National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Adverse Events (1)
- Care Coordination (2)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Communication (2)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- (-) Health Information Technology (HIT) (4)
- (-) Hospital Discharge (4)
- Medical Errors (1)
- Medication (2)
- Medication: Safety (1)
- (-) Patient Safety (4)
- Patient Self-Management (2)
- Transitions of Care (2)
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 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedShannon EM, Mueller SK, Schnipper JL
Patient, caregiver, and clinician experience with a technologically enabled pillbox: a qualitative study.
The purpose of this study was to explore whether medication safety could be improved by the use of a technologically-enabled pillbox prescribed to patients at hospital discharge. The study included semi-structured telephone interviews with patients, patient caregivers, and inpatient and outpatient clinicians who participated in the Smart Pillbox Transition Study. The researchers utilized the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework to develop an interview guide, which included the a priori domains of 1) barriers to implementation, 2) facilitators of the intervention, and 3) general feedback regarding experience with the intervention. The study found patient-endorsed barriers in the theme of technology and tools included signal issues, inappropriate alarms, and portability. Barriers in the theme of logistics and tasks included coordination with pharmacists in the event of a prescription change. Barriers mentioned by clinicians included patients who were poor fits for the intervention and competing demands at discharge (under the themes of personnel and patients, and logistics and tasks, respectively). Facilitators that were reported often by patients and caregivers in the theme of technology and tools included useful alarms and ease of use. Clinicians reported that communication with pharmacy and study staff facilitated the intervention.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Shannon EM, Mueller SK, Schnipper JL .
Patient, caregiver, and clinician experience with a technologically enabled pillbox: a qualitative study.
ACI Open 2023 Jul; 7(2):e61-e70..
Keywords: Medication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Self-Management, Hospital Discharge, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety
Wyatt DL
AHRQ Author: Wyatt DL
Employing technology to make care transitions safer.
This commentary discusses the potential for errors in patient handoffs; important information about medications and instructions regarding patient care may be overlooked when the patient is referred to special care, moved to a new hospital setting, or discharged. The problem is especially acute for patients with multiple chronic conditions who often undergo frequent transitions to new care settings and healthcare providers. The author describes AHRQ’s funding opportunities for health information technology interventions that aim to improve communication and coordination during care transitions, such as location-based smartphone alerts, a patient-centered discharge toolkit, and a ‘smart pillbox’ electronic medication adherence reporting project.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Wyatt DL .
Employing technology to make care transitions safer.
J Nurs Care Qual 2019 Jul/Sep;34(3):185-88. doi: 10.1097/ncq.0000000000000417..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Care Coordination, Chronic Conditions, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery, Hospital Discharge, Medical Errors, Medication, Patient Safety, Transitions of Care
Broecker M, Ponto K, Tredinnick R
SafeHOME: promoting safe transitions to the home.
This paper introduces the SafeHome Simulator system, a set of immersive Virtual Reality Training tools and display systems to train patients in safe discharge procedures in captured environments of their actual houses. The aim is to lower patient readmission by significantly improving discharge planning and training. The SafeHOME Simulator is a project currently under review.
AHRQ-funded; HS022548.
Citation: Broecker M, Ponto K, Tredinnick R .
SafeHOME: promoting safe transitions to the home.
Stud Health Technol Inform 2016;220:51-4.
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Keywords: Transitions of Care, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Safety, Patient Self-Management, Hospital Discharge
Liao JM, Roy CL, Eibensteiner K
Lost in transition: discrepancies in how physicians perceive the actionability of the results of tests pending at discharge.
Effective communication of pending hospital test results between inpatient and primary care physicians is sometimes challenging or nonexistent. This communication is essential for safe, quality transactions at discharge. Health information technology (such as email and fax) is an effective strategy for improving and reporting test-result management.
AHRQ-funded; HS018229
Citation: Liao JM, Roy CL, Eibensteiner K .
Lost in transition: discrepancies in how physicians perceive the actionability of the results of tests pending at discharge.
J Hospital Med. 2014 Jun;9(6):407-9. doi: 10.1002/jhm.2177..
Keywords: Communication, Care Coordination, Health Information Technology (HIT), Hospital Discharge, Patient Safety