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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.
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1 to 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedSheetz KH, Dimick JB, Nathan H
Centralization of high-risk cancer surgery within existing hospital systems.
Centralization is often proposed as a strategy to improve the quality of certain high-risk health care services. In this study, the investigators evaluated the extent to which existing hospital systems centralize high-risk cancer surgery and whether centralization is associated with short-term clinical outcomes. The investigators concluded that greater centralization of complex cancer surgery within existing hospital systems was associated with better outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS023597.
Citation: Sheetz KH, Dimick JB, Nathan H .
Centralization of high-risk cancer surgery within existing hospital systems.
J Clin Oncol 2019 Dec 1;37(34):3234-42. doi: 10.1200/jco.18.02035..
Keywords: Surgery, Cancer, Risk, Hospitals, Health Systems, Quality Improvement, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality of Care, Outcomes
Ellis RJ, Zhang LM, Ko CY
Variation in hospital utilization of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy for localized pancreatic neoplasms.
The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with use of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) for localized neoplasms and to assess hospital variation in MIDP utilization. Results showed that utilization of MIDP for localized pancreatic neoplasms is highly variable; while some patient-level factors are associated with MIDP use, hospital adoption of MIDP appears to be the primary driver of utilization. Monitoring hospital-level use of MIDP may be a useful quality measure to monitor uptake of emerging techniques in pancreatic surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385; HS000078.
Citation: Ellis RJ, Zhang LM, Ko CY .
Variation in hospital utilization of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy for localized pancreatic neoplasms.
J Gastrointest Surg 2020 Dec;24(12):2780-88. doi: 10.1007/s11605-019-04414-7..
Keywords: Cancer, Surgery, Hospitals, Quality of Care
Sheetz KH, Chhabra KR, Smith ME
Association of discretionary hospital volume standards for high-risk cancer surgery with patient outcomes and access, 2005-2016.
Various clinical societies and patient advocacy organizations continue to encourage minimum volume standards at hospitals that perform certain high-risk operations. Although many clinicians and quality and safety experts believe this can improve outcomes, the extent to which hospitals have responded to these discretionary standards remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between short-term clinical outcomes and hospitals' adherence to the Leapfrog Group's minimum volume standards for high-risk cancer surgery.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053; HS023597; HS024763.
Citation: Sheetz KH, Chhabra KR, Smith ME .
Association of discretionary hospital volume standards for high-risk cancer surgery with patient outcomes and access, 2005-2016.
JAMA Surg 2019 Nov;154(11):1005-12. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.3017..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Hospitals, Outcomes, Surgery, Cancer
Antunez AG, Kanters AE, Regenbogen SE
Evaluation of access to hospitals most ready to achieve national accreditation for rectal cancer treatment.
This cohort study looked at hospitals’ readiness to be part of the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), and what types of hospitals are most likely to receive NAPRC accreditation. A total of 1315 American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer-accredited hospitals from the National Cancer Database were sorted into 4 cohorts from 2011 to 2015. They were organized by high versus low volume, adherence to process standards, and patient and hospital characteristics and oncologic outcomes were compared. Among those hospitals, 38 (2.9%) met proposed thresholds for all 5 NAPRC process standards, and 220 (16.7%) met the threshold on 4 standards. Low-adherence hospitals were more likely to serve patients who were older, as well more public insurance recipients, or were black or Hispanic.
ARHQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Antunez AG, Kanters AE, Regenbogen SE .
Evaluation of access to hospitals most ready to achieve national accreditation for rectal cancer treatment.
JAMA Surg 2019 Jun;154(6):516-23. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2018.5521..
Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Hospitals, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Knox-Rice T, Xuan L, Wadsworth H
Knox-Rice T, Xuan L, Wadsworth H, Halm EA, Rhodes RL. Examining the association between healthcare utilization and clinical characteristics among cancer patients in a safety net health system.
The goal of this study was to examine the association between available patient and clinical characteristics and healthcare utilization in a cohort of breast, lung, and colorectal cancer patients within a safety-net hospital system. The investigators found that some patient and clinical characteristics associated with increased ER visits and hospitalizations in this cohort included race/ethnicity, palliative care referral, markers of advanced disease, and number opioids prescribed.
AHRQ-funded; R24 HS022418.
Citation: Knox-Rice T, Xuan L, Wadsworth H .
Knox-Rice T, Xuan L, Wadsworth H, Halm EA, Rhodes RL. Examining the association between healthcare utilization and clinical characteristics among cancer patients in a safety net health system.
J Palliat Med 2019 Jan;22(1):80-83. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0202..
Keywords: Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Palliative Care, Hospitals