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
- Access to Care (2)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Cancer (2)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Cervical Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (1)
- Cancer: Lung Cancer (1)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Communication (1)
- Community-Based Practice (1)
- COVID-19 (2)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Disparities (2)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (2)
- Healthcare Utilization (1)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Low-Income (1)
- Maternal Care (2)
- Nutrition (1)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Policy (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Primary Care (1)
- Provider: Clinician (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Care (1)
- (-) Rural/Inner-City Residents (11)
- Rural Health (3)
- Screening (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (1)
- (-) Urban Health (11)
- Vaccination (1)
- Vulnerable Populations (2)
- Women (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 11 of 11 Research Studies DisplayedFrank M, Loh R, Everhart R
No health without access: using a retrospective cohort to model a care continuum for people released from prison at an urban, safety net health system.
This retrospective cohort study of persons released from correctional facilities examined healthcare utilization by merging records from Denver Health (DH), an urban safety-net healthcare system, and the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC), for people released from January 1 to June 30, 2021. The study population was either 1) released to the Denver metro area (Denver and its five neighboring counties); or (2 assigned to the DH Regional Accountable Entity; or (3 assigned to the DH medical home based on Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing attribution methods. From January to June 2021 3242 people were released from CDOC and 2848 were included in the data exchange. 905 individuals of the total 2848 were released to the Denver metro area or attributed to DH. In the study population over three-fourths (78.1%) had a chronic medical or psychological condition. Within the first 6 months of release, 31.1% utilized any health service, 24.5% utilized at least one outpatient service, and 17.1% utilized outpatient services two or more times. Within the first 30 days of release 10.1% utilized outpatient services.
AHRQ-funded; HS027389.
Citation: Frank M, Loh R, Everhart R .
No health without access: using a retrospective cohort to model a care continuum for people released from prison at an urban, safety net health system.
Health Justice 2023 Nov 18; 11(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s40352-023-00248-3..
Keywords: Access to Care, Vulnerable Populations, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
MacDougall H, Hanson S, Interrante JD
Rural-urban differences in health care unaffordability during the postpartum period.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore health care unaffordability for rural and urban residents and by postpartum status. The study found that postpartum people reported statistically significantly higher rates of inability to pay medical bills when compared with non-postpartum people. Rural residents also reported higher rates of inability to pay their medical bills and having problems paying medical bills as compared with urban residents. In adjusted models, the predicted probability of being unable to pay medical bills among postpartum respondents was 12.8%, which was higher than among non-postpartum respondents. Similarly, postpartum respondents had higher predicted probabilities of reporting problems paying medical bills (18.4%) than compared with non-postpartum respondents. IN adjusted models, residency in a rural area was not significantly related with the health care unaffordability outcome measures.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: MacDougall H, Hanson S, Interrante JD .
Rural-urban differences in health care unaffordability during the postpartum period.
Med Care 2023 Sep; 61(9):595-600. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001888..
Keywords: Rural Health, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Maternal Care, Healthcare Costs, Women, Access to Care
McGee-Avila JK, Richmond J, Henry KA
Disparities in geospatial patterns of cancer care within urban counties and structural inequities in access to oncology care.
This study examined geospatial patterns of cancer care utilization across diverse populations in New Jersey-a state where most residents live in urban areas. The authors used data from the New Jersey State Cancer Registry. They examined the location of cancer treatment among patients 20-65 years of age diagnosed with breast, colorectal, or invasive cervical cancer and investigated differences in geospatial patterns of care by individual and area-level (e.g., census tract-level) characteristics. They observed significant differences in geospatial patterns of cancer treatment by race/ethnicity, insurance type, and area-level factors. They found that Black patients had a 5.6% higher likelihood of receiving care within their own residential county compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Patients living in census tracts with the highest quintile of social vulnerability were 4.6% more likely to receive treatment within their residential county and were 2.7% less likely to seek out-of-state care.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: McGee-Avila JK, Richmond J, Henry KA .
Disparities in geospatial patterns of cancer care within urban counties and structural inequities in access to oncology care.
Health Serv Res 2023 Aug; 58(Suppl 2):152-64. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14182..
Keywords: Disparities, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer: Cervical Cancer
Hatch BA, Kenzie E, Ramalingam N
Impact of the COVID-19 vaccination mandate on the primary care workforce and differences between rural and urban settings to inform future policy decision-making.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine how vaccine mandates affect the healthcare workforce. Between October 28, 2021- November 18, 2021, following implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare personnel, the researchers conducted a survey of Oregon primary care clinic staff. The survey included 19 questions that assessed the clinic-level effects of the vaccination mandate. Study outcomes included job loss among staff, receipt of an approved vaccination waiver, new vaccination among staff, and the perceived significance of the policy on clinic staffing. Staff from 80 clinics across 28 counties completed surveys, representing 38 rural and 42 urban clinics. The study found that clinics reported job loss (46%), use of vaccination waivers (51%), and newly vaccinated staff (60%). Significantly more rural clinics (compared to urban) used medical and/or religious vaccination waivers (71% vs 33%) and reported significant impact on clinic staffing (45% vs 21%). There was also a non-significant trend toward more job loss for rural compared to urban clinics (53% vs. 41%). Qualitative analysis revealed a decrease in clinic morale and mixed opinions of the vaccination mandate.
AHRQ-funded; HS027080.
Citation: Hatch BA, Kenzie E, Ramalingam N .
Impact of the COVID-19 vaccination mandate on the primary care workforce and differences between rural and urban settings to inform future policy decision-making.
PLoS One 2023 Jun 27; 18(6):e0287553. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287553..
Keywords: COVID-19, Vaccination, Primary Care, Policy, Rural Health, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
McDaniel CE, Leyenaar JK, Bryan MA
Urban-rural disparities in interfacility transfers for children during COVID-19.
This study’s goal was to identify temporal trends and differences in urban and rural pediatric interfacility transfers (IFTs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of IFT among children <18 years from January 2019 to June 2022 using the Pediatric Health Information System. They calculated observed-to-expected (O-E) ratios of pre-pandemic (March 2019-Feb 2020) transfers compared to pandemic year 1 (March 2020-Feb 2021) and year 2 (March 2021-February 2022) using Poisson modeling. The O-E ratio of IFT in year 1 for urban children was 14.0% and 14.8% for rural children compared to pre-pandemic. In year 2, transfers rebounded with IFTs for rural-residing children increasing more than urban-residing children (101.7%) compared to 90.7%. For mental-health indications in year 2, rural transfer ratios were higher than urban, 126% compared to 113.7%.
AHRQ-funded; HS028683.
Citation: McDaniel CE, Leyenaar JK, Bryan MA .
Urban-rural disparities in interfacility transfers for children during COVID-19.
J Rural Health 2023 Jun; 39(3):611-16. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12746..
Keywords: COVID-19, Children/Adolescents, Disparities, Rural Health, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Shi M, Fiori K, Kim RS
Social needs assessment and linkage to community health workers in a large urban hospital system.
The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of successful linkage with a community health worker (CHW) in patients with social needs. The researchers utilized a cross-sectional analysis of social needs assessments administered in an urban health system between April 2018 and December 2019. Social needs in the study included safety, getting along with household members, housing quality, housing instability, food insecurity, care for dependents, healthcare cost, healthcare related transportation, utilities, and legal assistance. Patients were entered into a separate database when they encountered a CHW. The main outcome was a successful "linkage," which was defined as having a positive social needs assessment in the medical record with a corresponding record in the CHW database. The study found that 25% of patients with at least 1 social need accepting help were linked to a CHW. Positive predictors included female gender, Spanish language preference compared to English, and having a food-related need. Negative predictors included age 18 to 65 and 0 to 5 compared to over 65, non-Hispanic White race compared to Hispanic race, and having needs of getting along with household members and safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Shi M, Fiori K, Kim RS .
Social needs assessment and linkage to community health workers in a large urban hospital system.
J Prim Care Community Health 2023 Jan-Dec; 14:21501319231166918. doi: 10.1177/21501319231166918..
Keywords: Urban Health, Healthcare Delivery, Social Determinants of Health, Community-Based Practice, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Aguirre A, Trupin L, Margaretten M
Using process improvement and systems redesign to improve rheumatology care quality in a safety net clinic.
Researchers sought to develop and evaluate interventions to improve quality of care in four priority areas in an urban safety net adult rheumatology clinic serving a racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse patient population. Clinical processes were redesigned to achieve pre-specified benchmarks in the following four areas: 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) administered to immunocompromised patients; Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) disease activity monitoring for patients with rheumatoid arthritis; latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening for new biologic users with rheumatoid arthritis; reproductive health counseling among women receiving potentially teratogenic medications. Through an interprofessional approach, the researchers achieved durable improvements in key rheumatology quality measures largely by enhancing workflow, engaging non-physician providers, and managing practice variation.
AHRQ-funded; HS024412; HS025638.
Citation: Aguirre A, Trupin L, Margaretten M .
Using process improvement and systems redesign to improve rheumatology care quality in a safety net clinic.
J Rheumatol 2020 Nov;47(11):1712-20. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.190472..
Keywords: Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Healthcare Delivery
Lee SJC, Hamann HA, Browning T
Stakeholder engagement to initiate lung cancer screening in an urban safety-net health system.
The authors sought to develop a population-based lung cancer screening program using low-dose computed tomography imaging at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas County, Texas, providing coverage of uninsured patients through a combination of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Dallas medical assistance program for under- and uninsured, low-income county residents. They found that establishing a uniform clinical pathway connecting different clinical specialists requires a system-level view of care coordination to ensure that referrals trigger appointments, result reporting, and follow-up. Additionally, primary care providers need to educate and refer patients, address smoking cessation needs, and document shared decision-making counseling between the referring provider and the patient.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Lee SJC, Hamann HA, Browning T .
Stakeholder engagement to initiate lung cancer screening in an urban safety-net health system.
Healthc 2020 Mar;8(1):100370. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2019.100370.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Prevention, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Cheng TL, Mistry KB, Wang G
AHRQ Author: Mistry KB
Folate nutrition status in mothers of the Boston birth cohort, sample of a US urban low-income population.
Researchers examined maternal folic acid supplementation and plasma folate concentrations in the Boston Birth Cohort, a predominantly urban, low-income, minority population. Their findings indicated that fewer than 5 percent of mothers in the Boston Birth Cohort started folic acid supplements before pregnancy, and approximately one third of mothers had either too low or too high plasma folate levels.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Cheng TL, Mistry KB, Wang G .
Folate nutrition status in mothers of the Boston birth cohort, sample of a US urban low-income population.
Am J Public Health 2018 Jun;108(6):799-807. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2018.304355.
.
.
Keywords: Nutrition, Maternal Care, Low-Income, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Rinehart DJ, Oronce C, Durfee MJ
Identifying subgroups of adult superutilizers in an urban safety-net system using latent class analysis: implications for clinical practice.
The objective of the study was to identify clinically distinct subgroups of adult superutilizers. The overall cohort had high rates of multiple chronic medical conditions, mental health and substance use disorders, and homelessness. However, the patterns of these conditions were different between subgroups, providing important information for tailoring interventions.
AHRQ-funded; HS023901.
Citation: Rinehart DJ, Oronce C, Durfee MJ .
Identifying subgroups of adult superutilizers in an urban safety-net system using latent class analysis: implications for clinical practice.
Med Care 2018 Jan;56(1):e1-e9. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000628.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Hospitalization, Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Clarity C, Sarkar U, Lee J
Clinician perspectives on the management of abnormal subcritical tests in an urban academic safety-net health care system.
Missed or delayed follow-up of abnormal subcritical tests (tests that do not require immediate medical attention) can lead to poor patient outcomes. Safety-net health systems with limited resources and socially complex patients are vulnerable to safety gaps resulting from delayed management. In this study, clinician perspectives to identify system challenges, vulnerable situations, and potential solutions, were sought in focus groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS023558.
Citation: Clarity C, Sarkar U, Lee J .
Clinician perspectives on the management of abnormal subcritical tests in an urban academic safety-net health care system.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2017 Oct;43(10):517-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2017.05.007..
Keywords: Urban Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Patient Safety, Vulnerable Populations, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Communication, Provider: Clinician