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Research Studies is a monthly compilation of research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers and recently published in journals or newsletters.
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1 to 10 of 10 Research Studies Displayed
Collinsworth AW, Priest EL, Masica AL
Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the ABCDE bundle: impact of bundle adherence on inpatient and 1-year mortality and costs of care.
This study examined the cost-effectiveness of the Awakening and Breathing Coordination, Delirium monitoring/management, and Early exercise/mobility (ABCDE) bundle intervention to improve short- and long-term clinical outcomes for patients requiring ICU care. A 2-year, prospective, cost-effectiveness study in 12 adult ICUs in six hospitals belonging to a large, integrated healthcare delivery system was conducted. Hospitals in the study included a large, urban center and five community hospitals. ICU types included medical/surgical, trauma, neurologic, and cardiac care units. The cohort included 2,953 adults with an ICU stay greater than 24 hours who were on a ventilator for more than 24 hours and less than 14 days. ICUs with high ABCDE bundle adherence significantly decreased odds of inpatient mortality and had significantly higher costs of inpatient care. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of high bundle adherence was $15,077 per life saved, and $1,057 per life-year saved.
AHRQ-funded; HS021459.
Citation:
Collinsworth AW, Priest EL, Masica AL .
Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the ABCDE bundle: impact of bundle adherence on inpatient and 1-year mortality and costs of care.
Crit Care Med 2020 Dec;48(12):1752-59. doi: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000004609..
Keywords:
Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care, Mortality, Healthcare Costs
Khandelwal N, Engelberg RA, Hough CL
The patient and family member experience of financial stress related to critical illness.
Financial stress resulting from critical illness is a big problem in this country. This study’s objectives were to: 1) explore common financial concerns, their emotional stress, and potential opportunities for interventions to reduce financial stress in patients and their family; and 2) confirm patient and family members’ willingness to provide information on this topic. This cross-sectional survey study used patients from two prior randomized trials at an urban, level 1 Trauma center. The study surveyed 10 patients and 19 family members who reported financial worries during an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Of the 70% of both groups who reported financial concerns post-ICU discharge, 30% of patients and 43% of family members who were not asked about their concerns by hospital staff wished they had been asked. Both groups felt it would have been helpful to have information about insurance coverage, interpreting hospital bills, and estimated out-of-pocked costs. Among patients, 47% favorited receiving these services after the ICU stay, while 20% preferred them during their ICU stay. Among family members, 73% preferred receiving them during the ICU stay while 27% preferred them after the patient came home.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation:
Khandelwal N, Engelberg RA, Hough CL .
The patient and family member experience of financial stress related to critical illness.
J Palliat Med 2020 Jul;23(7):972-76. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2019.0369..
Keywords:
Patient Experience, Healthcare Costs, Critical Care
Khandelwal N, White L, Curtis JR
Health insurance and out-of-pocket costs in the last year of life among decedents utilizing the ICU.
The objective of this study was to estimate out-of-pocket costs in the last year of life for individuals who required intensive care in the months prior to death and to examine how these costs vary by insurance coverage. Results showed that, across all categories of insurance coverage, out-of-pocket spending in the last 12 months of life was high and represented a significant portion of assets for many patients requiring intensive care and their families. Medicare fee-for-service alone did not insulate individuals from the financial burden of high-intensity care. Medicaid was found to provide the most complete hospital coverage of all the insurance groups, as well as significantly financing long-term care.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation:
Khandelwal N, White L, Curtis JR .
Health insurance and out-of-pocket costs in the last year of life among decedents utilizing the ICU.
Crit Care Med 2019 Jun;47(6):749-56. doi: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000003723..
Keywords:
Critical Care, Elderly, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Medicaid, Medicare
Williams CN, Piantino J, McEvoy C
The burden of pediatric neurocritical care in the United States.
This article attempts to quantify the burden of pediatric neurocritical care (PNCC) by developing national estimates of disease incidence, evaluating use of critical care interventions (CCI), and examining hospital outcomes. The Kids Inpatient Database (KID) was analyzed to evaluate cohorts with the following conditions: traumatic brain injury, neuro-infection, or inflammatory diseases; status epilepticus; stroke; hypoxic ischemic injury after cardiac arrest; or spinal cord injury.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation:
Williams CN, Piantino J, McEvoy C .
The burden of pediatric neurocritical care in the United States.
Pediatr Neurol 2018 Dec;89:31-38. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2018.07.013..
Keywords:
Children/Adolescents, Critical Care, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Neurological Disorders, Stroke, Trauma
Khandelwal N, Hough CL, Downey L
Prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of financial stress in survivors of critical illness.
The objective was to describe the prevalence of financial stress among critically ill patients and their families and explore associations between financial stress and psychologic distress. It found that factors associated with financial stress included female sex, young children at home, and baseline financial discomfort. Also, financial stress after critical illness was common and associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation:
Khandelwal N, Hough CL, Downey L .
Prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of financial stress in survivors of critical illness.
Crit Care Med 2018 Jun;46(6):e530-e39. doi: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000003076.
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Keywords:
Critical Care, Healthcare Costs, Risk, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Stress
Mahmoud L, Zullo AR, Thompson BB
Outcomes of protocolised analgesia and sedation in a neurocritical care unit.
Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1197 mechanically ventilated patients admitted to a 12-bed neurocritical care unit (NCCU) over four years in order to evaluate the effect of an analgesia-based sedation protocol on medication use and costs in the NCCU. The protocol resulted in increased in fentanyl use and decreased in propofol use, but their findings indicate no effect on healthcare utilization, healthcare costs, or in-hospital mortality. Based on these results, the researchers suggest that similar NCCUs should consider using population-specific protocols to manage analgesia and sedation.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation:
Mahmoud L, Zullo AR, Thompson BB .
Outcomes of protocolised analgesia and sedation in a neurocritical care unit.
Brain Inj 2018;32(7):941-47. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2018.1469167..
Keywords:
Care Management, Brain Injury, Critical Care, Healthcare Costs, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Medication, Neurological Disorders, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Value
Kerlin MP, Cooke CR
Understanding costs when seeking value in critical care.
The authors discuss a study by Gershengorn and colleagues about daily ICU costs in five ICUs within a single medical center. They argue that although the authors should be commended on advancing the understanding of ICU costs, we should also recognize that efforts to reduce ICU length of stay will necessarily be insufficient to make a real dent in our health care economy.
AHRQ-funded; HS020672.
Citation:
Kerlin MP, Cooke CR .
Understanding costs when seeking value in critical care.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2015 Dec;12(12):1743-4. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201510-660ED.
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Keywords:
Critical Care, Healthcare Costs, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Value
Berner ES, Burkhardt JH, Panjamapirom A
Cost implications of human and automated follow-up in ambulatory care.
This study tracked costs associated with using nurse-initiated telephone calls or interactive voice response (IVR) over the first two years of followup for a practice assumed to have 4800 acute care patient visits per year. For the first two years, costs were approximately the same but, in subsequent years, IVR followup is approximately $9000 per year less expensive than nurse followup.
AHRQ-funded; HS017060
Citation:
Berner ES, Burkhardt JH, Panjamapirom A .
Cost implications of human and automated follow-up in ambulatory care.
Am J Manag Care. 2014 Nov;20(11 Spec No. 17):SP531-40..
Keywords:
Healthcare Costs, Primary Care, Quality of Care, Critical Care
Admon AJ, Cooke CR
Will Choosing Wisely(R) improve quality and lower costs of care for patients with critical illness?
This article reports on a campaign by the American Board of Internal Medicine to improve care and lower costs by generating a “top five” list of expensive tests or treatments without known benefits. It offers several strategies for stakeholders to increase the impact of the critical care top-five list.
AHRQ-funded; HS020672
Citation:
Admon AJ, Cooke CR .
Will Choosing Wisely(R) improve quality and lower costs of care for patients with critical illness?
Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2014 Jun;11(5):823-7. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201403-093OI..
Keywords:
Decision Making, Critical Care, Quality of Care, Healthcare Costs
Huckfeldt PJ, Sood NB, Romley JA
Medicare payment reform and provider entry and exit in the post-acute care market.
The researchers examined the impact of Medicare payment reform on the entry and exit of post-acute providers (home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities). They found that payment reforms reducing average and marginal payments reduced entries and increased exits from the market, with entries more likely to be affected.
AHRQ-funded; HS018541
Citation:
Huckfeldt PJ, Sood NB, Romley JA .
Medicare payment reform and provider entry and exit in the post-acute care market.
Health Serv Res. 2013 Oct;48(5):1557-80. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12059..
Keywords:
Medicare, Critical Care, Healthcare Costs, Home Healthcare, Long-Term Care
