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 (3)
- Care Coordination (1)
- Care Management (2)
- Children/Adolescents (4)
- Communication (2)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Critical Care (2)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Emergency Preparedness (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- (-) Healthcare Delivery (11)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (1)
- Hospitalization (2)
- Hospitals (8)
- (-) Inpatient Care (11)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Medical Errors (2)
- Medication (1)
- Outcomes (2)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (2)
- Patient Safety (2)
- Provider (1)
- Provider: Nurse (1)
- Provider: Physician (1)
- Public Health (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Care (2)
- Teams (3)
- Transitions of Care (2)
- Trauma (2)
- Young Adults (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 DisplayedKohn R, Harhay MO, Bayes B
Influence of bedspacing on outcomes of hospitalised medicine service patients: a retrospective cohort study.
The objective of this cohort study was to assess the association of bedspacing with patient-centered outcomes among United States patients admitted to general medicine services. The study compared internal medicine, family medicine and geriatric service patients who were bedspaced versus cohorted for the entirety of their hospital stay within three large, urban hospitals. Findings showed that bedspacing was associated with adverse patient-centered outcomes. Recommendations for future work included a need to confirm these findings, to understand mechanisms contributing to adverse outcomes, and to identify factors that mitigate these adverse effects in order to provide high-value, patient-centered care to hospitalized patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS026372.
Citation: Kohn R, Harhay MO, Bayes B .
Influence of bedspacing on outcomes of hospitalised medicine service patients: a retrospective cohort study.
BMJ Qual Saf 2021 Feb;30(2):116-22. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010675..
Keywords: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Inpatient Care, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery, Care Management, Adverse Events
Auerbach A, O'Leary KJ, Greysen SR
Hospital ward adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey of academic medical centers.
The authors sought to characterize inpatient adaptations to care for non-ICU COVID-19 patients. They found that the COVID-19 pandemic has required medical wards to rapidly adapt with expanding use of respiratory isolation units and use of technology emerging as critical approaches. Reports of unrecognized or delayed diagnoses highlight how such adaptations may produce potential adverse effects on care.
AHRQ-funded; HS026383; HS026215; HS027369.
Citation: Auerbach A, O'Leary KJ, Greysen SR .
Hospital ward adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey of academic medical centers.
J Hosp Med 2020 Aug;15(8):483-88. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3476..
Keywords: COVID-19, Emergency Preparedness, Hospitals, Public Health, Healthcare Delivery, Inpatient Care
Wooldridge AR, Carayon P, Hoonakker P
Work system barriers and facilitators in inpatient care transitions of pediatric trauma patients.
Hospital-based care of pediatric trauma patients includes transitions between units that are critical for quality of care and patient safety. Using a macroergonomics approach, the investigators identified work system barriers and facilitators in care transitions. They interviewed eighteen healthcare professionals involved in transitions from emergency department (ED) to operating room (OR), OR to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and ED to PICU.
AHRQ-funded; HS023837.
Citation: Wooldridge AR, Carayon P, Hoonakker P .
Work system barriers and facilitators in inpatient care transitions of pediatric trauma patients.
Appl Ergon 2020 May;85:103059. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103059..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Inpatient Care, Transitions of Care, Healthcare Delivery, Trauma, Hospitals
Manojlovich M, Harrod M, Hofer TP
Using qualitative methods to explore communication practices in the context of patient care rounds on general care units.
This study examined communication practices between nurses and physicians in general care units at 4 Midwestern hospitals. A total of 163 physicians, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners participated. The researchers observed and shadowed clinicians during rounds and other times during a 2 week period as well as conducting interviews and holding focus groups. Workflow differences affected rounds and subsequently communication practices. Good rapport between physicians and nurses contributed to nurse participation during rounds. Lower rapport made some nurses feel uncomfortable accompanying physicians during rounds unless invited.
AHRQ-funded; HS022305.
Citation: Manojlovich M, Harrod M, Hofer TP .
Using qualitative methods to explore communication practices in the context of patient care rounds on general care units.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Mar;35(3):839-45. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05580-9..
Keywords: Communication, Provider: Physician, Provider: Nurse, Provider, Hospitals, Teams, Inpatient Care, Healthcare Delivery
Mixon AS, Kripalani S, Stein J
An on-treatment analysis of the MARQUIS study: interventions to improve inpatient medication reconciliation.
This paper examined evidence-based interventions implemented in five US hospitals to improve inpatient medication reconciliation. The sites implemented one to seven interventions in 791 patients during a 25-month implementation period. Three interventions were associated with significant decreases in potentially harmful reconciliation rates while two interventions were associated with significant increases. The positive interventions included: defining clinical roles and responsibilities, training, and hiring staff to perform discharge medication reconciliation. The negative interventions were training staff to take medication histories and implementing a new electronic health record (EHR) system.
AHRQ-funded; HS019598.
Citation: Mixon AS, Kripalani S, Stein J .
An on-treatment analysis of the MARQUIS study: interventions to improve inpatient medication reconciliation.
J Hosp Med 2019 Oct;14(10):614-17. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3308..
Keywords: Medication, Evidence-Based Practice, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medical Errors, Patient Safety, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery, Inpatient Care
Wooldridge A, Carayon P, Hoonakker P
Complexity of the pediatric trauma care process: implications for multi-level awareness.
Trauma is the leading cause of disability and death in children and young adults in the US. While much is known about the medical aspects of inpatient pediatric trauma care, not much is known about the processes and roles involved in in-hospital care. Using human factors engineering (HFE) methods, the investigators combined interview, archival document and trauma registry data to describe how intra-hospital care transitions affect process and team complexity.
AHRQ-funded; HS023837.
Citation: Wooldridge A, Carayon P, Hoonakker P .
Complexity of the pediatric trauma care process: implications for multi-level awareness.
Cogn Technol Work 2019 Aug;21(3):397-416. doi: 10.1007/s10111-018-0520-0..
Keywords: Care Coordination, Children/Adolescents, Critical Care, Health Services Research (HSR), Healthcare Delivery, Inpatient Care, Patient Safety, Teams, Trauma, Young Adults
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
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
Chan CW, Green LV, Lekwijit S
Assessing the impact of service level when customer needs are uncertain: an empirical investigation of hospital step-down units.
In this study, the authors focused on estimating costs and benefits in a complex healthcare setting where the major differentiation among server types is the intensity of the service provided. They used data from ten hospitals and found that a step-down unit may be a cost-effective way to treat patients when used for those who are post-intensive care unit. However, they also found that the impact of step-down-unit care is more nuanced for patients admitted from the emergency department and may result in increased mortality risk and hospital length of stay for patients who should be treated in the intensive care unit. The authors recommended more study in this area.
AHRQ-funded; HS018480.
Citation: Chan CW, Green LV, Lekwijit S .
Assessing the impact of service level when customer needs are uncertain: an empirical investigation of hospital step-down units.
Management Science 2019 Feb;65(2):751-75. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2017.2974..
Keywords: Care Management, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Delivery, Hospitals, Inpatient Care
Gupta A, Harrod M, Quinn M
Mind the overlap: how system problems contribute to cognitive failure and diagnostic errors.
This study focused on how system problems within two academic institutions contribute to cognitive and diagnostic errors of inpatient physicians. Observations were conducted by physicians, nurses, and non-clinicians (qualitative researchers, social scientists and health care engineers). Focus groups were also conducted. System-based problems included interruptions, time constraints and physical space.
AHRQ-funded; HS024385; HS022835; HS022087.
Citation: Gupta A, Harrod M, Quinn M .
Mind the overlap: how system problems contribute to cognitive failure and diagnostic errors.
Diagnosis 2018 Sep 25;5(3):151-56. doi: 10.1515/dx-2018-0014..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Quality of Care, Healthcare Delivery, Inpatient Care, Medical Errors
Parker MW, Carroll M, Bolser B
Implementation of a communication bundle for high-risk patients.
This study occurs in a large pediatric hospital with a history of success in decreasing unrecognized deterioration, in which patients at higher risk of deterioration are termed "watchers." Because communication errors often contribute to unrecognized deterioration, clear and timely communication of watcher status to all team members and contingency planning was desired. The researchers sought to increase the percentage of eligible watchers with a complete communication, teamwork, and planning bundle within 2 hours of identification from 28% to 80%.
AHRQ-funded; HS023827.
Citation: Parker MW, Carroll M, Bolser B .
Implementation of a communication bundle for high-risk patients.
Hosp Pediatr 2017 Sep;7(9):523-29. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2016-0170..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Communication, Healthcare Delivery, Hospitals, Inpatient Care