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
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (1)
- (-) COVID-19 (10)
- Critical Care (1)
- Decision Making (1)
- Disparities (1)
- (-) Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (10)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Emergency Preparedness (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (9)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Implementation (1)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Medication (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Policy (1)
- Public Health (2)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Risk (1)
- Telehealth (1)
- Training (1)
- Workflow (2)
- Workforce (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 10 of 10 Research Studies DisplayedAhmed N, Sanghavi K, Mathur S
Patient portal use: persistent disparities from pre- to post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study examined patient portal usage from pre- to post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine what impact the pandemic had on portal usage by patient sub-populations. The authors included a total of 153,628 unique patients. They assessed patient portal usage from pre-onset (March 2019-February 2020) to post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-February 2021). They examined usage by patient sub-populations (age, sex, race, ethnicity), comorbid conditions, and health insurance type. Differences were seen in specific patient portal actions. Increases were seen in immunization views (0.43) and health record views (0.43) from post-onset compared to pre-onset. A decrease was noted in prescription renewal (medication) views (-0.07) from pre- to post-onset There was a decrease in both immunization views and health record views among Black patients (-0.07) in comparison to White patients, but an increase in prescription renewal (medication) views (0.07) amongst Black patients compared to White patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS026298.
Citation: Ahmed N, Sanghavi K, Mathur S .
Patient portal use: persistent disparities from pre- to post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Int J Med Inform 2023 Oct; 178:105204. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105204..
Keywords: COVID-19, Disparities, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Zhang J, Kummerfield E, Hultman G
Application of causal discovery algorithms in studying the nephrotoxicity of remdesivir using longitudinal data from the EHR.
Researchers analyzed the role of remdesivir in the mechanism and optimal treatment of the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the setting of COVID. Applying causal discovery machine learning techniques, they built multifactorial causal models of COVID-AKI; risk factors and renal function measures were represented in a temporal sequence using longitudinal data from Electronic Health Records. Their results indicated a need for assessment of renal function on second- and third-day use of remdesivir, and also showed that remdesivir may pose less risk to AKI than existing conditions of chronic kidney disease.
AHRQ-funded; HS024532.
Citation: Zhang J, Kummerfield E, Hultman G .
Application of causal discovery algorithms in studying the nephrotoxicity of remdesivir using longitudinal data from the EHR.
AMIA Annu Symp Proc 2023 Apr 29; 2022:1227-36..
Keywords: COVID-19, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events
Lobach DF, Boxwala A, Kashyap N
AHRQ Author: Lomotan EA, Harrison MI, Dymek C, Swiger J
Integrating a patient engagement app into an electronic health record-enabled workflow using interoperability standards.
The authors sought to use interoperability standards to integrate the COVID-19 Tracker, a patient mobile application, with an EHR. Their clinical decision support integration project benefited from a standards-based approach, but they encountered challenges due to issues concerning implementation and experience of the standards-based application programming interface, Health Level 7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) in the EHR. The authors concluded that FHIR standards may provide a promising mechanism for overcoming barriers in the integration of patient engagement apps with EHRs, but that expansion of available FHIR resources will improve workflow integration.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 233201500023I.
Citation: Lobach DF, Boxwala A, Kashyap N .
Integrating a patient engagement app into an electronic health record-enabled workflow using interoperability standards.
Appl Clin Inform 2022 Oct;13(5):1163-71. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1758736..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Workflow, COVID-19
Jin DP, Samuel S, Bowden K
Just-in-time electronic health record retraining to support clinician redeployment during the COVID-19 surge.
The purpose of this study was to examine the use of training in ICU-specific electronic health record (EHR) workflows prior to redeployment of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) as ICU clinicians during the COVID-19 surge. The researchers utilized clinical informatics (CI) fellows to lead a multidisciplinary team to deploy a customized HER curriculum consisting of in-person classes and online video modules. Eighteen CRNAs participated, with 15 completing surveys immediately after the in-person training session, and 12 participants completing a post-deployment survey. The study found that all respondents of the post-training survey thought the training was useful and improved their EHR skills. Of the 12 participants who completed the post-deployment survey, all said that the training both increased their comfort in the ICU and that the concepts learned would be useful in their anesthesia role, and 91% indicated the training prepared them to work in the ICU with minimal guidance. The researchers concluded that CI fellows are uniquely prepared to deliver EHR training for clinician deployment in operational crisis response.
AHRQ-funded; HS02373.
Citation: Jin DP, Samuel S, Bowden K .
Just-in-time electronic health record retraining to support clinician redeployment during the COVID-19 surge.
Appl Clin Inform 2022 Aug 29;13(5):949-55. doi: 10.1055/a-1933-1798..
Keywords: COVID-19, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Public Health, Training, Workforce
Hinson JS, Klein E, Smith A
Multisite implementation of a workflow-integrated machine learning system to optimize COVID-19 hospital admission decisions.
This study’s objective was to develop, implement, and evaluate an electronic health record (EHR) embedded clinical decision support (CDS) system that leveraged machine learning (ML) to estimate short-term risk for clinical deterioration in patients with or under investigation for COVID-19. The system translates model-generated risk for critical care needs within 24 hours and inpatient care needs within 72 hours into rapidly interpretable COVID-19 Deterioration Risk Levels made viewable within ED clinician workflow. A retrospective cohort of 21,452 ED patients who visited one of five ED study sites was used to derive ML models and were prospectively validated in 15,670 ED visits that occurred before (n = 4322) or after (n = 11,348) CDS implementation. Model performance and numerous patient-oriented outcomes including in-hospital mortality were measured across study periods. ML model performance was excellent under all conditions. AUC ranged from 0.85 to 0.91 for prediction of critical care needs and 0.80-0.90 for inpatient care needs. Total mortality was unchanged across study periods but was reduced among high-risk patients after the implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS026640.
Citation: Hinson JS, Klein E, Smith A .
Multisite implementation of a workflow-integrated machine learning system to optimize COVID-19 hospital admission decisions.
NPJ Digit Med 2022 Jul 16;5(1):94. doi: 10.1038/s41746-022-00646-1..
Keywords: COVID-19, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Health Information Technology (HIT), Implementation, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Emergency Department, Decision Making
Kamran F, Tang S, Otles E
Early identification of patients admitted to hospital for covid-19 at risk of clinical deterioration: model development and multisite external validation study.
The authors sought to create and validate a simple and transferable machine learning model from electronic health record data to accurately predict clinical deterioration in patients with COVID-19 across institutions, through use of a novel paradigm for model development and code sharing. They determined that a model to predict clinical deterioration was developed rapidly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic at a single hospital, was applied externally without the sharing of data, and performed well across multiple medical centers, patient subgroups, and time periods, showing its potential as a tool for use in optimizing healthcare resources.
AHRQ-funded; HS028038.
Citation: Kamran F, Tang S, Otles E .
Early identification of patients admitted to hospital for covid-19 at risk of clinical deterioration: model development and multisite external validation study.
BMJ 2022 Feb 17;376:e068576. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2021-068576..
Keywords: COVID-19, Hospitalization, Risk, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
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
Huguet N, Schmidt T, Larson A
Prevalence of pre-existing conditions among community health center patients with COVID-19: implications for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Researchers described the prevalence of pre-existing conditions among community health center patients overall and those with COVID-19 by race/ethnicity. Electronic health record data from OCHIN, a network of 396 community health centers across 14 states, was used. They concluded that since the future of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is uncertain, and since the long-term health effects of COVID-19 are largely unknown, ensuring that people with pre-existing conditions can acquire health insurance is essential to achieving health equity.
AHRQ-funded; HS025962.
Citation: Huguet N, Schmidt T, Larson A .
Prevalence of pre-existing conditions among community health center patients with COVID-19: implications for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
J Am Board Fam Med 2021 Feb;34(Suppl):S247-s49. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.S1.200571..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), COVID-19, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Policy, Healthcare Delivery
Gold JA, Becton J, Ash JS
Do you know what your scribe did last spring? The impact of COVID-19 on medical scribe workflow.
This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the workflow of medical scribes. This prospective observational study was conducted at an academic medical center in the United States. A total of 74 scribes working in ambulatory practices were recruited, with 57 scribes completing the survey. Overall, 42% of scribes transitioned to remote scribing with 97% serving as remote scribes for telehealth visits. These scribes worked at home and used personal equipment. Of those no longer working as scribes, 46% worked in preclinic support, with a wide range of EHR-related activities reported. The remainder were either redeployed or furloughed.
AHRQ-funded; HS025141.
Citation: Gold JA, Becton J, Ash JS .
Do you know what your scribe did last spring? The impact of COVID-19 on medical scribe workflow.
Appl Clin Inform 2020 Oct;11(5):807-11. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1721396..
Keywords: COVID-19, Workflow, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT)
DePuccio MJ, Di Tosto G, Walker DM
Patients' perceptions about medical record privacy and security: implications for withholding of information during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers explored how patients’ concerns about the privacy and security of their medical information may lead to information-withholding behaviors. They found that many hospitalized patients were concerned about who had access to their medical information, and they found an association between these concerns and patients’ reported information-withholding behavior. They recommended reinforcing technological safeguards and clearly communicating about how patients’ medical information is accessed, stored, and used in order to honor patient privacy preferences and potentially address patients’ concerns in this area.
AHRQ-funded; HS024091; HS024767.
Citation: DePuccio MJ, Di Tosto G, Walker DM .
Patients' perceptions about medical record privacy and security: implications for withholding of information during the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Oct;35(10):3122-25. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05998-6..
Keywords: COVID-19, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)