National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
201 to 211 of 211 Research Studies DisplayedKamal AH, Hanson LC, Casarett DJ
The quality imperative for palliative care.
This article discusses moving beyond demonstrating what palliative care is to focusing on the quality of how it is accomplished. This effort includes developing standardized methods to collect data without adding additional burden, comparing and sharing experiences to promote discipline-wide quality assessment and improvement initiatives, and demonstrating intentions for quality improvement on the clinical frontline.
AHRQ-funded; HS022763.
Citation: Kamal AH, Hanson LC, Casarett DJ .
The quality imperative for palliative care.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2015 Feb;49(2):243-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.06.008.
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Keywords: Palliative Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Healthcare Delivery
Gidengil CA, Linder JA, Hunter G
The volume-quality relationship in antibiotic prescribing: when more isn't better.
The researchers examined the impact of volume on more common medical conditions such as acute respiratory infections (ARIs). They found that higher ARI volume physicians had lower quality across a number of domains, including higher antibiotic prescribing rates, higher broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing, and lower guideline concordance. When they prescribed an antibiotic for a diagnosis for which an antibiotic may be indicated, they were less likely to prescribe guideline-concordant antibiotics.
AHRQ-funded; HS018419.
Citation: Gidengil CA, Linder JA, Hunter G .
The volume-quality relationship in antibiotic prescribing: when more isn't better.
Inquiry 2015 Feb 10;52. doi: 10.1177/0046958015571130..
Keywords: Quality of Care, Medication, Respiratory Conditions, Guidelines
Eslami MH, Doros G, Goodney PP
Using vascular quality initiative as a platform for organizing multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trials: OVERPAR trial.
The researchers describe the organization of a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial comparing the effectiveness of open popliteal artery aneurysm repair (OPAR) and endovascular popliteal artery aneurysm repair (EPAR) of asymptomatic popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) as an example for how to use the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) framework. They concluded that using the existing VQI infrastructure, Open versus Endovascular Repair of PAAs will provide level 1 data for PAA treatment on a modest budget.
AHRQ-funded; HS021581.
Citation: Eslami MH, Doros G, Goodney PP .
Using vascular quality initiative as a platform for organizing multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trials: OVERPAR trial.
Ann Vasc Surg 2015 Feb;29(2):278-85. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2014.08.007..
Keywords: Quality of Care, Evidence-Based Practice, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Hogan PG, Burnham CA, Singh LN
Evaluation of environmental sampling methods for detection of Staphylococcus aureus on fomites.
The researchers sought to determine effective and efficient methods to recover S. aureus from porous and non-porous surfaces in addition to multiple brands of bar soap while also considering the practicality of use and cost of sampling. They concluded that both contact plates and swabs provided adequate S. aureus recovery from porous and non-porous environmental surfaces, while MRSA was infrequently recovered from bar soap.
AHRQ-funded; HS021736.
Citation: Hogan PG, Burnham CA, Singh LN .
Evaluation of environmental sampling methods for detection of Staphylococcus aureus on fomites.
Ann Public Health Res 2015 Jan 29;2(1):pii: 1013..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Quality of Care
Tamirisa NP, Parmar AD, Vargas GM
Relative contributions of complications and failure to rescue on mortality in older patients undergoing pancreatectomy.
This study evaluated the relative contribution of overall postoperative complications and failure to rescue rates on the observed increased mortality in older patients undergoing pancreatic resection at specialized centers. The study found that patients 80 years and older had no difference in complication rates but higher failure to rescue rates compared to patients younger than 80.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134
Citation: Tamirisa NP, Parmar AD, Vargas GM .
Relative contributions of complications and failure to rescue on mortality in older patients undergoing pancreatectomy.
Ann Surg. 2016 Feb;263(2):385-91. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000001093..
Keywords: Surgery, Mortality, Patient Safety, Quality of Care, Elderly
Eschler J, O'Leary K, Kendall L
Systematic inquiry for design of health care information systems: an example of elicitation of the patient stakeholder perspective.
The authors described the application of a theoretical framework to organize qualitative data during a multi-stage research study into patient engagement with electronic health records, thereby more effectively eliciting patient stakeholder needs and goals to inform the design of future health care information systems.
AHRQ-funded; HS021590.
Citation: Eschler J, O'Leary K, Kendall L .
Systematic inquiry for design of health care information systems: an example of elicitation of the patient stakeholder perspective.
Proc Annu Hawaii Int Conf Syst Sci 2015 Jan 5;2015:2804-13. doi: 10.1109/hicss.2015.339.
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Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Quality of Care, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement
Clancy C, Fraser I
AHRQ Author: Clancy C, Fraser I
High-quality health care.
This chapter describes the current state of health care quality (including avoidable harms from care); reviews selected efforts to conceptualize, measure, and improve quality; describes how measures are used to guide improvements in care; addresses promising initiatives to improve care; and predicts how the health care landscape will evolve in the coming years.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Clancy C, Fraser I .
High-quality health care.
In: Knickman J, Kovner AR, editors. Jonas and Kovner's health care delivery in the United States. 11 ed. New York: Springer; 2015. p. 273-96..
Keywords: Quality of Care, Patient Safety, Medical Errors, Adverse Events, Quality Improvement
Dor A, Encinosa WE, Carey K
AHRQ Author: Encinosa WE
Medicare's Hospital Compare quality reports appear to have slowed price increases for two major procedures.
The researchers investigated whether public reporting of hospital quality, as done through Medicare’s public reporting initiative, Hospital Compare, has an impact on the pricing of hospital services for the privately insured. In their examination of 2 common and expensive procedures, coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous coronary intervention, they found that Hospital Compare exerted a downward pressure on prices in States lacking quality report cards of their own.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; HS023610
Citation: Dor A, Encinosa WE, Carey K .
Medicare's Hospital Compare quality reports appear to have slowed price increases for two major procedures.
Health Aff. 2015 Jan;34(1):71-7. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0263..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Quality of Care, Heart Disease and Health, Public Reporting, Surgery
Lee CS, Montalmont B, O'Hara JA
Screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization using sponges.
The researchers investigated whether the additional use of a sponge to collect skin culture samples would significantly improve the sensitivity of MRSA detection. They found that the sensitivity of nasal swab culture for screening MRSA carriage is low, but it can be improved significantly by adding a second method, either sampling the skin or the pharynx.
AHRQ-funded; HS021521.
Citation: Lee CS, Montalmont B, O'Hara JA .
Screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization using sponges.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015 Jan;36(1):28-33. doi: 10.1017/ice.2014.4..
Keywords: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Quality of Care, Screening
Auger KA, Simon TD, Cooperberg D
Summary of STARNet: Seamless Transitions and (Re)admissions Network.
The Seamless Transitions and (Re)admissions Network (STARNet) met in December 2012 to synthesize ongoing hospital-to-home transition work, discuss goals, and develop a plan to centralize transition information in the future. The authors of this report reviewed the current knowledge regarding hospital-to-home transitions, outlined the challenges of measuring and reducing readmissions, and highlighted research gaps, listing potential measures for transition quality.
AHRQ-funded; HS020506.
Citation: Auger KA, Simon TD, Cooperberg D .
Summary of STARNet: Seamless Transitions and (Re)admissions Network.
Pediatrics 2015 Jan;135(1):164-75. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-1887.
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Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Hospital Discharge, Transitions of Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Brady PJ, Battles JB, Ricciardi R
AHRQ Author: Brady PJ, Battles JB, Ricciardi R
Teamwork: what health care has learned from the military.
Health care depends on clear instructions and relies not just on individuals but also on strong teams. The authors point out that well-functioning teams make fewer mistakes than do individuals. They describe how military principles can be applied to healthcare, including the elements of structure, accountability, and patient-centeredness.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Brady PJ, Battles JB, Ricciardi R .
Teamwork: what health care has learned from the military.
J Nurs Care Qual 2015 Jan-Mar;30(1):3-6. doi: 10.1097/ncq.0000000000000094.
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Keywords: TeamSTEPPS, Teams, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient Safety, Quality of Care