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
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Dental and Oral Health (1)
- (-) Healthcare Delivery (9)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- Health Systems (2)
- Hospitals (1)
- Organizational Change (1)
- Palliative Care (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Policy (2)
- Provider Performance (3)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (3)
- (-) Quality Measures (9)
- Quality of Care (7)
- Surgery (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 9 of 9 Research Studies DisplayedBeaulieu ND, Chernew ME, McWilliams JM
Organization and performance of US health systems.
The objectives of this evidence review were to identify and describe health systems in the US, to assess differences between physicians and hospitals in and outside of health systems, and to compare quality and cost of care delivered by physicians and hospitals in and outside of health systems. A total of 580 health systems in a great variety of sizes were identified; prices for physician, hospital services, and total spending were assessed in 2018 commercial claims data. Health system physicians and hospitals were shown to deliver a large portion of medical services. Clinical quality performance and patient experience measures were slightly better in systems; however, spending and prices were significantly higher, especially in small practices. The authors concluded that slight quality differentials in combination with large price differentials suggested that health systems have not realized their potential for better care at equal or lower cost.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Beaulieu ND, Chernew ME, McWilliams JM .
Organization and performance of US health systems.
JAMA 2023 Jan 24; 329(4):325-35. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.24032..
Keywords: Health Systems, Healthcare Delivery, Provider Performance, Quality Measures, Quality of Care, Hospitals
Agniel D, Haviland A, Shekelle P
Distinguishing high-performing health systems using a composite of publicly reported measures of ambulatory care.
The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a measure that ranks health care systems by ambulatory care quality. The authors concluded that their measure, using publicly reported data to produce valid, reliable, and stable ranks of ambulatory care quality for health care systems in Minnesota and California, could also be used in other applications.
AHRQ-funded; HS024067.
Citation: Agniel D, Haviland A, Shekelle P .
Distinguishing high-performing health systems using a composite of publicly reported measures of ambulatory care.
Ann Intern Med 2020 Nov 17;173(10):791-98. doi: 10.7326/m20-0718..
Keywords: Health Systems, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Quality of Care, Provider Performance, Healthcare Delivery
Ahluwalia SC, Damberg CL, Silverman M
What defines a high-performing health care delivery system: a systematic review.
A systematic review was conducted to determine if there is a commonly used, agreed-on definition of what constitutes a "high-performing" health care delivery system. No consistent definition of a high-performing health care system or organization was identified. High performance was variably defined across different dimensions, including quality (93 percent of articles), cost (67 percent), access (35 percent), equity (26 percent), patient experience (21 percent), and patient safety (18 percent).
AHRQ-funded; HS024067.
Citation: Ahluwalia SC, Damberg CL, Silverman M .
What defines a high-performing health care delivery system: a systematic review.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2017 Sep;43(9):450-59. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2017.03.010.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Quality of Care, Policy, Quality Measures
Minami CA, Sheils CR, Bilimoria KY
Process improvement in surgery.
The authors reviewed aspects of process improvement-quality improvement that are relevant to the currently practicing surgeon. They discussed commonly used quality improvement data platforms, process improvement methodologies, examples of successful local quality improvement initiatives, the role of regional surgical improvement collaboratives, common barriers to quality improvement efforts, and potential solutions to overcome them.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Minami CA, Sheils CR, Bilimoria KY .
Process improvement in surgery.
Curr Probl Surg 2016 Feb;53(2):62-96. doi: 10.1067/j.cpsurg.2015.11.001.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Quality Measures, Surgery
Yanes AF, McElroy LM, Abecassis ZA
Observation for assessment of clinician performance: a narrative review.
The authors summarized studies utilizing video recorded or in-person observations for assessing clinician performance in medicine and surgery. They found that observations are useful for the improvement of healthcare delivery through the identification of clinician lapses and weaknesses that affect quality and safety. Further, limitations of observations included the Hawthorne effect and the necessity of trained observers to capture and analyze the notes or videos.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Yanes AF, McElroy LM, Abecassis ZA .
Observation for assessment of clinician performance: a narrative review.
BMJ Qual Saf 2016 Jan;25(1):46-55. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004171.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Quality of Care, Patient Safety, Quality Measures
Kamal AH, Kavalieratos D, Bull J
Usability and acceptability of the QDACT-PC, an electronic point-of-care system for standardized quality monitoring in palliative care.
The researchers performed usability testing of the Quality Data Collection Tool for Palliative Care (QDACT-PC), a novel, point-of-care quality monitoring tool for palliative care. They found that testing the QDACT-PC reveals equivalence with paper for data collection time, but with less burden overall for electronic methods across other domains of usability.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Kamal AH, Kavalieratos D, Bull J .
Usability and acceptability of the QDACT-PC, an electronic point-of-care system for standardized quality monitoring in palliative care.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2015 Nov;50(5):615-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.05.013.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Quality of Care, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Quality Measures
Gibson G, Jurasic MM, Wehler CJ
Longitudinal outcomes of using a fluoride performance measure for adults at high risk of experiencing caries.
In this paper, the authors hypothesized that after the implementation of a performance measure regarding appropriate fluoride use, veterans at high risk of experiencing caries would require fewer new dental restorations than in the past. They found that, after use of the performance measure for four years, there were 8.6 percent fewer patients needing two or more restorations, a 10.8 percent decrease in the mean number of restorations, and a modest 3.4 percent fewer patients at high risk of experiencing caries who required new restorations after the initial 12-month period.
AHRQ-funded; HS019527.
Citation: Gibson G, Jurasic MM, Wehler CJ .
Longitudinal outcomes of using a fluoride performance measure for adults at high risk of experiencing caries.
J Am Dent Assoc 2014 May;145(5):443-51. doi: 10.14219/jada.2013.53.
.
.
Keywords: Dental and Oral Health, Healthcare Delivery, Provider Performance, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures
Leroy L, Bayliss E, Domino M
AHRQ Author: Miller T
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Multiple Chronic Conditions Research Network: overview of research contributions and future priorities.
HHS developed the HHS Strategic Framework on Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC), and AHRQ contributed by funding the MCC Research Network over 45 diverse grants. This paper described a subset of research contributions made in each topic area and made 3 recommendations for future MCC research: (1) include person-centered and person-driven measures and outcomes, (2) consider the person in the context of their relationships and community, and (3) include mental healthcare as an essential part of overall healthcare.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; HS022444.
Citation: Leroy L, Bayliss E, Domino M .
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Multiple Chronic Conditions Research Network: overview of research contributions and future priorities.
Med Care 2014 Mar;52 Suppl 3:S15-22. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000095.
.
.
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Delivery, Health Services Research (HSR), Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality Measures
Conway PH, Mostashari F, Clancy CM
AHRQ Author: Clancy CM
The future of quality measurement for improvement and accountability.
The authors describe the characteristics of the quality measurement enterprise of the future, outline a potential roadmap for the transition, and identify a set of opportunities for public- and private-sector collaboration.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Conway PH, Mostashari F, Clancy CM .
The future of quality measurement for improvement and accountability.
JAMA 2013 Jun 5;309(21):2215-6. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.4929.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Policy, Organizational Change, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Quality of Care