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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.
Results
1 to 7 of 7 Research Studies DisplayedBenneyan JC, White T, Nehls N
Systems analysis of a dedicated ambulatory respiratory unit for seeing and ensuring follow-up of patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
This paper is a systems analysis of a dedicated ambulatory respiratory unit for patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Workflow redesigns were necessitated by COVID and included new ambulatory workflows to handle surge volumes, protect patients and staff, and ensure timely reliable care. The workflow innovations observed can possibly be used to benefit routine care. Observations found that more than 85% of follow-ups were completed within 24 hours, and no staff or patient infections were associated with unit operations. Identified issues included role confusion, staffing and gatekeeping bottlenecks, and patient reluctance to visit in person or discuss concerns on the phone.
AHRQ-funded; HS027282.
Citation: Benneyan JC, White T, Nehls N .
Systems analysis of a dedicated ambulatory respiratory unit for seeing and ensuring follow-up of patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
J Ambul Care Manage 2021 Oct-Dec;44(4):293-303. doi: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000390..
Keywords: COVID-19, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Respiratory Conditions, Workflow, Healthcare Delivery
Li KY, Zhu Z, Ng S
Direct-to-consumer telemedicine visits for acute respiratory infections linked to more downstream visits.
The authors compared downstream care utilization data from a large, commercial payer for the period 2016-19. They found that the telemedicine cohort had fewer emergency department visits but more subsequent office, urgent care, and telemedicine visits. These findings suggest that potential savings from shifting initial care to a direct-to-consumer telemedicine setting should be balanced against the potential for higher spending on downstream care.
AHRQ-funded; HS027632.
Citation: Li KY, Zhu Z, Ng S .
Direct-to-consumer telemedicine visits for acute respiratory infections linked to more downstream visits.
Health Affairs 2021 Apr;40(4):596-602. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01741..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Respiratory Conditions, Healthcare Delivery
Anesi GL, Chelluri J, Qasim ZA
Association of an emergency department-embedded critical care unit with hospital outcomes and intensive care unit use.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of an emergency department-embedded critical care unit (CCU) at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania among patients with sepsis and acute respiratory failure (ARF) admitted from the emergency department to a medical ward or ICU from January 2016 to December 2017. Findings showed that the emergency department-embedded CCU was not associated with clinical outcomes among patients admitted with sepsis or ARF. Among less sick patients with sepsis, the emergency department-embedded CCU was initially associated with reduced rates of direct ICU admission from the emergency department. Further research was recommended to further evaluate the impact and utility of the emergency department-embedded CCU model.
AHRQ-funded; HS026372.
Citation: Anesi GL, Chelluri J, Qasim ZA .
Association of an emergency department-embedded critical care unit with hospital outcomes and intensive care unit use.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020 Dec;17(12):1599-609. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201912-912OC..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Hospitals, Sepsis, Respiratory Conditions, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Healthcare Delivery
Shaker MS, Oppenheimer J, Grayson M
COVID-19: pandemic contingency planning for the allergy and immunology clinic.
In the event of a global infectious pandemic, drastic measures may be needed that limit or require adjustment of ambulatory allergy services. However, no rationale for how to prioritize service shut down and patient care exists. A consensus-based ad-hoc expert panel of allergy/immunology specialists from the United States and Canada developed a service and patient prioritization schematic to temporarily triage allergy/immunology services. This paper describes the process, recommendations and feedback.
AHRQ-funded; HS024599.
Citation: Shaker MS, Oppenheimer J, Grayson M .
COVID-19: pandemic contingency planning for the allergy and immunology clinic.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020 May;8(5):1477-88.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.03.012..
Keywords: COVID-19, Respiratory Conditions, Emergency Preparedness, Public Health, Healthcare Delivery, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Infectious Diseases
Cushing AM, Bucholz E, Michelson KA
Trends in regionalization of emergency care for common pediatric conditions.
This study examined trends in regionalization of emergency care for common pediatric conditions. The authors sought to determine how the likelihood of definitive care has changed for 3 common conditions: asthma, croup, and gastroenteritis. They used the National Emergency Department Sample Database to study children from 2008 to 2016 who presented to emergency departments with those primary diagnoses, excluding critically ill patients. Researchers conducted analyses by stratification of annual emergency department pediatric volume categorized by quartiles. Referral rates increased for all conditions in all volume quartiles, with referral rates greatest in the lowest pediatric volume quartile.
AHRQ-funded; HS026503.
Citation: Cushing AM, Bucholz E, Michelson KA .
Trends in regionalization of emergency care for common pediatric conditions.
Pediatrics 2020 Apr;145(4). doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-2989..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Digestive Disease and Health, Healthcare Delivery
Feemster K, Localio R, Grundmeier R
Incidence of healthcare-associated influenza-like illness after a primary care encounter among young children.
The authors evaluated whether exposure to a pediatric clinic visit was associated with subsequent influenza-like illness (ILI) using electronic health record data. They found that pediatric clinic visits during a respiratory virus season were significantly associated with an increased incidence of subsequent ILI among children aged 2 to 6 years but not among those aged less than 2 years. They concluded that their findings support the hypothesis that respiratory virus transmission in a pediatric clinic can result in healthcare-associated ILI in young children.
AHRQ-funded; HS020939.
Citation: Feemster K, Localio R, Grundmeier R .
Incidence of healthcare-associated influenza-like illness after a primary care encounter among young children.
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2019 Jul 1;8(3):191-96. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piy023..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Influenza, Primary Care, Healthcare Delivery, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Respiratory Conditions
Harris VC, Links AR, Kim JM
Follow-up and time to treatment in an urban cohort of children with sleep-disordered breathing.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate follow-up and timing of sleep-disordered breathing diagnosis and treatment in urban children referred from primary care. Researchers found that half of the children referred for sleep-disordered breathing evaluation are lost to follow-up from primary care. Obstructive sleep apnea severity did not predict follow-up or timeliness of treatment. They conclude that these findings suggest social determinants may pose barriers to care in addition to the clinical burden of sleep-disordered breathing.
AHRQ-funded; HS022932.
Citation: Harris VC, Links AR, Kim JM .
Follow-up and time to treatment in an urban cohort of children with sleep-disordered breathing.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Aug;159(2):371-78. doi: 10.1177/0194599818772035..
Keywords: Access to Care, Children/Adolescents, Disparities, Healthcare Delivery, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Quality of Care, Respiratory Conditions, Sleep Problems, Urban Health