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
Topics
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Communication (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Implementation (1)
- Organizational Change (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Practice Improvement (1)
- (-) Primary Care (5)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (1)
- (-) Provider (5)
- Provider: Clinician (1)
- Provider: Physician (1)
- (-) Quality Improvement (5)
- (-) Quality of Care (5)
- Teams (1)
- 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 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedSoylu TG, Cuellar AE, Goldberg DG
Engagement of small to medium-sized primary care practices in quality improvement efforts.
Engaging primary care practices in quality improvement (QI) efforts has been challenging. This study examined the association between practice readiness and practice characteristics and engagement during a targeted QI effort. The study analyzed cross-sectional data collected by the Heart of Virginia Health care, a cardiovascular disease QI intervention study with 195 practices. The investigators concluded that clinicians and leadership involvement in QI efforts was critical. They indicated that the findings suggested QI plans should involve clinicians and leaders early in the process to foster commitment, establish practice readiness, and sustain improvement efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Soylu TG, Cuellar AE, Goldberg DG .
Engagement of small to medium-sized primary care practices in quality improvement efforts.
J Am Board Fam Med 2021 Jan-Feb;34(1):40-48. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.01.200153..
Keywords: Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Provider
McHugh M, Brown T, Walunas TL
Contrasting perspectives of practice leaders and practice facilitators may be common in quality improvement initiatives.
The authors sought to identify patterns of contrasting perspectives on implementation issues between practice leaders and their practice facilitators as well as factors that may contribute to them. Through individual interviews, they found that turnover of staff was frequently reported in dyads with contrasting perspectives. They recommended that planners of quality improvement initiatives using practice facilitation consider taking steps to minimize contrasting perspectives by addressing turnover challenges and encouraging opportunities to share perspectives.
AHRQ-funded; HS023921.
Citation: McHugh M, Brown T, Walunas TL .
Contrasting perspectives of practice leaders and practice facilitators may be common in quality improvement initiatives.
J Healthc Qual 2020 May/Jun;42(3):e32-e38. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000223..
Keywords: Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Implementation, Communication, Provider
Rogers ES, Cuthel AM, Berry CA
Clinician perspectives on the benefits of practice facilitation for small primary care practices.
This study examined the effectiveness of practice facilitation to improve cardiovascular disease in 257 small independent primary care practices (SIPs) enrolled in the AHRQ-funded EvidenceNOW initiative called HealthyHearts. These SIPs were enrolled in HealthyHearts NYC in New York City. Interviews were conducted with SIPs with 3 or fewer office staff and their answers were compared with interviews with practices with more than 3 office staff. Three facilitation benefits were found to the most important, including 1. Creating awareness of quality gaps; 2. Connecting practices to information, resources, and strategies, and; 3. Optimizing the HER for QI goals.
AHRQ-funded; HS023922.
Citation: Rogers ES, Cuthel AM, Berry CA .
Clinician perspectives on the benefits of practice facilitation for small primary care practices.
Ann Fam Med 2019 Aug 12;17(Suppl 1):S17-s23. doi: 10.1370/afm.2427..
Keywords: Primary Care, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Fiscella K, Mauksch L, Bodenheimer T
Improving care teams' functioning: recommendations from team science.
In this paper, the authors examine the application of team science to developing and sustaining primary care teams. They highlight six core team elements and conclude that implementation of effective team-based models in primary care requires adaptation of core team science elements coupled with relevant, practical training and organizational support, including adequate time to train, plan, and debrief.
AHRQ-funded; HS022440.
Citation: Fiscella K, Mauksch L, Bodenheimer T .
Improving care teams' functioning: recommendations from team science.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2017 Jul;43(7):361-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2017.03.009..
Keywords: Teams, Primary Care: Models of Care, Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Provider
Gray CP, Harrison MI, Hung D
AHRQ Author: Harrison MI
Medical assistants as flow managers in primary care: challenges and recommendations.
Drawing on an empirical study of a large, multispecialty delivery system engaged in reconfiguration of primary care, the authors found that using medical assistants (Mas) as flow managers required overcoming several challenges. These included entrenched social and occupational hierarchies between physicians and MAs, a lack of adequate training and mentorship, and difficulty attracting and retaining talented MAs.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 2902010000221.
Citation: Gray CP, Harrison MI, Hung D .
Medical assistants as flow managers in primary care: challenges and recommendations.
J Healthc Manag 2016 May-Jun;61(3):181-91.
.
.
Keywords: Primary Care, Organizational Change, Practice Improvement, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Workflow, Provider