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 Events (1)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (2)
- Asthma (1)
- Care Coordination (1)
- Care Management (1)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (1)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Critical Care (2)
- Diabetes (1)
- Disparities (1)
- Elderly (1)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (1)
- Healthcare Costs (2)
- (-) Healthcare Delivery (12)
- Healthcare Utilization (3)
- Health Insurance (1)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- (-) Hospitalization (12)
- Hospitals (4)
- Inpatient Care (2)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (2)
- Medicare (2)
- Mortality (1)
- Outcomes (3)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (2)
- Provider Performance (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Care (3)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Surgery (3)
- Teams (1)
- Transitions of Care (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 12 of 12 Research Studies DisplayedValley TS, Schutz A, Peltan ID
Organization of outpatient care after COVID-19 hospitalization.
The purpose of this study was to describe post-discharge care delivery for patients with postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) across a large network of US academic and community hospitals. Beginning in July, 2021, the researchers surveyed 47 hospitals which were participating in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Clinical Trials Network for the Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung Injury (PETAL Network.) Surveys were completed by physicians, hospital administrators, social workers, research staff or other clinicians over an 8-week period, and data from the 2019 American Hospital Association annual survey database were used to describe the hospitals. The study found that 79% (37) of the responding hospitals provided COVID-specific discharge information to patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Only 26% of hospitals provided discharge information that included potential symptoms or impairments of postacute sequelae of COVID-19. Seventy percent (33) had a PASC clinic (a postdischarge outpatient clinic designed specifically for patients with COVID). Hospitals without PASC clinics were more likely to be located in a ZIP code with a higher Medicare population and a median annual income lower than $40,000, and were also more likely to be smaller, for-profit hospitals. The researchers identified several core areas for possible improvements in PASC care, including: examining the impact of PASC clinics on patient outcomes; assessing the extent to which the pathophysiology and management of PASC differ from sequelae of other infections and syndromes; and exploring whether an inability to systematically identify patients for PASC care may result in an inability for some patients to receive needed care. The researchers concluded that PASC clinics may offer opportunities to coordinate care and serve as an opportunity for making iterative gains in knowledge about PASC clinics and related models and processes and their effectiveness in improving longer-term patient-centered outcomes for survivors of COVID-19.
AHRQ-funded; HS028038.
Citation: Valley TS, Schutz A, Peltan ID .
Organization of outpatient care after COVID-19 hospitalization.
Chest 2022 Jun;161(6):1485-89. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.01.034..
Keywords: COVID-19, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Hospitalization, Care Coordination, Healthcare Delivery
Kaye DR, Luckenbaugh AN, Oerline M
Understanding the costs associated with surgical care delivery in the Medicare population.
This study’s objective was to quantify the costs of inpatient and outpatient surgery in the Medicare population. Claims data from a 20% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries was used. Results showed that, while spending on inpatient surgery contributed the most to total surgical payments, it declined over the study period, driven by decreases in index hospitalization and readmissions payments. In contrast, spending on outpatient surgery increased across all sites of care (hospital outpatient department, physician office, and ambulatory surgery center). Ophthalmology and hand surgery witnessed the greatest growth in surgical spending over the study period. Surgical care accounts for half of all Medicare spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728.
Citation: Kaye DR, Luckenbaugh AN, Oerline M .
Understanding the costs associated with surgical care delivery in the Medicare population.
Ann Surg 2020 Jan;271(1):23-28. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000003165..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Elderly, Hospitalization
Fulton BD, Hong N, Rodriguez HP
Early impact of the state innovation models initiative on diagnosed diabetes prevalence among adults and hospitalizations among diagnosed adults.
The objective of this study was to examine the association of early State Innovation Models (SIM) implementation and diagnosed diabetes prevalence among adults and hospitalization rates among diagnosed adults. The investigators concluded that SIM Round 1 was associated with higher diagnosed diabetes prevalence among adults after a year of implementation, likely because of SIM's emphasis on detection and care management; SIM was not associated with lower hospitalization rates among adults diagnosed with diabetes, but the authors recommended that SIM's long-term impact on hospitalizations should be assessed.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241.
Citation: Fulton BD, Hong N, Rodriguez HP .
Early impact of the state innovation models initiative on diagnosed diabetes prevalence among adults and hospitalizations among diagnosed adults.
Med Care 2019 Sep;57(9):710-17. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001161..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Diabetes, Hospitalization, Healthcare Delivery
Hussain FS, Sosa T, Ambroggio L
Emergency transfers: an important predictor of adverse outcomes in hospitalized children.
This case-control study aimed to determine the predictive validity of an emergency transfer (ET) for outcomes in a free-standing children's hospital. Controls were matched in terms of age, hospital unit, and time of year. Patients who experienced an ET had a significantly higher likelihood of in-hospital mortality (22% vs 9%), longer ICU length of stay (4.9 vs 2.2 days), and longer posttransfer length of stay (26.4 vs 14.7 days) compared with controls (P < .03 for each).
AHRQ-funded; HS023827.
Citation: Hussain FS, Sosa T, Ambroggio L .
Emergency transfers: an important predictor of adverse outcomes in hospitalized children.
J Hosp Med 2019 Aug;14(8):482-85. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3219..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Children/Adolescents, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Adverse Events, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Inpatient Care, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery
Barbash IJ, Wallace DJ, Kahn JM
Effects of changes in ICU bed supply on ICU utilization.
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between intensive care unit (ICU) bed supply and ICU admission in US hospitals. Using a difference-in-differences approach, researchers compared the risk-adjusted probability of ICU admission at hospitals that increased their ICU bed supply over time with matched hospitals that did not. Subjects were three patient groups with a low likelihood of benefiting from ICU admission: low-severity patients with acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism, and high-severity patients with metastatic cancer at the end of life. Results showed that increases in ICU bed supply were associated with inconsistent changes in the probability of ICU admission that varied across patient subgroups.
AHRQ-funded; HS025455.
Citation: Barbash IJ, Wallace DJ, Kahn JM .
Effects of changes in ICU bed supply on ICU utilization.
Med Care 2019 Jul;57(7):544-50. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001137..
Keywords: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care, Healthcare Utilization, Hospitalization, Healthcare Delivery, Hospitals
Lauerman MH, Herrera AV, Albrecht JS
Interhospital transfers with wide variability in emergency general surgery.
This study examined modern hospital practices for interhospital transfers of emergency general surgery patients. A retrospective review of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission database was conducted from 2013 to 2015. The majority of patients (94.1%) were not transferred with only 3.2% transferred to a hospital and 2.7% transferred from a hospital. For individual hospitals, there was a range of 0-30.5% of encounters transferred to a hospital, 0.02-14.62% transferred from a hospital and 69.25-99.95% not transferred.
AHRQ-funded; HS024560.
Citation: Lauerman MH, Herrera AV, Albrecht JS .
Interhospital transfers with wide variability in emergency general surgery.
Am Surg 2019 Jun;85(6):595-600..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Healthcare Delivery, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Outcomes, Quality of Care, Surgery, Transitions of Care
O'Leary KJ, Johnson JK, Manojlovich M
Redesigning systems to improve teamwork and quality for hospitalized patients (RESET): study protocol evaluating the effect of mentored implementation to redesign clinical microsystems.
The goal of this study was to implement the Advanced and Integrated MicroSystems (AIMS) set of evidence-based complementary interventions across a range of clinical microsystems, to identify factors and strategies associated with successful implementation, and to evaluate impact on quality. The AIMS interventions are Unit-based Physician Teams; Unit Nurse-Physician Co-leadership; Enhanced Interprofessional Rounds; Unit-level Performance Reports; Patient Engagement Activities. Four hospital sites, each with a local leadership team, received guidance and resources to implement the AIMS interventions. A multi-method approach was used to collect and triangulate qualitative data during three visits to the sites. Outcomes included teamwork climate and adverse events.
AHRQ-funded; HS025649.
Citation: O'Leary KJ, Johnson JK, Manojlovich M .
Redesigning systems to improve teamwork and quality for hospitalized patients (RESET): study protocol evaluating the effect of mentored implementation to redesign clinical microsystems.
BMC Health Serv Res 2019 May 8;19(1):293. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4116-z..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery, Hospitalization, Inpatient Care, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Teams
Wahl TS, Goss LE, Morris MS
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) eliminates racial disparities in postoperative length of stay after colorectal surgery.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) on racial disparities in postoperative length of stay (pLOS) after colorectal surgery. The authors hypothesized that ERAS would reduce disparities in pLOS between black and white patients. They concluded that ERAS eliminated racial differences in pLOS between black and white patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Reduced pLOS occurred without increases in mortality, readmissions, and most postoperative complications.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Wahl TS, Goss LE, Morris MS .
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) eliminates racial disparities in postoperative length of stay after colorectal surgery.
Ann Surg 2018 Dec;268(6):1026-35. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000002307..
Keywords: Surgery, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Care Management, Healthcare Delivery, Hospitalization, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
de Cordova PB
Excess mortality associated with weekend hospital admissions may be due to patient-level differences, rather than reduced staffing or services.
The author comments on a study by Walker that explained the weekend effect as arising from differences in patient characteristics among patients who present to the emergency department on the weekend. For staffing, Walker used a proxy measure because staffing information was not available. The author cautions that, although a clear rationale was provided, there should be acknowledgement that use of a proxy, whether for illness severity or staffing, may alter results.
AHRQ-funded; HS024339.
Citation: de Cordova PB .
Excess mortality associated with weekend hospital admissions may be due to patient-level differences, rather than reduced staffing or services.
Evid Based Nurs 2018 Apr;21(2):49. doi: 10.1136/eb-2017-102779.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Delivery, Health Services Research (HSR), Hospitalization, Mortality, Provider Performance
Stone C, Gebretsadik T, Lee RL
Trends in health care utilization for asthma exacerbations among diverse populations with asthma in the United States.
This article discusses trends in asthma hospitalization and outpatient visit rates from 2004 to 2010. The rates for all populations included in this study went down during the time period, in particular the population from the Tennessee Medicaid program (49%). Other populations used in the study included subjects 4 to 50 years enrolled in the US Department of Defense Military Health System (MHS), and 3 large integrated health delivery systems (IHCDS) of the Population Based Effectiveness in Asthma and Lung Diseases (PEAL) Network. The 3 PEAL health plans included Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Kaiser Permanente Georgia, and Kaiser Permanent Northern California. A total of 473,524 subjects in those 3 study populations were identified. These downward trends are encouraging but need to continue, particularly in diverse populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS019669; HS022093.
Citation: Stone C, Gebretsadik T, Lee RL .
Trends in health care utilization for asthma exacerbations among diverse populations with asthma in the United States.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2018 Jan - Feb;6(1):295-97.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2017.07.038..
Keywords: Asthma, Healthcare Utilization, Hospitalization, Healthcare Delivery, Chronic Conditions, Ambulatory Care and Surgery
Adrion ER, Kocher KE, Nallamothu BK
Rising use of observation care among the commercially insured may lead to total and out-of-pocket cost savings.
Using multipayer commercial claims for the period 2009-13, the investigators evaluated utilization and spending among patients admitted for six conditions that are commonly managed with either observation care or short-stay hospitalizations. In their study period, the use of observation care increased relative to that of short-stay hospitalizations. In addition, total and out-of-pocket spending were substantially lower for observation care, though both grew rapidly--and at rates much higher than spending in the inpatient setting--over the study period.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Adrion ER, Kocher KE, Nallamothu BK .
Rising use of observation care among the commercially insured may lead to total and out-of-pocket cost savings.
Health Aff 2017 Dec;36(12):2102-09. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0774..
Keywords: Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Utilization, Hospitalization, Hospitals, Medicare
Forster CS, Jerardi KE, Herbst L
Right test, wrong patient: biomarkers and value.
A 2-year-old girl with Pierre Robin sequence, a gastric tube, and a tracheostomy and ventilator was admitted to the hospital medicine service. The care delivered to this patient was not unsafe, and she did well. However, the value of care was almost certainly suboptimal. The continued emphasis on a single laboratory value (the procalcitonin test) rather than her clinical picture was the true driver behind the lower value of care delivered to this patient.
AHRQ-funded; HS023827.
Citation: Forster CS, Jerardi KE, Herbst L .
Right test, wrong patient: biomarkers and value.
Hosp Pediatr 2016 May;6(5):315-7. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2015-0199.
.
.
Keywords: Quality of Care, Children/Adolescents, Hospitalization, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Healthcare Delivery