronha G, Green GE, Bhavsar NA, et al. Primary care providers' response to the US Preventive Services Task Force draft recommendations on screening for prostate cancer. Arch Intern Med 2012 Apr 23; 172(8):668-70. [Supported in part by grant T32 HS19488 (to fourth author); comments on USPSTF draft recommendation statement Screening for Prostate Cancer, 2011, as published on the USPSTF Web site.]

Archives of Surgery
Glance LG, Dick AW, Mukamel DB, et al. Association between trauma quality indicators and outcomes for injured patients. Arch Surg 2012 Apr; 147(4):308-15. [Supported by grant R01 HS16737 as part of an AHRQ-funded project to help develop the national infrastructure for trauma quality reporting, citing AHRQ-funded article by Glance et al. (J Trauma, 2010); mentions AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, citing article by Romano et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009); refer to comments by Mabry (Arch Surg, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
DeBar LL, Elder C, Ritenbaugh C, Aickin M, Deyo R, Meenan R, Dickerson J, et al. Acupuncture and chiropractic care for chronic pain in an integrated health plan: a mixed methods study. BMC Complement Altern Med 2011 Nov 25; 11:118. [Supported in part by training grant T32 HS13853 (to seventh author); mentions planned use of AHRQ's Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey data in Phase 3 of the study, citing AHRQ publication, CAHPS 2.0 Survey and Reporting Kit, 2002.] Select to access the abstract.

Critical Care Medicine
Nuckols TK. Identifying risk factors for adverse drug events in intensive care unit provides actionable opportunities to customize medication management. Crit Care Med 2012 Mar; 40(3):998-9. [Supported by Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award grant K08 HS17954; cites Perspective article, "The Role of Bar Coding and Smart Pumps in Safety," by Rothschild and Keohane, 2008, as published on AHRQ's Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web (WebM&M) Web site; comments on article by Kane-Gill et al. (Crit Care Med, 2012) in AHRQ-Related Articles.]

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology
Pappadopulos E, Rosato NS, Correll CU, Findling RL, Lucas J, Crystal S, et al. Experts' recommendations for treating maladaptive aggression in youth. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2011 Dec; 21(6):505-15. [Supported in part by cooperative agreement U18 HS16097 (to the Center for Education and Research on Mental Health Therapeutics on behalf of Rutgers University and sixth author, who acknowledges other AHRQ funding.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Zrelak PA, Utter GH, Sadeghi B, et al. Using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Indicators for targeting nursing quality improvement. J Nurs Care Qual 2012 Apr-Jun; 27(2):99-108. [Supported by contract 290-04-0020; uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators and related software, citing AHRQ Quality Indicators Validation Pilot, Patient Safety Indicators Technical Specifications, Version 3.1, 2007, and AHRQ publication, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.1, 2007, all published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Cooper PF, Manski RJ, Pepper JV. The effect of dental insurance on dental care use and selection bias. Med Care 2012 Apr 19 [Epub ahead of print. First and second authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; supported by AHRQ, funding information not given; uses 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, citing AHRQ publications, Dental Use, Expenses, Private Dental Coverage, and Changes, 1996 and 2004, MEPS Chartbook 17, 2007, and Sample Design of the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, MEPS Methodology Report 11, 2000.] Select to access the abstract.

Karliner LS, Auerbach A, Nápoles A, et al. Language barriers and understanding of hospital discharge instructions. Med Care 2012 Apr; 50(4):283-9. [Supported in part by training award grant K08 HS11416; uses diagnosis codes adapted from categories used in Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Tools and Software Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, Volume 3: Performance and Tools, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jonsson Funk M, Levin PJ, Wu JM. Trends in the surgical management of stress urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol 2012 Apr; 119(4):845-51. [Supported in part by grant K02 HS17950; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Prevention of Urinary and Fecal Incontinence in Adults, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Radiology
McCullough BJ, Johnson GR, Martin BI, et al. Lumbar MR imaging and reporting epidemiology: do epidemiologic data in reports affect clinical management? Radiology 2012 Mar; 262(3):941-6. [Supported by grant R01 HS19222-01 (incorrectly attributed to the National Institutes of Health); third author reports receiving salary support from AHRQ grant HS18405. Also refer to AHRQ-funded articles by Norris et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2012) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles and Bright et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

Academic Medicine
Baldwin DC Jr, Daugherty SR, Ryan PM, et al. What do residents do when not working or sleeping? A multispecialty survey of 36 residency programs. Acad Med 2012 Apr; 87(4):395-402. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Fletcher et al. (JAMA, 2005) and Landrigan et al. (N Engl J Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Derienzo CM, Frush K, Barfield ME, et al. Handoffs in the era of duty hours reform: a focused review and strategy to address changes in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education common program requirements. Acad Med 2012 Apr; 87(4):403-10. [Cites AHRQ publication, Patient Safety Primers: Handoffs and Signouts, as published on AHRQ's Patient Safety Network (PSNet) Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Cheung et al. (Ann Emerg Med, 2010) and Hsiao and Shiffman (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

American Surgeon
Hussain ZI, Todd N, Adams S, et al. Prevalence of Clostridium difficile in excluded colons. Am Surg 2012 Apr; 78(4): 408-13. [Summarizes HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data on clostridium difficile infection prevalence from article by Nguyen et al. (Am J Gastroenterol, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Ophthalmology
Morse AR, Lee PP. Comparative effectiveness: insights on treatment options for open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2012 Apr; 130(4):506-7. [Quotes statement by AHRQ director Carolyn M. Clancy from article by Clancy (Health Serv Res, 2003).]

Archives of Surgery
Mabry CD. Time to turn the page: moving on to write new chapters for trauma care. Arch Surg 2012 Apr; 147(4):315-16. [Comments on article by Glance et al. (Arch Surg, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Glance et al. (Ann Surg, 2011) and Stulberg et al (JAMA, 2010).]

Clinical Infectious Diseases
Srinivasan A, Craig M, Cardo D. The power of policy change, federal collaboration and state coordination in HAI prevention. Clin Infect Dis 2012 Apr 20 [Epub ahead of print. Discusses the collaboration of AHRQ, CDC, and CMS on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections [HAI], mentioning AHRQ and CDC efforts to support reporting of central line-associated blood stream infections through the National Healthcare Safety Network for hospitals participating in the AHRQ-funded "On the CUSP: Stop BSI" initiative"; cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Critical Care Medicine
Kane-Gill SL, Kirisci L, Verrico MM, et al. Analysis of risk factors for adverse drug events in critically ill patients*. Crit Care Med 2012 Mar; 40(3):823-28. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Kilbridge et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2006), Rothschild et al. (Crit Care Med, 2005), Bates et al. (Arch Intern Med, 1999), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

HealthLeaders Media
FactFile: Inpatient trends. HeathLead Media 2012 Apr; Online. [Reports data extracted from HCUP Facts and Figures: Statistics on Hospital-Based Care in the United States, 2009; "Hospital Expenses by State" table data is based on Kaiser State Health Facts report, Distribution of Health Care Expenditures by Service by State of Residence (in Millions), 2009, utilizing data from the CMS report, National Health Expenditures Accounts: Definitions, Sources, and Methods, 2009, which uses 1996-2006 and 2008-2009 MEPS Insurance Component (MEPS IC) data.]

International Journal of Health Services
Hellander I, Bhargavan R. Report from the United States: the U.S. health crisis deepens amid rising inequality—a review of data, Fall 2011. 2012; 42(2):161-75. [Cites findings from AHRQ-authored article by Bernard et al. (J Clin Oncol, 2011), which uses MEPS data.]

JAMA
Nelson JR, Wellikson L, Wachter RM. Specialty hospitalists: analyzing an emerging phenomenon. JAMA 2012 Apr 25; 307(16):1699-1700. [Notes receipt of AHRQ grant funding by third author's institution.]

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Wentworth L, Diggins J, Bartel D, et al. SBAR: electronic handoff tool for noncomplicated procedural patients. J Nurs Care Qual 2012 Apr-Jun; 27(2):125-31. [Notes AHRQ's support for the Joint Commission's national safety goal and use of the situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) technique, citing AHRQ publication, Patient Safety Primers: Handoffs and Signouts, as published on AHRQ's PSNet Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Schnall R, Cook S, John RM, et al. Patient safety issues in advanced practice nursing students' care settings. J Nurs Care Qual 2012 Apr-Jun; 27(2):132-8. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Gandhi et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006), Smith et al. (JAMA, 2005), and Poon et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Lowe RA. Comment on Ballard DW, Price M, Fung V, et al. Validation of an algorithm for categorizing the severity of hospital emergency department visits. Med Care 2012 Apr; 50(4):361-2. [Author (Ballard DW) reply to comments on article by Ballard et al. (Med Care, 2010), which was supported by grant R01 HS11434.]

Ounpraseuth S, Gauss CH, Bronstein J, et al. Evaluating the effect of hospital and insurance type on the risk of 1-year mortality of very low birth weight infants: controlling for selection bias. Med Care 2012 Apr; 50(4):353-60. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Phibbs et al. (N Engl J Med, 2007) and Normand et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Modern Healthcare
Robeznieks A. The 50 most influential physician executives in healthcare, 2012. Mod Healthc 2012 Apr 23; 42(17):26-30. [Includes AHRQ director Carolyn Clancy in list at number 28, noting her seventh appearance on the list and regard as an influence by Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey (former AHRQ deputy administrator), in list at number 35.]

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles

Aging Health
Park KE, Qin Y, Bavry AA. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their effects in the elderly. Aging Health 2012 Apr; 8(2):167-77. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

Archives of Internal Medicine
Lannin DR. Realistic appraisal of the benefits of mammography. Arch Intern Med 2012 Apr 23; 172(8):672-3. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence update on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

JAMA
Prasad SM, Drazer MW, Huo D, et al. 2008 US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and prostate cancer screening rates. JAMA 2012 Apr 25; 307(16):1692-4. [Evaluates changes in national screening rates before and after issuance of USPSTF 2008 recommendations on screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008); discusses draft USPSTF 2011 recommendations on screening for prostate cancer, citing related USPSTF-sponsored evidence review by Chou et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2011).]

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Norris SL, Burda BU, Holmer HK, et al. Author's specialty and conflicts of interest contribute to conflicting guidelines for screening mammography. J Clin Epidemiol 2012 Apr 11 [Epub ahead of print. Supported by grant 1 R01 HS18500; uses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) (citing the Inclusion Criteria landing page of AHRQ's NGC Web site) to identify relevant guidelines with recommendations on mammography screening, selected in the context of USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009 and 2002); cites article by Woolf (JAMA, 2009), which discusses the most recent USPSTF recommendations; notes first author's previous work on USPSTF-sponsored evidence reviews on breast cancer and diabetes screening and second author's current work on USPSTF-sponsored reviews at the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research.] Select to access the abstract.

Lancet
Chan AT, Cook NR. Are we ready to recommend aspirin for cancer prevention? Lancet 2012 Apr 28; 379(9826):1569-71. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (Ann Intern Med, 2009) and on routine aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the primary prevention of colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2007).]

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Vanchinathan V, Lim HW. A dermatologist's perspective on vitamin D. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored systematic evidence review to update 2003 recommendations on behavioral counseling to prevent skin cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2011).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Thorpe JM, Thorpe CT, Kennelty KA, et al. Depressive symptoms and reduced preventive care use in older adults: the mediating role of perceived access. Med Care 2012 Apr; 50(4):302-10. [Examines study respondents' receipt of seven preventive services recommended by the USPSTF as appropriate for older adults, citing recommendations from Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996; cites USPSTF-sponsored updated systematic review on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008) and patient summary of USPSTF recommendations on screening for coronary heart disease (Ann Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Chelmow D, Waxman A, Cain JM, et al. The evolution of cervical screening and the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology. Obstet Gynecol 2012 Apr; 119(4):695-9. [Cites findings from USPSTF-sponsored systematic review of liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus testing to screen for cervical cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2011); cites findings from AHRQ publication, Screening for Cervical Cancer: A Decision Analysis for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2011. Also refer to article by Pollack et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles above, and article by Lee et al. (Int J Stroke, 2012) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Bright TJ, Wong A, Dhurjati R, et al. Effect of clinical decision-support systems: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2012 Apr 23 [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract 290-2007-10066-I and based on AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Enabling Health Care Decisionmaking Through Clinical Decision Support and Knowledge Management, 2012 (prepared by the Duke EPC under the contract number); uses methodologies given in AHRQ draft publication, Methods Guide For Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2012, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site; cites AHRQ-funded systematic reviews by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care (performed by the Southern California-University of California at San Francisco EPC) and Kaushal et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2003) on the effects of computerized physician order entry and clinical decision support systems on medication safety(prepared by the University of California San Francisco-Stanford EPC); cites AHRQ-authored articles by Atkins, Chang (first and second authors are former AHRQ researcher and researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Research, respectively), Gartlehner et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2011) and Owens, Lohr, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010), both on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program.] Select to access the abstract.

Community Practitioner
Osborn T. Training health visiting support staff to detect likelihood of possible postnatal depression. Community Pract 2012 Apr; 85(4):24-7. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening Accuracy, and Screening Outcomes, 2005.]

Exceptional Parent
O'Connor K, Edelson V, Terry SF. The need for better health and genetics literacy: new genetic discoveries are revealed almost daily. Exceptional Parent 2012 Feb; 42(2):52-3. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Health Literacy Interventions and Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review, Structured Abstract, 2011, and Literacy and Health Outcomes, 2004.]

Medical Care
McCarthy DM, Waite KR, Curtis LM, et all. What did the doctor say? Health literacy and recall of medical instructions. Med Care 2012 Apr; 50(4):277-82. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review on literacy and health outcomes by DeWalt et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2004), prepared by the RTI International-University of North Carolina EPC under contract 290-02-0016.] Select to access the abstract.

Hill-Briggs F, Schumann KP, Dike O. Five-step methodology for evaluation and adaptation of print patient health information to meet the < 5th grade readability criterion. Med Care 2012 Apr; 50(4):294-301. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Literacy and Health Outcomes, Summary, 2004; cites AHRQ publication, Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 2010, as published on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

 Nursing Economic$
Lee CT, Fitzgerald B, Downey S, et al. Perspectives in ambulatory care: models of care in outpatient cancer centers. Nurs Econ 2012 Mar-Apr; 30(2):108-16. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology, 2006; mentions AHRQ findings that "patient safety and quality of care can be enhanced through patient-centered care, and through improving the state of interprofessional collaboration as a part of organizational change," citing AHRQ publication, Research in Action: Expanding Patient-Centered Care To Empower Patients and Assist Providers, 2011.]

Nutrition Action Healthletter
Schardt D. Sleep on it: when counting sheep isn't enough. Nutr Action Healthlet 2012 Apr; 39(3):9-11. [Mentions findings from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Melatonin for Treatment of Sleep Disorders, 2004, prepared by the University of Alberta EPC under contract 290-02-0023.]

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Holmgren C, Scott JR, Porter TF, et al. Uterine rupture with attempted vaginal birth after cesarean delivery: decision-to-delivery time and neonatal outcome. Obstet Gynecol 2012 Apr; 119(4):725-31. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Birth After Cesarean: New Insights, 2010, prepared by the Oregon Health and Science University EPC under contract 290-2007-10057-1.] Select to access the abstract.

Macdorman MF, Declercq E, Mathews TJ, et al. Trends and characteristics of home vaginal birth after cesarean delivery in the United States and selected states. Obstet Gynecol 2012 Apr; 119(4):737-44. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Birth After Cesarean: New Insights, 2010; cites National Institutes of Health Consensus development conference statement on vaginal birth after cesarean (Obstet Gynecol, 2010), based on above EPC report. Also refer to AHRQ-authored/funded articles by Clancy (ACC Touch Blog, 2012) and Jonsson Funk et al. (Obstet Gynecol, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles

Academic Medicine
Rabinowitz HK, Petterson S, Boulger JG, et al. Medical school rural programs: a comparison with international medical graduates in addressing state-level rural family physician and primary care supply. Acad Med 2012 Apr; 87(4):488-92. [Cites AHRQ publication, Health Care Disparities in Rural Areas: Selected Findings from the 2004 National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2005, as accessed on the AHRQ Archive Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Family Practice
Roett MA, Wessel L. Help your patient "get" what you just said: a health literacy guide. J Fam Pract 2012 Apr; 61(4):190-6. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2010; cites AHRQ publications, Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 2010, as published on the AHRQ Web site, and Demographics and Health Care Access and Utilization of Limited-English-Proficient and English-Proficient Hispanics, MEPS Research Findings 28, 2008, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site. Also refer to articles by Clancy (ACC Touch Blog, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles above and Chan et al. (Med Care, 2012) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Annals of Oncology
Bianchi M, Sun M, Jeldres C, et al. Distribution of metastatic sites in renal cell carcinoma: a population-based analysis. Ann Oncol 2012 Apr; 23(4):973-80. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS (citing HCUP Quality Control Procedures, 2008, and AHRQ publication, Final 2000 NIS Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series Report 2003-1, 2003, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site), and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
King E, Chun R, Sulman C. Pediatric cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis: a case report and review of a 10-year national pediatric database. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2012 Apr; 138(4):372-5. [Uses 1997 and 2006 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data, citing Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 1996 and 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
Haviland MG, Banta JE, Przekop P. Fibromyalgia: prevalence, course, and co-morbidities in hospitalised patients in the United States, 1999-2007. Clin Exper Rheumatol 2012 Nov-Dec; 29(6 Suppl 69):S79-S87. [Uses 1999-2007 HCUP NIS data as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites articles by Domsic, Lingala, and Krishnan (J Rheumatol, 2010) and Chung, Krishnan, and Chakravarty (Rheumatology, 2007), which use HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Infectious Diseases
Jones JL, Roberts JM. Toxoplasmosis hospitalizations in the United States, 2008, and trends, 1993-2008. Clin Infect Dis 2012 Apr; 54(7):e58-e61. [Uses 1993-2008 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

European Urology
Trinh QD, Sammon J, Sun M, et al. Perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy compared with open radical prostatectomy: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Eur Urol 2012 Apr; 61(4):679-85. [Uses 2008-2009 HCUP NIS data and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites articles by Trinh et al. (Cancer, 2012, and J Urol, 2011) which use various HCUP NIS datasets.] Select to access the abstract.

Hanna N, Sun M, Trinh QD, et al. Propensity-score-matched comparison of perioperative outcomes between open and laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: a national series. Eur Urol 2012 Apr; 61(4):715-21. [Uses 1998-2009 HCUP NIS data, and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights
Government Accountability Office. Private health insurance: estimates of individuals with per-existing conditions range from 36 million to 122 million. GAO Highlights 2012 Mar; no. GAO-12-439:Online. [Uses 2009 MEPS data for 35 states to analyze conditions listed in selected studies as likely to result in restricted coverage in the individual insurance market, citing HHS report, At Risk: Pre-Existing Conditions Could Affect 1 in 2 Americans: 129 Million People Could Be Denied Affordable Coverage without Health Reform, 2011, Families USA report, Health Reform: Help for Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions, 2010, and GAO report, Health Insurance: Enrollment, Benefits, Funding, and Other Characteristics of State High-Risk Health Insurance Pools, 2009, which use various MEPS datasets and are listed in Table 1, "Information on Studies Used to Estimate the Number of Adults with Pre-existing Conditions;" also uses AHRQ's HCUP Chronic Condition Indicator.]

Hernia
Poulose BK, Shelton J, Phillips S, et al. Epidemiology and cost of ventral hernia repair: making the case for hernia research. Hernia 2012 Apr; 16(2):179-83. [Uses 2001-2006 HCUP NIS, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal of Stroke
Lee LK, Bateman BT, Wang S, et al. Trends in the hospitalization of ischemic stroke in the United States, 1998-2007. Int J Stroke 2012 Apr; 7(3):195-201. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data as accessed AHRQ's HCUP NIS Web site, and article by Qureshi et al. (Stroke, 2007) and Bateman et al. (Stroke, 2006); cites article by Bates et al. (Stroke, 2005), which uses USPSTF criteria.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Emergency Nursing
Robinson DJ. An integrative review: triage protocols and the effect on ED length of stay. J Emerg Nurs 2012 Apr 16 [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ as a data source; cites AHRQ publication, Emergency Severity Index, Version 4: Implementation Handbook, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Thomas L, Donohue-Porter P. Blending evidence and innovation: improving intershift handoffs in a multihospital setting. J Nurs Care Qual 2012 Apr-Jun; 27(2):116-24. [Uses an adaptation of AHRQ's TeamSTEPPS, citing AHRQ-authored article by Clancy (AHRQ director) and Tornberg (Am J Med Qual, 2007) and AHRQ publication, TeamSTEPPS Pocket Guide: Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety, 2006; cites AHRQ publication, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Lapar DJ, Mery CM, Kozower BD, et al. The effect of surgeon volume on mortality for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012 Apr; 143(4):854-63. [Uses 2003-2007 HCUP NIS data (citing AHRQ publication, 2005 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Method Series Report 2007-03, 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site) and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Iribarne A, Burgener JD, Hong K, et al. Quantifying the incremental cost of complications associated with mitral valve surgery in the United States. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012 Apr; 143(4):864-72. [Uses 2006-2007 HCUPS NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2000-2001, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost, Marsteller, and Goeschel (Health Aff, 2011) and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Thanarajasingam U, McDonald FS, Halvorsen AJ, et al. Service census caps and unit-based admissions: resident workload, conference attendance, duty hour compliance, and patient safety. Mayo Clin Proc 2012 Apr; 87(4):320-7. [Uses modification of AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, version 3.2, citing AHRQ publication, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, Version 3.2, 2008; also uses the University Health System Consortium risk adjustment process described in Mortality Risk Adjustment Methodology for University Health System's Clinical Data Base, 2009, as published on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Cram P, Cai X, Lu X, et al. Total knee arthroplasty outcomes in top-ranked and non-top-ranked orthopedic hospitals: an analysis of Medicare administrative data. Mayo Clin Proc 2012 Apr; 87(4):341-8. [Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, citing Patient Safety Indicators Overview, 2009, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site, and uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

 Medical Care
Chan KS, Gaskin DJ, Dinwiddie GY, et al. Do diabetic patients living in racially segregated neighborhoods experience different access and quality of care? Med Care 2012 Apr 19 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2006 MEPS data linked to residential segregation information for blacks and Hispanics on the basis of the 2000 census; cites article by Gresenz et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009) which uses MEPS data; cites AHRQ's NHQR/NHDR, 2010; acknowledges assistance by Ray F. Kuntz, Data Center Coordinator in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.] Select to access the abstract.

Medsurg Nursing
Upshaw-Owens M, Bailey CA. Preventing hospital-associated infection: MRSA. MedSurg Nurs 2012 Mar-Apr; 21(2):77-81. [Reviews guideline syntheses related to prevention of MRSA transmission as selected from AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ Web site; summarizes findings from AHRQ publication, Infections with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in U.S. Hospitals, 1993-2005, HCUP Statistical Brief 35, 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.]

Military Medicine
Turner TR Jr, Parodi A. Theoretically-driven infrastructure for supporting health care teams training at a military treatment facility. Mil Med 2012 Feb; 177(2):139-44. [Describes implementation of AHRQ's TeamSTEPPS® tools and techniques at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, citing AHRQ-sponsored publication, Outcome Measures for Effective Teamwork in Inpatient Care: Final Report, 2008, TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire Manual, 2008, and AHRQ TeamSTEPPS: Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety Instructor Guide, 2006.] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Jha AK, Joynt KE, Orav EJ, et al. The long-term effect of premier pay for performance on patient outcomes. N Engl J Med 2012 Apr 26; 366(17):1606-15. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), citing HCUP Comorbidity Software, Version 3.7, 2010; cites AHRQ-authored article by Pine, Jordan, Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) et al. (JAMA, 2007), articles by Southern, Quan, and Ghali (Med Care, 2004), Li et al. (BMC Health Serv Res, 2008), and others which use/discusses Elixhauser comorbidity measures.] Select to access the abstract.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Wallenstein MR, Ananth CV, Kim JH, et al. Effect of surgical volume on outcomes for laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications. Obstet Gynecol 2012 Apr; 119(4):709-16. [Uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002 and 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Production and Operations Management
Theokary C, Ren ZJ. An empirical study of the relations between hospital volume, teaching status, and service quality. Prod Oper Manag 2011 May-Jun; 20(3): 303-18. [Uses 2006 HCUP NIS data linked with the Hospital Quality Alliance performance measurement data set and the CMS Historical Inpatient Impact File for Acute Inpatient Prospective Payment System database; includes quote by AHRQ director Carolyn M. Clancy from article by Pear (N York Times, 2008); cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices, 2001, prepared by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF)-Stanford University EPC; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ayanian et al. (Health Aff, 1998) and others.]

Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Pilitsis JG, Burrows A, Peters ML, et al. Changing practice patterns of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor in the USA. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2012; 90(1):25-9. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2007-2009, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Stroke
Brinjikji W, Rabinstein AA, Cloft HJ. Hospitalization costs for acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis in the United States are substantially higher than Medicare payments. Stroke 2012 Apr; 43(4):1131-3. [Uses 2001-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site. Also refer to AHRQ-authored/funded articles by Clancy (ACC in Touch Blog, 2012), DeBar et al. (BMC Complement Altern Med, 2011), and Zrelak et al. (J Nurs Care Qual, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, and AHRQ-funded article by Norris et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2012) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles] Select to access the abstract.