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
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (2)
- Burnout (1)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (4)
- Health Systems (1)
- Medical Errors (1)
- Obesity (2)
- Outcomes (4)
- Patient Experience (2)
- Patient Safety (2)
- Payment (2)
- Provider (8)
- (-) Provider: Physician (14)
- (-) Provider Performance (14)
- Quality of Care (2)
- Simulation (1)
- Stress (1)
- Surgery (8)
- Training (2)
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 14 of 14 Research Studies DisplayedZhou RA, McIntosh N, Rajan R
Association between use of clinician performance information and patient experience.
The objective of this study was to examine the association between the collection and use of clinician performance information in physician practices and patient experience in primary care. Researchers conducted observational multivariant generalized linear regression at the patient level. Patient experience scores were calculated from the 2018-2019 Massachusetts Statewide Survey of Adult Patient Experience of Primary Care. The findings showed that nearly ninety percent of practices in the sample collected or used clinician performance information, which was associated with better primary care patient experience among physician practices. The authors concluded that efforts to use clinician performance information in ways that cultivate clinicians' intrinsic motivation may be especially effective for quality improvement.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075; HS024074.
Citation: Zhou RA, McIntosh N, Rajan R .
Association between use of clinician performance information and patient experience.
Am J Manag Care 2023 Feb;29(2):e51-e57. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2023.89321.
Keywords: Provider Performance, Patient Experience, Provider: Physician
Maganty A, Hollenbeck BK, Kaufman SR
Implications of the merit-based incentive payment system for urology practices.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to analyze urologist performance in the Medicare merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) for urology practices for 2017 and 2019 using Medicare data. MIPS scores were estimated by practice organization. The study found that urologists from small practices performed worse in MIPS and had a significantly lower adjusted odds ratio of receiving bonus payments in both 2017 and 2019 compared to larger group practices. Urologists who received penalties in 2017 had greater rates of consolidation by 2019 compared to those who were not penalized. The researchers concluded that smaller urology practices and urology practices caring for a greater percentage of dual eligible beneficiaries typically performed worse in the Medicare merit-based incentive payment system.
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Maganty A, Hollenbeck BK, Kaufman SR .
Implications of the merit-based incentive payment system for urology practices.
Urology 2022 Nov;169:84-91. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2022.05.052..
Keywords: Payment, Provider Performance, Provider: Physician
Kanters AE, Evilsizer SK, Regenbogen SE
Correlation of colorectal surgical skill with patient outcomes: a cautionary tale.
Some have proposed that video-based skill assessments be used as a way to measure technical skills, quality improvement, and credentialing in colorectal surgeons and other practitioners. However, it must first be determined whether video-based assessments can accurately predict patient outcomes. The researchers assembled a panel of 10 peer surgeons to evaluate videos of minimally invasive colectomy procedures submitted by 21 surgeons. Each surgeon submitted one video, and the videos were edited to highlight key steps in the procedure. The panel and the surgeon participants were all associated with the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative. The panel used a validated American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons assessment instrument to rate the surgeon’s skills. The surgeon’s ratings were then linked to a validated registry of surgical outcomes, and the researchers assessed the relationship between skill level and risk-adjusted complication rates. The researchers found that after risk-adjustment there was no statistically significant difference in complication rates between the bottom (17.5%) and top (16.8%) quartile surgeons (p=0.41). The study concluded that there was no correlation between video-based peer rating of minimally invasive colectomy and postoperative complications among specialty surgeons, and that caution should be used when utilizing video review in credentialing.
AHRQ-funded; HS025365.
Citation: Kanters AE, Evilsizer SK, Regenbogen SE .
Correlation of colorectal surgical skill with patient outcomes: a cautionary tale.
Dis Colon Rectum 2022 Mar;65(3):444-51. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000002124..
Keywords: Surgery, Provider: Physician, Provider Performance, Digestive Disease and Health, Outcomes
Reid RO, Tom AK, Ross RM
Physician compensation arrangements and financial performance incentives in US health systems.
This study examined physician compensation arrangements for primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists among US health system-affiliated physician organizations (POs) and measured the portion of total physician compensation based on quality and cost performance. This study used a cross-sectional mixed-methods analysis of in-depth multimodal data (compensation document review, interviews with 40 PO leaders, and surveys conducted between November 2017 and July 2019) from 31 POs affiliated with 22 purposefully selected health systems in 4 states. The most common compensation arrangement was volume-based (68.2% mean for PCPs and 73.7% mean for specialists). Incentives for quality and cost performance were common, but compensation based on those were not common (9.0% mean for PCPs, 4.5% mean for specialists).
AHRQ-funded; HS024067.
Citation: Reid RO, Tom AK, Ross RM .
Physician compensation arrangements and financial performance incentives in US health systems.
JAMA Health Forum 2022 Jan;3(1):e214634. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.4634..
Keywords: Health Systems, Provider: Physician, Payment, Provider Performance
Thelen AE, Kendrick DE, Chen X
Novel method to link surgical trainee performance data to patient outcomes.
A significant roadblock in surgical education research has been the inability to compare trainee performance to the outcomes of those surgeons after they enter independent practice. In this study, the investigators described the feasibility of an innovative method to link trainee performance data with patient outcomes. They indicated that this innovation could enable future research investigating the relationship between surgical trainee performance and patient outcomes in independent practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS027653.
Citation: Thelen AE, Kendrick DE, Chen X .
Novel method to link surgical trainee performance data to patient outcomes.
Am J Surg 2021 Dec;222(6):1072-78. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.10.018..
Keywords: Surgery, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Provider Performance, Provider: Physician, Outcomes
Greenberg CC, Byrnes ME, Engler TA
Association of a statewide surgical coaching program with clinical outcomes and surgeon perceptions.
Investigators assessed risk-adjusted outcomes and participant perceptions following a statewide coaching program for bariatric surgeons. They found that this surgical coaching program was perceived as valuable and surgeons reported numerous practice changes. Additionally, operative times improved, but there was no significant improvement in risk-adjusted outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS023597.
Citation: Greenberg CC, Byrnes ME, Engler TA .
Association of a statewide surgical coaching program with clinical outcomes and surgeon perceptions.
Ann Surg 2021 Jun;273(6):1034-39. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004800..
Keywords: Surgery, Provider: Physician, Provider Performance, Outcomes
Chhabra KR, Thumma JR, Varban OA
Associations between video evaluations of surgical technique and outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
The authors examined associations between technique and outcomes in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Technical approaches to five controversial aspects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were studied: dissection of the proximal stomach, sleeve caliber, sleeve anatomy, staple line reinforcement, and leak testing. The authors found that variations in surgical technique can be measured by video review and are associated with differences in patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS023597; HS025365.
Citation: Chhabra KR, Thumma JR, Varban OA .
Associations between video evaluations of surgical technique and outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
JAMA Surg 2021 Feb;156(2):e205532. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.5532..
Keywords: Surgery, Obesity, Provider Performance, Provider: Physician, Provider, Quality of Care
Heinze K, Suwanabol PA, Vitous CA
A survey of patient perspectives on approach to health care: focus on physician competency and compassion.
This study is a cross-sectional survey of 764 patients to gain insight into perceptions of physician qualities of compassion and competence. The participants response rate was 85%, with mean age 52.4, 70.8% female, and 84% identified as white. Predictors of compassion over competence included female gender and whether the respondent had a personal connection to the vignette used. Preferences were found to be influenced by: 1) explicit beliefs regarding the value of physician compassion and competence; 2) impact of emotional and mental health on medical experiences; 3) type and frequency of health care exposure, and; 4) perceived role of the physician in various clinical vignettes.
AHRQ-funded; HS026772.
Citation: Heinze K, Suwanabol PA, Vitous CA .
A survey of patient perspectives on approach to health care: focus on physician competency and compassion.
J Patient Exp 2020 Dec;7(6):1044-53. doi: 10.1177/2374373520968447..
Keywords: Provider: Physician, Provider, Patient Experience, Provider Performance, Quality of Care
Banerjee A, Burden A, Slagle JM
Key performance gaps of practicing anesthesiologists: how they contribute to hazards in anesthesiology and proposals for addressing them.
This study analyzed performance gaps of practicing anesthesiologists, and used 4 different scenarios that illustrate those gaps and how they contribute to hazards in anesthesiology and proposals for addressing them. The authors used 4 standardized simulated scenarios of common events that anesthesiologists would expect to see in their practice. The 4 perioperative crisis events are: (1) local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) leading to hemodynamic collapse; (2) retroperitoneal bleeding from insertion of a laparoscopic surgery trocar leading to hemorrhagic shock; (3) malignant hyperthermia (MH) presenting in the postanesthesia care unit; and (4) acute atrial fibrillation with hemodynamic instability, followed by signs of a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (AFib-MI). These scenarios came from a 2017 paper by Weinger, et al. A group of subject matter experts defined a set of clinical performance elements (CPEs) that they would expect to be performed in the scenarios. Only 4% of encounters in these scenarios had perfect performance by anesthesiologists where all prescribed CPEs were performed. Recommendations for improvement included providing high-fidelity simulation training, incorporating clinical lessons about gaps, fostering regular use by anesthesiologists and OR teams of clinical guidance, modifying organizational arrangements at clinical sites to ensure backup help is readily available, and implementing periodic formative performance assessments.
AHRQ-funded; HS020415.
Citation: Banerjee A, Burden A, Slagle JM .
Key performance gaps of practicing anesthesiologists: how they contribute to hazards in anesthesiology and proposals for addressing them.
Int Anesthesiol Clin 2020 Winter;58(1):13-20. doi: 10.1097/aia.0000000000000262..
Keywords: Medical Errors, Adverse Events, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Patient Safety, Provider Performance, Provider: Physician, Provider, Surgery
Anton NE, Mizota T, Whiteside JA
Mental skills training limits the decay in operative technical skill under stressful conditions: results of a multisite, randomized controlled study.
The authors hypothesize that surgery residents trained on mental skills would outperform controls under increased stress conditions in the simulated operating room. They find that their comprehensive mental skills curriculum implemented with surgery residents at two institutions was effective at minimizing the deterioration of resident technical performance under stressful conditions compared with controls. They conclude that their results provide further evidence for the effectiveness of mental skills training to optimize surgery trainees' technical performance during challenging clinical situations.
AHRQ-funded; R18 HS022080.
Citation: Anton NE, Mizota T, Whiteside JA .
Mental skills training limits the decay in operative technical skill under stressful conditions: results of a multisite, randomized controlled study.
Surgery 2019 Jun;165(6):1059-64. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2019.01.011..
Keywords: Surgery, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Stress, Provider Performance, Training, Provider: Physician, Provider
Martin JR, Anton N, Timsina L
Performance variability during training on simulators is associated with skill transfer.
Researchers looked at performance variability during training on simulators for performing laparoscopic surgery. Their hypothesis was that participants (surgery residents and medical students) who had consistent scores were most likely to have the most expertise and be capable of training others. The trainees first used the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) simulator to learn laparoscopic suturing and then were transfer tested on a live, anesthetized porcine model. Their hypothesis was proven true and those with decreased practice variability was associated with greater scores in posttests and transfer tests.
AHRQ-funded; R18 HS022080.
Citation: Martin JR, Anton N, Timsina L .
Performance variability during training on simulators is associated with skill transfer.
Surgery 2019 Jun;165(6):1065-68. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2019.01.013..
Keywords: Simulation, Training, Surgery, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Provider Performance, Provider: Physician, Provider
Azari DP, Fraiser LL, Quamme SRP
Modeling surgical technical skill using expert assessment for automated computer rating.
The authors used computer vision to predict expert performance ratings from surgeon hand motions for tying and suturing tasks. Open surgeries were video recorded, and surgeon hands tracked without using sensors or markers. The authors found that the computer algorithm consistently predicted the panel ratings of individual tasks, and were more objective and reliable than individual assessment by surgical experts.
AHRQ-funded; F32 HS022403.
Citation: Azari DP, Fraiser LL, Quamme SRP .
Modeling surgical technical skill using expert assessment for automated computer rating.
Ann Surg 2019 Mar;269(3):574-81. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000002478..
Keywords: Surgery, Provider Performance, Provider: Physician, Provider
Cofer KD, Hollis RH, Goss L
Burnout is associated with emotional intelligence but not traditional job performance measurements in surgical residents.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether burnout was associated with emotional intelligence and job performance in surgical residents. The investigators found that burnout was present in surgery residents and was associated with emotional intelligence. There was no association of burnout with United States Medical Licensing Examination scores, American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam percentile, or surgical milestones. The investigators suggested that traditional methods of assessing resident performance may not be capturing burnout and strategies to reduce burnout should consider targeting emotional intelligence.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Cofer KD, Hollis RH, Goss L .
Burnout is associated with emotional intelligence but not traditional job performance measurements in surgical residents.
J Surg Educ 2018 Sep - Oct;75(5):1171-79. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2018.01.021..
Keywords: Burnout, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Provider, Provider: Physician, Provider Performance
Stevens H, Carlin AM, Ross R
Effect of surgeon age on bariatric surgery outcomes.
This study examined the effect of surgeon age on complication rates for bariatric surgery. A retrospective study was done with 71 surgeons in Michigan who participated in a statewide collaborative improvement program. Older surgeons performed more Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass (40%) and less sleeve gastrectomy (38.8%) than younger surgeons. There was not found to be any statistically significant differences in patient outcome between the two age groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS024403.
Citation: Stevens H, Carlin AM, Ross R .
Effect of surgeon age on bariatric surgery outcomes.
Ann Surg 2018 May;267(5):905-09. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000002297..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Obesity, Outcomes, Patient Safety, Provider, Provider: Physician, Provider Performance