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
1 to 25 of 104 Research Studies DisplayedSong Zhang, Zhang X, Patterson LJ
Racial and ethnic disparities in hospitalization outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study assessed assess racial and ethnic differences in hospitalization outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic among Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare claims from the Social Security Administration was used to determine in-hospital mortality and mortality inclusive of discharges to hospice and discharges to postacute care. Over 31 million Medicare recipients in the database were analyzed with over 14 million hospitalizations from January 2019 to February 2021. There was a decline in non-COVID-19 and an emergence of COVID-19 hospitalizations among beneficiaries of different racial and ethnic minority groups through February 2021. In-hospital mortality was not significantly different among Black patients relative to White patients but was 3.5 percentage points higher among Hispanic patients and other racial and ethnic minority groups. There were disparities in discharges to hospice and postacute care as well.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Song Zhang, Zhang X, Patterson LJ .
Racial and ethnic disparities in hospitalization outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Health Forum 2021 Dec 23;2(12):e214223. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.4223..
Keywords: COVID-19, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Medicare, Hospitalization, Outcomes, Mortality
Kalwani NM, Wang KM, Johnson AN
Application of the quadruple aim to evaluate the operational impact of a telemedicine program.
This study compared the operational impact of a telemedicine program called CardioClick at a preventive cardiology clinic compared to traditional clinic visits. The authors examined data for 134 patients enrolled in CardioClick with 181 video follow-up visits and 276 patients enrolled in the clinic’s traditional program with 694 in-person follow-up visits. The Quadruple Aim was used to evaluate CardioClick. Both cohorts were similar in characteristics in terms of age, gender balance, and baseline clinical characteristics. Video follow-up visits were shorter in time for clinicians (median 22 vs 30 minutes) than in-person visits and total clinic time (median 22 vs 68 minutes). Video visits were more likely to end on time than in-person visits as well. Physicians more often completed video visit documentation on the day of the visit.
AHRQ-funded; HS026128.
Citation: Kalwani NM, Wang KM, Johnson AN .
Application of the quadruple aim to evaluate the operational impact of a telemedicine program.
Healthc 2021 Dec;9(4):100593. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2021.100593..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Cardiovascular Conditions, COVID-19
Lee DJ, Shelton JB, Brendel P
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urological care delivery in the United States.
This study examined changes in urological care delivery in the US due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Real-world data was analyzed from the American Urological Association Quality (AQUA) Registry from 157 outpatient urological practices and 3,165 providers across 58 states and territories, including over 3.2 million unique patients, over 12 million outpatient visits and over 2 million procedures. Primary outcome measured was the number of outpatient visits and procedures performed from January 2019 to February 2021. The largest decline (>50%) was from March to April 2020 across all patient demographic groups and states. Nonurgent outpatient visits decreased more across various nonurgent procedures (49-59%) than for potentially urgent diagnoses (38-52%). Medicare-insured patients had the steepest declines (55%), while those on Medicaid and government insurance had the lowest percentage of care recovery to baseline. African American patients also had slower recoveries back to baseline.
AHRQ-funded; HS026372.
Citation: Lee DJ, Shelton JB, Brendel P .
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urological care delivery in the United States.
J Urol 2021 Dec;206(6):1469-79. doi: 10.1097/ju.0000000000002145..
Keywords: COVID-19, Healthcare Delivery
Michelson KA, Rees CA, Sarathy J
Interregional transfers for pandemic surges.
Hospital inpatient and intensive care unit (ICU) bed shortfalls may arise due to regional surges in volume. In this study, the investigators sought to determine how interregional transfers could alleviate bed shortfalls during a pandemic, using estimates of past and projected inpatient and ICU cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from 4 February 2020 to 1 October 2020.
AHRQ-funded; HS026503.
Citation: Michelson KA, Rees CA, Sarathy J .
Interregional transfers for pandemic surges.
Clin Infect Dis 2021 Dec 6;73(11):e4103-e10. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1549..
Keywords: COVID-19, Hospitals, Public Health, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care
Pollack CE, Leifheit KM, McGinty EE
Public support for policies to increase housing stability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated longstanding housing precarity. This study measured the public support for policies designed to increase housing stability and gauged whether support levels were associated with views about the role of evictions in COVID-19 transmission and the existence of racial inequities in the housing market. The investigators concluded that support for housing stability policies was strong among U.S. adults, particularly among those who agreed that preventing evictions slowed COVID-19 transmission and among those who acknowledged racial inequities in the housing market.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Pollack CE, Leifheit KM, McGinty EE .
Public support for policies to increase housing stability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Am J Prev Med 2021 Dec;61(6):919-22. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.05.006..
Keywords: COVID-19, Policy, Public Health
Hayden EM, Davis C, Clark S
Telehealth in emergency medicine: a consensus conference to map the intersection of telehealth and emergency medicine.
Through the 2020 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's annual consensus conference, experts in emergency medicine (EM) and telehealth created a research agenda to explore how EM should intersect with telehealth. The multiyear process resulted in consensus with a final set of 24 important research questions. The primary finding from the process was the breadth of gaps in the evidence for telehealth in EM and telehealth in general. The consensus process identified priority research questions for the use of and evaluation of telehealth in EM to fill the current knowledge gaps.
AHRQ-funded; HS027528.
Citation: Hayden EM, Davis C, Clark S .
Telehealth in emergency medicine: a consensus conference to map the intersection of telehealth and emergency medicine.
Acad Emerg Med 2021 Dec;28(12):1452-74. doi: 10.1111/acem.14330..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Emergency Department, COVID-19
Zuvekas SH, Kashihara D
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial disruptions in the field operations of all 3 major components of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). In this study, the investigators described how the MEPS program successfully responded to these challenges by reengineering field operations, including survey modes, to complete data collection and maintain data release schedules.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Zuvekas SH, Kashihara D .
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
Am J Public Health 2021 Dec;111(12):2157-66. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2021.306534..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), COVID-19, Healthcare Costs, Data
Feldman AG, O'Leary ST, Danziger-Isakov L
The risk of resurgence in vaccine-preventable infections due to coronavirus disease 2019-related gaps in immunization.
This paper discusses the decline in immunization delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global community is at risk for a resurgence in vaccine-preventable infections including measles, pertussis, and polio. Outbreaks in the United States are likely to occur when social distancing stops and children return to school. Partnerships between healthcare providers, community leaders, and local, state, regional, and national public health departments are needed to reassure families that vaccine delivery during COVID-19 is safe as well as to identify and catch up those children who are under-immunized.
AHRQ-funded; HS026510.
Citation: Feldman AG, O'Leary ST, Danziger-Isakov L .
The risk of resurgence in vaccine-preventable infections due to coronavirus disease 2019-related gaps in immunization.
Clin Infect Dis 2021 Nov 16;73(10):1920-23. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab127..
Keywords: COVID-19, Children/Adolescents, Vaccination, Infectious Diseases
Jones K, Mantey J, Washer L
When planning meets reality: COVID-19 interpandemic survey of Michigan nursing homes.
This survey examined conditions at Michigan nursing homes (NHs) during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This survey evaluated preparedness, staffing, testing, and adaptations made due to COVID. Of 452 Michigan NHs contacted via email, 145 opened the survey of those,143 responded from May 1-12, 2020. Two-thirds reported shortages of personal protective equipment. Half lacked sufficient testing resources with only 36% able to test residents and staff when needed. A majority (55%) experienced staffing shortages, with 63% experiencing resignations with front-line clinical staff more likely to resign. Facilities showed rapid adaptation, with 78% creating COVID-19 units to care for patients on site. To reduce isolation, most NHs facilitated communication via phone calls, videoconferencing, and window visits. The majority continued to provide normal required therapies (90%).
AHRQ-funded; HS025451.
Citation: Jones K, Mantey J, Washer L .
When planning meets reality: COVID-19 interpandemic survey of Michigan nursing homes.
Am J Infect Control 2021 Nov;49(11):1343-49. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.03.016..
Keywords: COVID-19, Nursing Homes, Public Health, Emergency Preparedness
Alagoz O, Lowry KP, Kurian AW
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer mortality in the US: estimates from collaborative simulation modeling.
This study’s objective was to project the impact of COVID-19 on future breast cancer mortality between 2020 and 2030. Three established Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network breast cancer models were used to model reductions in mammography screening use, delays in symptomatic cancer diagnosis, and reduced use of chemotherapy for women with early-stage disease for the first 6 months of the pandemic with return to prepandemic patterns after that time. The models project by 2030 950 cumulative excess breast cancers deaths related to reduced screening, 1314 deaths associated with delayed diagnosis of symptomatic cases, and 151 deaths associated with reduced chemotherapy use in women with hormone positive, early-stage cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Alagoz O, Lowry KP, Kurian AW .
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer mortality in the US: estimates from collaborative simulation modeling.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2021 Nov 2;113(11):1484-94. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djab097..
Keywords: COVID-19, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Mortality, Women
Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK
Disparities in use of video telemedicine among patients with limited English proficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authors hypothesized that limited English proficiency (LEP) would be associated with lower video use compared with telephone, especially among patients without prior video visit experience. They found that one-third of patients with LEP scheduled a visit by video instead of telephone. Patients with LEP chose video less often than patients without LEP, even after adjusting for technology factors. However, among patients with prior video visit experience, no significant difference in video visit use by LEP was found.
AHRQ-funded; HS025189.
Citation: Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK .
Disparities in use of video telemedicine among patients with limited English proficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Nov;4(11):e2133129. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.33129..
Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Disparities, Communication
Shipe ME, Baechle JJ, Deppen SA
Modeling the impact of delaying surgery for early esophageal cancer in the era of COVID-19.
Surgical society guidelines have recommended changing the treatment strategy for early esophageal cancer during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Delaying resection can allow for interim disease progression, but the impact of this delay on mortality is unknown. The COVID-19 infection rate at which immediate operative risk exceeds benefit is unknown. In this study, the investigators sought to model immediate versus delayed surgical resection in a T1b esophageal adenocarcinoma.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Shipe ME, Baechle JJ, Deppen SA .
Modeling the impact of delaying surgery for early esophageal cancer in the era of COVID-19.
Surg Endosc 2021 Nov;35(11):6081-88. doi: 10.1007/s00464-020-08101-6..
Keywords: COVID-19, Cancer, Surgery, Shared Decision Making, Risk
Ingraham NE, Purcell LN, Karam BS
Racial and ethnic disparities in hospital admissions from COVID-19: determining the impact of neighborhood deprivation and primary language.
This retrospective cohort study evaluated neighborhood-level deprivation and English language proficiency effects on disproportionate outcomes seen in racial and ethnic minorities diagnosed with COVID-19. Health records of 12 Midwest hospitals and 60 clinics in Minnesota between March 4 and August 19, 2020 were used. COVID-19 hospitalization rates were evaluated against the patient’s Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and primary language. A total of 5577 individuals were included, with 866 hospitalized within 45 days of diagnosis. Hospitalized patients were older, and more likely to be male. Minority/race ethnicity was associated with COVID-19 severity, but ADI was not associated with increased hospitalization. Non-English speaking significantly increased odds of hospital admission across and within minority groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS024532; HS26732; HS026379.
Citation: Ingraham NE, Purcell LN, Karam BS .
Racial and ethnic disparities in hospital admissions from COVID-19: determining the impact of neighborhood deprivation and primary language.
J Gen Intern Med 2021 Nov;36(11):3462-70. doi: 10.1007/s11606-021-06790-w..
Keywords: COVID-19, Hospitalization, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities
Vranas KC, Golden SE, Mathews KS
The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on ICU organization, care processes, and frontline clinician experiences: a qualitative study.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented adjustments to intensive care unit (ICU) organization and care processes globally. The investigators examined if hospital emergency responses to the COVID-19 pandemic differed depending on hospital setting and explored which strategies worked well to mitigate strain as perceived by intensivists. The investigators concluded that their study demonstrated the importance of trust and transparency between frontline staff and hospital leadership as key components of effective emergency responses during public health crises.
AHRQ-funded; HS028038.
Citation: Vranas KC, Golden SE, Mathews KS .
The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on ICU organization, care processes, and frontline clinician experiences: a qualitative study.
Chest 2021 Nov;160(5):1714-28. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.05.041..
Keywords: COVID-19, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care, Healthcare Delivery, Workforce, Public Health
Cibrian FL, Monteiro E, Ankrah E
Parents' perspectives on a smartwatch intervention for children with ADHD: rapid deployment and feasibility evaluation of a pilot intervention to support distance learning during COVID-19.
This paper explores how smartwatch technology, including timing notifications, can support children with ADHD during distance learning due to COVID-19. The researchers used a Digital Health Intervention which included a smartwatch and a smartphone. Their results demonstrated that children successfully adopted the use of the smartwatch, and parents believed that the intervention was helpful, especially in supporting the development of organizational skills in their children. The authors included suggestions to help professionals teach children with ADHD to use smartwatches to improve organization and task completion, especially as it applies to supporting remote instruction.
AHRQ-funded; HS026058.
Citation: Cibrian FL, Monteiro E, Ankrah E .
Parents' perspectives on a smartwatch intervention for children with ADHD: rapid deployment and feasibility evaluation of a pilot intervention to support distance learning during COVID-19.
PLoS One 2021 Oct 27;16(10):e0258959. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258959..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Behavioral Health, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Adherence/Compliance
Applebury DE, Robinson EJ, Gold JA
Pilot testing of simulation in the evaluation of a novel, rapidly deployable electronic health record for use in disaster intensive care.
This purpose of this study was to present the application of simulation to assess a quickly scalable hub-and-spoke model for Electronic Health Record (EHR) system deployment and monitoring, utilizing asynchronous training. The researchers modified existing commercial EHR products to function as the entry point from a simulated hospital and a separate system for tele-ICU support and data monitoring. A modular video-based curriculum was developed for asynchronous training of users. The curriculum's effectiveness was evaluated through the completion of standard ICU documentation tasks in a high-fidelity simulation. Additional endpoints included EHR navigation assessment, user satisfaction (Net Promoter), system usability (System Usability Scale-SUS), and cognitive load (NASA-TLX). The study found that 5 participants achieved a 100% task completion rate in all domains, except for ventilator data (91%). The systems demonstrated high satisfaction, satisfactory usability, and acceptable cognitive load, with higher cognitive loads correlating to the number of screens used.
AHRQ-funded; HS023793.
Citation: Applebury DE, Robinson EJ, Gold JA .
Pilot testing of simulation in the evaluation of a novel, rapidly deployable electronic health record for use in disaster intensive care.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021 Oct 22; 17:e51. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2021.302..
Keywords: COVID-19, Emergency Preparedness, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Public Health, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care
Welsh M, Chimowitz H, Nanavati JD
A qualitative investigation of the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on emergency physicians' emotional experiences and coping strategies.
Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, emergency physicians in the United States have faced unprecedented challenges, risks, and uncertainty while caring for patients in an already vulnerable healthcare system. As such, the pandemic has exacerbated high levels of negative emotions and burnout among emergency physicians, but little systematic qualitative work has documented these phenomena. The purpose of this qualitative investigation was to study emergency physicians' emotional experiences in response to COVID-19 and the coping strategies that they employed to navigate the pandemic.
AHRQ-funded; HS025752.
Citation: Welsh M, Chimowitz H, Nanavati JD .
A qualitative investigation of the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on emergency physicians' emotional experiences and coping strategies.
J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2021 Oct;2(5):e12578. doi: 10.1002/emp2.12578..
Keywords: COVID-19, Emergency Department, Provider: Physician
Krantz MS, Stone CA, Rolando LA
An academic hospital experience screening mRNA COVID-19 vaccine risk using patient allergy history.
This retrospective cohort study examined the outcomes of screening mRNA COVID-19 vaccine risk using patient-reported anaphylactic history at a single academic hospital employee vaccination program. Although rare, m-RNA COVID-19 vaccines have been contraindicated in patients with known allergy to polyethylene glycol (PEG) 2000 present in the lipid nanoparticle carrier system of these vaccines. Health care workers and other affiliates who met criteria based on the Tennessee Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Plan received the first dose of Pfizer m-RNA vaccine. Out of 23,035 individuals who were screened before dose 1, 31 reported a high-risk allergy history that triggered a focused review by the Allergist On-Call. Out of those 31, only 3 were recommended not to proceed to Dose 1 and were referred to the Drug Allergy Clinic for assessment. Ultimately, all individuals were cleared to receive their first dose, and none reported an adverse reaction.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Krantz MS, Stone CA, Rolando LA .
An academic hospital experience screening mRNA COVID-19 vaccine risk using patient allergy history.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2021 Oct;9(10):3807-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.07.010..
Keywords: COVID-19, Screening, Vaccination
Baughman AW, Renton M, Wehbi NK
Building community and resilience in Massachusetts nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers discuss the partnership of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association and Hebrew SeniorLife with AHRQ ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network (the Network). This educational program provided 16 weeks of free weekly virtual sessions to 295 eligible nursing homes. The Network weekly meetings were a source of connection, emotional support, and validation and may be a valuable mechanism to support resilience and wellbeing for nursing home staff.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120C00003.
Citation: Baughman AW, Renton M, Wehbi NK .
Building community and resilience in Massachusetts nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Oct;69(10):2716-21. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17389..
Keywords: COVID-19, Elderly, Nursing Homes, Evidence-Based Practice, Provider: Health Personnel, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Training
Zachrison KS, Yan Z, Schwamm LH
Changes in virtual and in-person health care utilization in a large health system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This cross-sectional study evaluates how the growth of virtual care has impacted health care utilization in an integrated delivery network.
AHRQ-funded; HS024561.
Citation: Zachrison KS, Yan Z, Schwamm LH .
Changes in virtual and in-person health care utilization in a large health system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Oct;4(10):e2129973. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.29973.
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Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery
Portney DS, Zhu Z, Chen EM
COVID-19 and use of teleophthalmology (CUT Group): trends and diagnoses.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered how clinicians care for patients. Ophthalmologists saw an estimated 81% drop in volume, the most of any specialty during the initial pandemic and public health restrictions. This study demonstrates the characteristics of telehealth use in ophthalmology on a large scale with primary data before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHRQ-funded; HS027632.
Citation: Portney DS, Zhu Z, Chen EM .
COVID-19 and use of teleophthalmology (CUT Group): trends and diagnoses.
Ophthalmology 2021 Oct;128(10):1483-85. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.02.010..
Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery
Nguyen KH, Thorsness R, Hayes S
Evaluation of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in initiation of kidney failure treatment during the first 4 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on initiation of kidney failure treatment during the first 4 months of the pandemic with a focus on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities. The study population included 127,149 patients with incident kidney failure between January 2018 and June 2020. The mean age of patients was 62.8 years, and were 41.7% female, 25.9% non-Hispanic Black and 15.6% Hispanic/Latino. There were significant decreases in the proportion of patients with incident kidney failure receiving preemptive transplantation and initiating hemodialysis treatment with an arteriovenous fistula during the first 4 months of the pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. These decreases were most significant among non-Hispanic Black patients. There were also significant decreases in patients residing in counties in the highest quintile of COVID-19 mortality rates, but not for patients residing in other counties. Treatment initiation was approximately 30% lower than projected in April 2020.
AHRQ-funded; HS028285.
Citation: Nguyen KH, Thorsness R, Hayes S .
Evaluation of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in initiation of kidney failure treatment during the first 4 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Oct;4(10):e2127369. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.27369..
Keywords: COVID-19, Kidney Disease and Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities
Tignanelli CJ, Bramante CT, Dutta NT
Metabolic surgery may protect against admission for COVID-19 in persons with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) disease causes significant morbidity and mortality through increased inflammation and thrombosis. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are states of chronic inflammation and indicate advanced metabolic disease. The purpose of this observational study was to characterize the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 in patients with NAFLD/NASH and evaluate the mitigating effect of various metabolic treatments.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Tignanelli CJ, Bramante CT, Dutta NT .
Metabolic surgery may protect against admission for COVID-19 in persons with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Surg Obes Relat Dis 2021 Oct;17(10):1780-86. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2021.05.029..
Keywords: COVID-19, Surgery, Obesity: Weight Management, Obesity
Zachrison KS, Sharma R, Wang Y
National trends in telestroke utilization in a US commercial platform prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this study, the objective was to describe characteristics of telestroke consultations among a national sample of telestroke sites on one of the most commonly used common vendor platforms, prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The investigators concluded that among spoke sites using a commercial telestroke platform over a seven-year time horizon, times to consult start and alteplase bolus decreased over time. Similar to academic networks, duration of telestroke participation in this commercial network was associated with faster alteplase delivery, suggesting practice improves performance.
AHRQ-funded; HS024561.
Citation: Zachrison KS, Sharma R, Wang Y .
National trends in telestroke utilization in a US commercial platform prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021 Oct;30(10):106035. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106035..
Keywords: COVID-19, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Stroke, Cardiovascular Conditions, Practice Patterns
Benneyan JC, White T, Nehls N
Systems analysis of a dedicated ambulatory respiratory unit for seeing and ensuring follow-up of patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
This paper is a systems analysis of a dedicated ambulatory respiratory unit for patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Workflow redesigns were necessitated by COVID and included new ambulatory workflows to handle surge volumes, protect patients and staff, and ensure timely reliable care. The workflow innovations observed can possibly be used to benefit routine care. Observations found that more than 85% of follow-ups were completed within 24 hours, and no staff or patient infections were associated with unit operations. Identified issues included role confusion, staffing and gatekeeping bottlenecks, and patient reluctance to visit in person or discuss concerns on the phone.
AHRQ-funded; HS027282.
Citation: Benneyan JC, White T, Nehls N .
Systems analysis of a dedicated ambulatory respiratory unit for seeing and ensuring follow-up of patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
J Ambul Care Manage 2021 Oct-Dec;44(4):293-303. doi: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000390..
Keywords: COVID-19, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Respiratory Conditions, Workflow, Healthcare Delivery