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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 6 of 6 Research Studies DisplayedMullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW
Association of health professional shortage area hospital designation with surgical outcomes and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries.
This study’s objective was to compare surgical outcomes and expenditures at hospitals located in Health Professional Shortage Areas to nonshortage area designated hospitals among Medicare beneficiaries. This cross-sectional retrospective study used data from 842,787 Medicare beneficiary patient admissions to hospitals with and without Health Professional Shortage Area designations for common operations including appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, and hernia repair from 2014 to 2018. Primary outcomes measures were 30-day mortality, hospital readmissions, and 30-day surgical episode payments. Patients (mean age=75.6 years, males=44.4%) undergoing common surgical procedures in shortage area hospitals were less likely to be White (84.6% vs 88.4%) and less likely to have≥2 Elixhauser comorbidities (75.5% vs 78.2%). Patients undergoing surgery at Health Professional Shortage Area hospitals had lower risk-adjusted rates of 30-day mortality (6.05% vs 6.69%) and readmission (14.99% vs 15.74%). Medicare expenditures at Health Professional Shortage Area hospitals were also lower than nonshortage designated hospitals ($28,517 vs $29,685).
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672.
Citation: Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW .
Association of health professional shortage area hospital designation with surgical outcomes and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries.
Ann Surg 2023 Oct 1; 278(4):e733-e39. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005762..
Keywords: Hospitals, Surgery, Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Workforce, Outcomes
Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW
High-risk surgery among Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas.
This study’s objective was to compare high-risk surgical outcomes at hospitals located in Health Professional Shortage Areas to nonshortage area designated hospitals among Medicare beneficiaries. The authors performed a retrospective review of Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas and nonshortage areas who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, coronary artery bypass graft, esophagectomy, liver resection, pancreatectomy, or rectal resection between 2014 and 2018. They compared rates of postoperative complications and 30-day mortality between the patient cohorts. They used beneficiary and hospital ZIP codes to quantify travel time to obtain care. Compared with patients living in nonshortage areas, patients living in health professional shortage areas traveled longer (median 60.0 vs 28.0 minutes). There were no differences in risk-adjusted rates of complications (28.5% vs 28.6%) and small differences in rates of 30-day mortality (4.2% vs 4.4%) between beneficiaries living in shortage areas versus those not in shortage areas, respectively.
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW .
High-risk surgery among Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas.
J Rural Health 2023 Sep; 39(4):824-32. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12748..
Keywords: Surgery, Hospitals, Workforce, Medicare, Outcomes
Herb J, Holmes M, Stitzenberg K
Trends in rural-urban disparities among surgical specialties treating cancer, 2004-2017.
The purpose of this study was to assess trends over time in rural and urban disparities in the supply of surgeons treating patients with cancer. The researchers utilized the Area Health Resource File to conduct a retrospective observational study of medical workforce changes from 2004-2017. The study found that the density of surgical specialists in rural areas declined from 16 to 14 per 100,000 population and in urban areas from 33 to 31 per 100,000 population for a rural-urban disparity increase of 8%. The percentage increase in the supply disparity between the rural and urban workforce was largest for colorectal surgeons (66%) and general surgeons (72%). The study concluded that temporal changes in the rural-urban physician workforce depend on community factors, region, and area of specialization.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Herb J, Holmes M, Stitzenberg K .
Trends in rural-urban disparities among surgical specialties treating cancer, 2004-2017.
J Rural Health 2022 Sep;38(4):838-44. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12658..
Keywords: Rural Health, Disabilities, Surgery, Cancer, Workforce
Ingraham AM, Chaffee SM, Ayturk MD
Gaps in emergency general surgery coverage in the United States.
Researchers sought to measure gaps in round-the-clock emergency general surgery (EGS) care via a survey of all US adult acute care general hospitals with an emergency room, at least 1 operating room. They found that 17.1% of hospitals responding were unable to always provide round-the-clock EGS care. Rural location, smaller bed size, and non-teaching status were associated with lack of round-the-clock care. Inconsistent surgeon coverage was the primary reason for this lack. However, lack of a tiered system for booking emergency cases, no anesthesia availability overnight, and no stipend for EGS call were also associated with the inability to provide round-the-clock EGS care.
AHRQ-funded; HS025224; HS022694.
Citation: Ingraham AM, Chaffee SM, Ayturk MD .
Gaps in emergency general surgery coverage in the United States.
Ann Surg Open 2021 Mar;2(1). doi: 10.1097/as9.0000000000000043..
Keywords: Surgery, Emergency Department, Hospitals, Access to Care, Workforce
Cohen C, Baird M, Koirola N
The surgical and anesthesia workforce and provision of surgical services in rural communities: a mixed-methods examination.
This mixed-methods study described the distribution of the surgical and anesthesia workforce and qualitatively explored how such workforce and other factors influenced rural hospitals' provision of surgical services. Using American Hospital Association survey data, the researchers found that within rural counties, 55.1% had no surgeon, 81.2% had no anesthesiologist, and 58.1% had no Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. While rural hospitals reported meeting community needs for elective and noncomplex surgeries, these hospitals continued to face significant challenges providing subspecialty surgeries, emergency surgeries, and 24-hour obstetrical services.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Cohen C, Baird M, Koirola N .
The surgical and anesthesia workforce and provision of surgical services in rural communities: a mixed-methods examination.
J Rural Health 2021 Jan;37(1):45-54. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12417..
Keywords: Rural Health, Access to Care, Surgery, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Provider: Nurse, Provider, Hospitals
Shubeck SP, Newman EA, Vitous CA
Hiring practices of US academic surgery departments-challenges and opportunities for more inclusive hiring.
To increase workforce diversity among academic medical centers, the Association of American Medical Colleges recommends multiple inclusive strategies for evaluating and hiring candidates. The objective of this study was to determine (1) usual and inclusive hiring practices used among academic surgery departments and (2) the barriers to utilization of inclusive hiring practices. The investigators concluded that many chairs rely heavily on internal hires or trusted networks, which may limit both demographic and cognitive diversity.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Shubeck SP, Newman EA, Vitous CA .
Hiring practices of US academic surgery departments-challenges and opportunities for more inclusive hiring.
J Surg Res 2020 Oct;254:23-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.03.054..
Keywords: Surgery, Provider: Physician, Provider, Workforce, Hospitals