National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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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
26 to 50 of 1208 Research Studies DisplayedPeipert JD, Lad T, Khosla PG
A low literacy, multimedia health information technology intervention to enhance patient-centered cancer care in safety net settings increased cancer knowledge in a randomized controlled trial.
In this study, the investigators tested whether a low-literacy-friendly, multimedia information and assessment system used in daily clinical practice enhanced patient-centered care and improved patient outcomes. This was a prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with 2 arms, CancerHelp-Talking Touchscreen (CancerHelp-TT) versus control, among adults with Stage I-III breast or colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in safety net settings.
AHRQ-funded; HS017300.
Citation: Peipert JD, Lad T, Khosla PG .
A low literacy, multimedia health information technology intervention to enhance patient-centered cancer care in safety net settings increased cancer knowledge in a randomized controlled trial.
Cancer Control 2021 Jan-Dec;28:10732748211036783. doi: 10.1177/10732748211036783..
Keywords: Health Literacy, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Cancer, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Fong A, Behzad S, Pruitt Z
A machine learning approach to reclassifying miscellaneous patient safety event reports.
This research paper describes an effort to develop a machine learning natural language processing model to reclassify medical adverse events that were classified as “miscellaneous” as opposed to a specific event-type category. The authors integrated the model into a clinical workflow dashboard, evaluated user feedback, and compared differences in user thresholds for model performance to reclassify those reports.
AHRQ-funded; HS026481.
Citation: Fong A, Behzad S, Pruitt Z .
A machine learning approach to reclassifying miscellaneous patient safety event reports.
J Patient Saf 2021 Dec 1;17(8):e829-e33. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000731..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Health Information Technology (HIT), Medical Errors
Nanji KC, Shaikh SD, Jaffari A
A Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the additional cost associated with adverse medication events leading to intraoperative hypotension and/or hypertension in the United States.
This study’s objective was to estimate the rates of clinically significant intraoperative hypotension and hypertension. Systematic literature reviews were conducted to estimate incidence and additional costs of acute kidney injury (AKI), acute myocardial injury, and stroke after intraoperative hypotension and hypertension. The authors used Monte Carlo simulation to estimate annual costs to the U.S. healthcare system. Intraoperative hypotension occurred in 11 of 277 operations (3.97%), a >30% drop in baseline mean arterial pressure hypotension in patients with coronary artery disease in 9 operations (3.25%), and hypertension in 14 operations (5.05%). After hypertension, incremental stroke incidence was 4.76%. The authors estimated 11,513 cases of AKI, 5914 cases of acute myocardial injury, 345 cases of stroke after intraoperative hypotension, and 47,774 cases of stroke after intraoperative hypertension. Estimated costs were $1.7 billion, of which $923 million are preventable.
AHRQ-funded; HS024764.
Citation: Nanji KC, Shaikh SD, Jaffari A .
A Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the additional cost associated with adverse medication events leading to intraoperative hypotension and/or hypertension in the United States.
J Patient Saf 2021 Dec 1;17(8):e758-e64. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000926..
Keywords: Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Healthcare Costs
Sankaran RR, Ameling JM, Cohn AEM
A practical guide for building collaborations between clinical researchers and engineers: lessons learned from a multidisciplinary patient safety project.
The objective of this study was to prepare research teams that are embarking on collaborations regarding common challenges and training needs to anticipate while developing multidisciplinary teams. Researchers developed a practical guide to describe anticipated challenges and solutions to consider for developing successful partnerships between engineering and clinical researchers. They also developed and shared a checklist for project managers as well as the training materials as adaptable resources to facilitate other teams' initiation into these types of collaborations.
AHRQ-funded; HS019767; HS024385.
Citation: Sankaran RR, Ameling JM, Cohn AEM .
A practical guide for building collaborations between clinical researchers and engineers: lessons learned from a multidisciplinary patient safety project.
J Patient Saf 2021 Dec 1;17(8):e1420-e27. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000667..
Keywords: Patient Safety
Manojlovich M, Hofer TP, Krein SL
Advancing patient safety through the clinical application of a framework focused on communication.
The purpose of this review article was to describe a conceptual framework of communication drawn from multiple academic disciplines and to apply it to health care, specifically for examining communication between providers about the clinical care of their patients. Findings showed that poor communication remained a stubborn problem in health care in part because of a narrow theoretical and definitional approach to resolving it. The proposed conceptual framework suggested ways to build relationships and trust, addressed hierarchical differences between communicators, and illuminated the role of technology in communication.
AHRQ-funded; HS022305; HS024760.
Citation: Manojlovich M, Hofer TP, Krein SL .
Advancing patient safety through the clinical application of a framework focused on communication.
J Patient Saf 2021 Dec 1;17(8):e732-e37. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000547..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Communication, Healthcare Delivery
Mahajan P, Mollen C, Alpern ER
An operational framework to study diagnostic errors in emergency departments: findings from a consensus panel.
The purpose of this study was to create an operational definition and framework to study diagnostic error in the emergency department setting. A multidisciplinary panel defined diagnostic errors, modified the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's diagnostic process framework, and underscored the importance of outcome feedback to emergency department providers to promote learning and improvement related to diagnosis.
AHRQ-funded; HS024953.
Citation: Mahajan P, Mollen C, Alpern ER .
An operational framework to study diagnostic errors in emergency departments: findings from a consensus panel.
J Patient Saf 2021 Dec 1;17(8):570-75. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000624..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Emergency Department, Medical Errors, Adverse Events
Kalwani NM, Wang KM, Johnson AN
Application of the quadruple aim to evaluate the operational impact of a telemedicine program.
This study compared the operational impact of a telemedicine program called CardioClick at a preventive cardiology clinic compared to traditional clinic visits. The authors examined data for 134 patients enrolled in CardioClick with 181 video follow-up visits and 276 patients enrolled in the clinic’s traditional program with 694 in-person follow-up visits. The Quadruple Aim was used to evaluate CardioClick. Both cohorts were similar in characteristics in terms of age, gender balance, and baseline clinical characteristics. Video follow-up visits were shorter in time for clinicians (median 22 vs 30 minutes) than in-person visits and total clinic time (median 22 vs 68 minutes). Video visits were more likely to end on time than in-person visits as well. Physicians more often completed video visit documentation on the day of the visit.
AHRQ-funded; HS026128.
Citation: Kalwani NM, Wang KM, Johnson AN .
Application of the quadruple aim to evaluate the operational impact of a telemedicine program.
Healthc 2021 Dec;9(4):100593. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2021.100593..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Cardiovascular Conditions, COVID-19
Rhee TG, Sint K, Olfson M
Association of ECT with risks of all-cause mortality and suicide in older Medicare patients.
This observational study examined the effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on suicide and all-cause mortality risk in Medicare psychiatric patients age 65 or older. Patients receiving ECT were exact matched to control subjects in a 1-to-3 ratio on age, gender, principal hospital diagnosis, past-year psychiatric hospitalizations, past-year suicide attempts, and Elixhauser comorbidity index. A total of 10,46 patients were in the ECT group and 31,160 in the control group. Compared with the control group, patients receiving ECT had lower all-cause mortality for up to 1 year following hospital discharge. For death by suicide, ECT was associated with short-lived effects which waned over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS023000.
Citation: Rhee TG, Sint K, Olfson M .
Association of ECT with risks of all-cause mortality and suicide in older Medicare patients.
Am J Psychiatry 2021 Dec;178(12):1089-97. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21040351..
Keywords: Elderly, Behavioral Health, Mortality, Treatments
Sankar A, Swanson KM, Zhou J
Association of fluoroquinolone prescribing rates with black box warnings from the US Food and Drug Administration.
This study examined the association of black box warnings in 2013 and 2016 with prescribing rates for fluoroquinolone. This cross-sectional study used Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries and OneKey data on physicians and their organizations from 2011 through 2017. Sample eligibility was restricted to outpatient visits for sinusitis, bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Prescription rates were compared with the prewarning period (baseline period), before and after the 2013 warning (postwarning period 1), and before and after the 2016 warning (postwarning period 2). The sample consisted of 1,238,397 unique patients with a total of 2,720,071 outpatient acute care visits. The immediate prescribing levels in postwarning period 1 increased by 3.42 percentage points and declined by -0.77 percentage points in postwarning period 2. In postwarning period 1, prescribing levels for physicians who were affiliated with hospitals with a top 10th percentile case mix index compared to those without an affiliation decreased by -1.13 percentage points, whereas the levels for primary care physicians declined by -1.34 percentage points compared with non-primary care physicians in postwarning period 2. Physicians at teaching hospitals were the only clinicians who showed a decline in postwarning period 1.
AHRQ-funded; HS025164; HS025402.
Citation: Sankar A, Swanson KM, Zhou J .
Association of fluoroquinolone prescribing rates with black box warnings from the US Food and Drug Administration.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Dec;4(12):e2136662. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36662..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Medication, Practice Patterns
Chovatiya R, Silverberg JI
Association of herpes zoster and chronic inflammatory skin disease in US inpatients.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether chronic inflammatory skin disease (CISD) is associated with herpes zoster (HZ). Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2002-2012 were analyzed. Findings showed that many CISDs are associated with increased hospitalization for HZ, even below the ages recommended for HZ vaccination. Recommendations included additional studies to establish CISD-specific vaccination guidelines.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Chovatiya R, Silverberg JI .
Association of herpes zoster and chronic inflammatory skin disease in US inpatients.
J Am Acad Dermatol 2021 Dec;85(6):1437-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.12.073..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Skin Conditions, Chronic Conditions
Steenland MW, Wilson IB, Matteson KA
Association of Medicaid expansion in Arkansas with postpartum coverage, outpatient care, and racial disparities.
This study’s objective was to measure the association of Medicaid expansion in Arkansas with postpartum coverage, outpatient care, and racial disparities. A total of 60,990 childbirths were reviewed from January 1, 2014 on with a total of 72.3% paid for by Medicaid and 27.7% paid for by a commercial payer. The mean age of the birthing person was 27; with 67% White, 22% Black, and 7% Hispanic. Medicaid expansion in Arkansas was associated with a 27.8 percentage point increase in continuous insurance coverage and an increase in outpatient visits of 0.9 during the first 6 months postpartum, representing relative increases of 54.9% and 75.0%, respectively. Racial disparities in postpartum coverage decreased from 6.3 percentage points before expansion to -2.0 after. However, disparities in outpatient care after expansion persisted between Black and White individuals.
AHRQ-funded; HS027464.
Citation: Steenland MW, Wilson IB, Matteson KA .
Association of Medicaid expansion in Arkansas with postpartum coverage, outpatient care, and racial disparities.
JAMA Health Forum 2021 Dec;2(12):e214167. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.4167..
Keywords: Medicaid, Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Policy, Women, Access to Care
Ibemere SO, Tanabe P, Bonnabeau E
Awareness and use of the sickle cell disease toolbox by primary care providers in North Carolina.
The authors developed a decision support tool for sickle cell disease (SCD) for SCD management (SCD Toolbox) based on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's SCD guidelines. Using data from primary care providers (PCPs) in North Carolina, they found that PCPs rarely co-managed with a specialist, had low awareness and use of the SCD Toolbox, and requested multiple formats for the toolbox.
AHRQ-funded; HS024501.
Citation: Ibemere SO, Tanabe P, Bonnabeau E .
Awareness and use of the sickle cell disease toolbox by primary care providers in North Carolina.
J Prim Care Community Health 2021 Jan-Dec;12:21501327211049050. doi: 10.1177/21501327211049050..
Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Primary Care, Chronic Conditions, Decision Making, Evidence-Based Practice
Boyd R, Carter E, Moise N
Awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward screening and treatment of masked hypertension in primary care.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore primary care provider (PCP) awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward masked hypertension (MHT.) The researchers conducted 3 focus groups which included 30 PCPs from 3 medical centers in New York. The analysis and thematic content analysis found that there was low knowledge about the prevalence and impact of MHT, awareness of MHT among the participants varied, and only 2 providers had diagnosed MHT. While some PCPs were receptive to MHT screening after learning about its significance, others perceived the current evidence as insufficient to change practice. There was broad consensus for lifestyle changes for MHT but concerns about a lack of randomized trial evidence for antihypertensive medication, and the possibility of harmful side effects. The researchers concluded that limited PCP knowledge about MHT, insufficient evidence, already overburdened PCPs, and concerns about the accuracy and accessibility of screening tests were key barriers to screening and treatment for MHT.
AHRQ-funded; HS024262.
Citation: Boyd R, Carter E, Moise N .
Awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward screening and treatment of masked hypertension in primary care.
Am J Hypertens 2021 Dec;34(12):1322-27. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpab115..
Keywords: Blood Pressure, Screening, Primary Care
Brajcich BC, Shallcross ML, Johnson JK
Barriers to post-discharge monitoring and patient-clinician communication: a qualitative study.
This study used semi-structured interviews and focus groups to identify barriers to post-discharge monitoring and patient-clinician communication. Participants were gastrointestinal surgery patients and clinicians, with a total of 15 patients and 17 clinicians. Four themes and four barriers were identified from patient and clinician interviews and focus groups. Patient-identified barriers included education and expectation setting, technology access and literacy, availability of resources and support, and misalignment of communication preferences. Clinician-identified barriers included health education, access to clinical team, healthcare practitioner time constraints, and care team experience and consistency.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Brajcich BC, Shallcross ML, Johnson JK .
Barriers to post-discharge monitoring and patient-clinician communication: a qualitative study.
J Surg Res 2021 Dec;268:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.06.032..
Keywords: Hospital Discharge, Clinician-Patient Communication, Care Management, Transitions of Care
Ford WJH, Bundy DG, Oyeku S
Central venous catheter salvage in ambulatory central line-associated bloodstream infections.
In this study, researchers evaluated central venous catheters (CVCs) salvage in pediatric patients with ambulatory CLABSI and associated risk factors for treatment failure. They found that underlying diagnosis, CVC type, number of lumens, and absence of candidemia were associated with successful salvage. In patients with malignancy, neutropenia within 30 days before CLABSI was significantly associated with both attempted salvage and successful salvage.
AHRQ-funded; HS024432.
Citation: Ford WJH, Bundy DG, Oyeku S .
Central venous catheter salvage in ambulatory central line-associated bloodstream infections.
Pediatrics 2021 Dec 1;148(6). doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-042069..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Greenberg JK, Olsen MA, Dibble CF
Comparison of cost and complication rates for profiling hospital performance in lumbar fusion for spondylolisthesis.
Investigators sought to evaluate the reliability of 90-day inpatient hospital costs, overall complications, and rates of serious complications for profiling hospital performance in lumbar fusion surgery for spondylolisthesis. Using HCUP data, they found that 90-day inpatient costs were highly reliable for assessing variation across hospitals, whereas overall and serious complications were only moderately reliable for profiling performance. They concluded that their results support the viability of emerging bundled payment programs that assume true differences in costs of care exist across hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS027075; HS019455.
Citation: Greenberg JK, Olsen MA, Dibble CF .
Comparison of cost and complication rates for profiling hospital performance in lumbar fusion for spondylolisthesis.
Spine J 2021 Dec;21(12):2026-34. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2021.06.014..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Hospitals, Provider Performance, Surgery, Quality Measures, Quality of Care
Admon LK, Dalton VK, Kolenic GE
Comparison of delivery-related, early and late postpartum severe maternal morbidity among individuals with commercial insurance in the US, 2016 to 2017.
This study analyzed data from 2016 to 2017 on delivery-related, early, and late postpartum severe maternal morbidity (SMM) among individuals with commercial insurance by race and ethnicity and perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) status. This cross-sectional study of deidentified claims data from the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart evaluated rates of SMM during 3 pregnancy periods among individuals aged 15 to 44 years. The study sample comprised of 100,982 individuals with a mean age of 31.6 years. SMM rates were compared for pregnancies with and without complications, with blood transfusions being the number one indicator for pregnancy and postpartum periods with SMM. Rates of SMM with and without blood transfusion varied by race and ethnicity and PMAD status. Higher rates of SMM were identified among Black individuals compared with White individuals for the pregnancy, early postpartum, and late postpartum periods, respectively. Higher rates of blood transfusion were also identified in each of the 3 periods among individuals with PMADs compared to individuals without PMADs.
AHRQ-funded; HS027640.
Citation: Admon LK, Dalton VK, Kolenic GE .
Comparison of delivery-related, early and late postpartum severe maternal morbidity among individuals with commercial insurance in the US, 2016 to 2017.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Dec;4(12):e2137716. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.37716..
Keywords: Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Health Insurance, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Anxiety
Chhatre S, Malkowicz SB, Jayadevappa R
Continuity of care in acute survivorship phase, and short and long-term outcomes in prostate cancer patients.
This study examined the association between continuity of care and outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries with localized prostate cancer, and the moderating effect of race using SEER – Medicare data between 2000 and 2016. Continuity of care was defined as visits dispersion and density in the acute survivorship phase. Outcomes measured were emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and cost during the acute survivorship phase and mortality over the follow-up phase. Higher continuity of care was associated with improved outcomes. The interaction between race and continuity of care was significant.
AHRQ-funded; HS024106.
Citation: Chhatre S, Malkowicz SB, Jayadevappa R .
Continuity of care in acute survivorship phase, and short and long-term outcomes in prostate cancer patients.
Prostate 2021 Dec;81(16):1310-19. doi: 10.1002/pros.24228..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Transitions of Care
Greenberg JK, Ahluwalia R, Hill M
Development and external validation of the KIIDS-TBI tool for managing children with mild traumatic brain injury and intracranial injuries.
This study's objectives were to develop a new risk model with improved sensitivity compared to the CHIIDA model for the post-neuroimaging management of children with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and intracranial injuries and further to validate externally the new model and CHIIDA model in a multicenter data set. Findings showed that the KIIDS-TBI model had high sensitivity and moderate specificity for risk stratifying children with mTBI and intracranial injuries. The researchers concluded that the use of their clinical decision support tool may help improve the safe, resource-efficient management of this important patient population.
AHRQ-funded; HS027075.
Citation: Greenberg JK, Ahluwalia R, Hill M .
Development and external validation of the KIIDS-TBI tool for managing children with mild traumatic brain injury and intracranial injuries.
Acad Emerg Med 2021 Dec;28(12):1409-20. doi: 10.1111/acem.14333..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Brain Injury, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Decision Making, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Fris E, Sedlock E, Etchegaray J
Development and testing of the Stakeholder Quality Improvement Perspectives Survey (SQuIPS).
The authors created a theory-informed survey that quality improvement (QI) teams can use to understand stakeholder perceptions of an intervention. Through a cross-sectional survey of QI stakeholders, they found that The Stakeholder Quality Improvement Perspectives Survey was feasible for QI teams to use, and it identified stakeholder perspectives about QI interventions that leaders used to alter their QI interventions to potentially increase the likelihood of stakeholder acceptance of the intervention.
AHRQ-funded; HS024459.
Citation: Fris E, Sedlock E, Etchegaray J .
Development and testing of the Stakeholder Quality Improvement Perspectives Survey (SQuIPS).
BMJ Open Qual 2021 Dec;10(4). doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2020-001332..
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Patient Safety, Newborns/Infants
Ziedan E, Kaestner R
Did the hospital readmissions reduction program reduce readmissions? An assessment of prior evidence and new estimates.
In this article, the investigators provided a comprehensive, empirical assessment of the hypothesis that the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) affected hospital readmissions. Their findings were consistent with conceptual considerations related to the assumptions underlying HRRP penalty: in particular, the difficulty of identifying preventable readmissions, the highly imperfect risk adjustment that affects the penalty determination, and the absence of proven tools to reduce readmissions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025586.
Citation: Ziedan E, Kaestner R .
Did the hospital readmissions reduction program reduce readmissions? An assessment of prior evidence and new estimates.
Eval Rev 2021 Dec;45(6):359-411. doi: 10.1177/0193841x211069704..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals
Shapiro J, Robins L, Galowitz P
Disclosure coaching: an ask-tell-ask model to support clinicians in disclosure conversations.
The authors developed an "Ask-Tell-Ask" model and materials to guide the disclosure coaching process. In this paper, they described a comprehensive approach to coaching developed over years of coaching experience that incorporates their model, its rationale, step-by-step coaching strategies and guidance, and organizational considerations regarding implementation of a coaching program to support patient-centered transparent communication after harmful events.
AHRQ-funded; HS019531.
Citation: Shapiro J, Robins L, Galowitz P .
Disclosure coaching: an ask-tell-ask model to support clinicians in disclosure conversations.
J Patient Saf 2021 Dec 1;17(8):e1364-e70. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000491..
Keywords: Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Medical Liability, Patient Safety
Fashaw-Walters SA, McCreedy E, Bynum JPW
Disproportionate increases in schizophrenia diagnoses among Black nursing home residents with ADRD.
Investigators examined how race and Alzheimer's and related dementia (ADRD) status influenced the rate of schizophrenia diagnoses among nursing home (NH) residents following the CMS National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care. Using 2011-2015 Minimum Data Set 3.0 assessments, they found that, following the partnership, black NH residents with ADRD were more likely to have a schizophrenia diagnosis documented on their minimum data set assessments, and schizophrenia rates increased for black NH residents with ADRD only.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Fashaw-Walters SA, McCreedy E, Bynum JPW .
Disproportionate increases in schizophrenia diagnoses among Black nursing home residents with ADRD.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Dec;69(12):3623-30. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17464..
Keywords: Elderly, Dementia, Nursing Homes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Long-Term Care
Heslin KC, Barrett ML, Hensche M
AHRQ Author: Heslin KC, Karaca Z, Owens PL
Effects of hurricanes on emergency department utilization: an analysis across 7 US storms.
This study examines changes in emergency department (ED) utilization for residents of 344 counties after the occurrence of 7 US hurricanes between 2005 and 2016. Using HCUP data, findings showed that the overall population rate of weekly ED visits changed little post-hurricane, but rates by disease categories and age demonstrated varying results. ED utilization rates for respiratory disorders exhibited the largest post-hurricane increase, especially 2-3 weeks following the hurricane. The change in population rates by disease categories and age tended to be higher for people residing in counties closer to the hurricane path.
Citation: Heslin KC, Barrett ML, Hensche M .
Effects of hurricanes on emergency department utilization: an analysis across 7 US storms.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021 Dec;15(6):762-69. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2020.281..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization, Emergency Preparedness
Pruitt ZM, Howe JL, Hettinger AZ
Emergency physician perceptions of electronic health record usability and safety.
Investigators sought to identify emergency physicians' perceived electronic health record (EHR) usability and safety strengths and shortcomings across major EHR vendor products. They found that the 3 most commonly discussed usability topics were Workflow Support (shortcoming), Visual Display (strength), and Data Entry. Fourteen cross-hospital/cross-vendor themes, 6 vendor-specific themes, and 4 hospital-specific themes emerged as well.
AHRQ-funded; HS025136.
Citation: Pruitt ZM, Howe JL, Hettinger AZ .
Emergency physician perceptions of electronic health record usability and safety.
J Patient Saf 2021 Dec 1;17(8):e983-e87. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000849..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Safety