National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Events (1)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (1)
- Communication (2)
- Dementia (1)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (3)
- Evidence-Based Practice (4)
- Falls (1)
- Guidelines (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (3)
- Hospital Discharge (1)
- Hospitals (1)
- Implementation (1)
- Injuries and Wounds (1)
- Inpatient Care (1)
- Medical Errors (1)
- Medication (1)
- Neurological Disorders (2)
- Outcomes (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient Safety (3)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (3)
- Provider: Health Personnel (1)
- Provider: Physician (1)
- Quality Improvement (5)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (1)
- Quality Measures (1)
- Quality of Care (5)
- Risk (1)
- Rural Health (1)
- Shared Decision Making (2)
- Stroke (1)
- (-) Tools & Toolkits (12)
- Workflow (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 12 of 12 Research Studies DisplayedHempel S, Miake-Lye I, Brega AG
AHRQ Author: Spector WD
Quality improvement toolkits: recommendations for development.
The authors convened a panel of health care stakeholders informed by a literature review that analyzed 44 publications and 27 toolkits. The panel formed 12 recommendations for content and 1 recommendation for toolkit development methods. The authors then established a set of key recommendations and suggestions addressing the content, development, and evaluation methods of quality improvement toolkits, together with a ready-to-use checklist.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hempel S, Miake-Lye I, Brega AG .
Quality improvement toolkits: recommendations for development.
Am J Med Qual 2019 Nov/Dec;34(6):538-44. doi: 10.1177/1062860618822102..
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Tools & Toolkits
Mixon AS, Smith GR, Mallouk M
Design of MARQUIS2: study protocol for a mentored implementation study of an evidence-based toolkit to improve patient safety through medication reconciliation.
The first Multi-center Medication Reconciliation Quality Improvement Study (MARQUIS1) demonstrated that implementation of a medication reconciliation best practices toolkit decreased total unintentional medication discrepancies in five hospitals. In this study, the investigators sought to implement the MARQUIS toolkit in more diverse hospitals, incorporating lessons learned from MARQUIS1.
AHRQ-funded; HS023757; HS025486.
Citation: Mixon AS, Smith GR, Mallouk M .
Design of MARQUIS2: study protocol for a mentored implementation study of an evidence-based toolkit to improve patient safety through medication reconciliation.
BMC Health Serv Res 2019 Sep 11;19(1):659. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4491-5.
.
.
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Medication, Patient Safety, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Tools & Toolkits
Dossett L, Miller J, Jagsi R
A modified communication and optimal resolution program for intersystem medical error discovery: protocol for an implementation study.
AHRQ’s Communication and Optimal Resolution (CANDOR) Toolkit facilitates transparent communication, error prevention, and achieving optimal resolution with patients and families; how medical errors should be addressed when they are discovered between systems-intersystem medical error discovery (IMED)-remains unclear. This study aims to develop and test implementation of a modified CANDOR process for application to IMED scenarios. Step 1 of aim 1 is currently underway. This work is expected to provide important insights into the potential utility of an implementation toolkit to improve transparent communication and optimal resolution of IMED scenarios.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Dossett L, Miller J, Jagsi R .
A modified communication and optimal resolution program for intersystem medical error discovery: protocol for an implementation study.
JMIR Res Protoc 2019 Jul 2;8(7):e13396. doi: 10.2196/13396..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Communication, Clinician-Patient Communication, Medical Errors, Patient Safety, Tools & Toolkits
Simon KC, Munson R, Ong A
Design and implementation of structured clinical documentation support tools for treating stroke patients.
This article describes the development of a customized structured clinical documentation toolkit that standardizes patient data collection to conform to Best Practices for treating patients with stroke. The toolkit collects demographic information for patients, relevant score test measures, and information on disability, treatment, and outcomes. Basic descriptive data gathered via the toolkits is provided and their utility in collecting patient data in a manner that supports both quality clinical care and research initiatives demonstrated. Quality improvement projects and current research initiatives using the toolkit are also discussed.
AHRQ-funded; HS024057.
Citation: Simon KC, Munson R, Ong A .
Design and implementation of structured clinical documentation support tools for treating stroke patients.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2019 May;28(5):1229-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2019.01.011..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Health Information Technology (HIT), Stroke, Tools & Toolkits
Simon KC, Yucus C, Castle J
Building of EMR tools to support quality and research in a memory disorders clinic.
This article describes the development of a customized EMR toolkit that standardizes patient data collection with hundreds of discrete fields, supports Best Practices for treating patients with memory disorders, and also supports practice-based research. The toolkit was successfully implemented to support Best Practices in the care of patients with memory disorders. Applications are also discussed. Data collection is ongoing, but the authors anticipate that the toolkit will generate data that allows for descriptive and hypothesis-driven research as well as quality improvement among patients seen in memory clinics.
AHRQ-funded; HS024057.
Citation: Simon KC, Yucus C, Castle J .
Building of EMR tools to support quality and research in a memory disorders clinic.
Front Neurol 2019 Mar 7;10:161. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00161..
Keywords: Dementia, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Neurological Disorders, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Tools & Toolkits
Kwan BM, Fernald D, Ferrarone P
Implementation and evaluation of a laboratory safety process improvement toolkit.
This study evaluated the quality and usefulness of the revised version of the AHRQ toolkit “Improving Your Office Testing Process”. The toolkit is designed to help primary care practices standardize their laboratory testing processes. Researchers evaluated 2 primary practices. Nineteen clinicians and staff provided survey data. The toolkit was given a positive rating by staff who thought it was easy to use and helped improve the quality improvement (QI) infrastructure.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500025I.
Citation: Kwan BM, Fernald D, Ferrarone P .
Implementation and evaluation of a laboratory safety process improvement toolkit.
J Am Board Fam Med 2019 Mar-Apr;32(2):136-45. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2019.02.180109..
Keywords: Primary Care, Tools & Toolkits, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Sheridan SL, Donahue KE, Brenner AT
Beginning with high value care in mind: a scoping review and toolkit to support the content, delivery, measurement, and sustainment of high value care.
The purpose of this review was to create a shared vision for the content, delivery, measurement, and sustainment of patient-centered, high-value care by creating a toolkit for system leaders. The toolkit was developed by translating included evidence into simple, actionable briefs on key topics and added resources. Although potential users have reported that the toolkit is likely to be globally useful, the authors note that it needs comparison to other approaches.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500024I.
Citation: Sheridan SL, Donahue KE, Brenner AT .
Beginning with high value care in mind: a scoping review and toolkit to support the content, delivery, measurement, and sustainment of high value care.
Patient Educ Couns 2019 Feb;102(2):238-52. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.05.014..
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Tools & Toolkits
Ganiats TG, Bierman AS
AHRQ Author: Ganiats TG, Bierman AS
AHRQ's tools for better practice: helping family physicians manage today's challenges.
AHRQ is engaged in the dissemination and widespread implementation of what works in primary care. The agency’s main point of contact with the primary care community is the National Center for Excellence in Primary Care Research (NCEPCR). The authors discuss the variety of tools and resources made available by the NCEPCR.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Ganiats TG, Bierman AS .
AHRQ's tools for better practice: helping family physicians manage today's challenges.
Am Fam Physician 2017 Nov 1;96(9):569-70.
.
.
Keywords: Communication, Evidence-Based Practice, Provider: Physician, Primary Care, Tools & Toolkits
Holland DE, Brandt C, Targonski PV
Validating performance of a hospital discharge planning decision tool in community hospitals.
The researchers aimed to determine the predictive performance of the Early Screen for Discharge Planning (ESDP) in a rural regional community hospital practice setting. Patients with high ESDP scores reported more problems after discharge, reported lower quality of life, had longer length of stays, and used post-acute care services more than patients with low ESDP scores.
AHRQ-funded; HS022923.
Citation: Holland DE, Brandt C, Targonski PV .
Validating performance of a hospital discharge planning decision tool in community hospitals.
Prof Case Manag 2017 Sep/Oct;22(5):204-13. doi: 10.1097/ncm.0000000000000233.
.
.
Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Hospital Discharge, Outcomes, Rural Health, Tools & Toolkits
Dykes PC, Duckworth M, Cunningham S
Pilot testing Fall TIPS (Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety): a patient-centered fall prevention toolkit.
Patient falls during an acute hospitalization cause injury, reduced mobility, and increased costs. The laminated paper Fall TIPS Toolkit (Fall TIPS) provides clinical decision support at the bedside by linking each patient's fall risk assessment with evidence-based interventions. The investigators examined strategies to integrate this evidence into clinical practice. They concluded that engaging hospital and clinical leadership is critical in translating evidence-based care into clinical practice. They address and detail barriers to adoption of the protocol to provide guidance for spread to other institutions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025128.
Citation: Dykes PC, Duckworth M, Cunningham S .
Pilot testing Fall TIPS (Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety): a patient-centered fall prevention toolkit.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2017 Aug;43(8):403-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2017.05.002..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Shared Decision Making, Evidence-Based Practice, Falls, Hospitals, Injuries and Wounds, Inpatient Care, Patient Safety, Prevention, Risk, Tools & Toolkits
Davis MM, Howk S, Spurlock M
A qualitative study of clinic and community member perspectives on intervention toolkits: "unless the toolkit is used it won't help solve the problem.".
Researchers conducted this study to explore what clinic and community-based users want in intervention toolkits and to identify the factors that support application in practice. They found that participants wanted toolkits targeted at the right audience and demonstrated to be effective. Well organized toolkits, often with a quick start guide, with tools that were easy to tailor and apply were desired.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Davis MM, Howk S, Spurlock M .
A qualitative study of clinic and community member perspectives on intervention toolkits: "unless the toolkit is used it won't help solve the problem.".
BMC Health Serv Res 2017 Jul 18;17(1):497. doi: 10.1186/s12913-017-2413-y.
.
.
Keywords: Provider: Health Personnel, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Primary Care, Tools & Toolkits, Implementation
Narayanan J, Dobrin S, Choi J
Structured clinical documentation in the electronic medical record to improve quality and to support practice-based research in epilepsy.
The researchers describe a stepwise process for building structured clinical documentation support tools in the electronic medical record (EMR) that define best practices in epilepsy, and describe how they incorporated these toolkits into their clinical workflow. These tools write notes and capture hundreds of fields of data including several score tests. They also summarize brain imaging, blood laboratory, and electroencephalography results, and document neuromodulation treatments.
AHRQ-funded; HS024057.
Citation: Narayanan J, Dobrin S, Choi J .
Structured clinical documentation in the electronic medical record to improve quality and to support practice-based research in epilepsy.
Epilepsia 2017 Jan;58(1):68-76. doi: 10.1111/epi.13607.
.
.
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Neurological Disorders, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Tools & Toolkits, Workflow