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Research Activities

January 2012, No. 377


Contents

About Research Activities

Feature Story

Experts call for integrating mental health into primary care
From the Director

Primary Care

Primary care coordination is more difficult for patients who see many specialists
Accessible services in primary care practices promote preventive health screenings and care
Residents should document sexual history during health care maintenance visits for older, asymptomatic adults

Health Care Costs and Financing

Bundled payments for heart failure disease management programs can save money while reducing readmissions
Medicaid pay-for-performance program in Massachusetts fails to improve quality during first-year

Elderly/Long-Term Care

State regulation of care quality is costly to nursing homes
Clinical informatics monitoring tool helps reduce adverse drug events in nursing home settings

Patient Safety and Quality

Interdisciplinary team training with in-situ simulation helps reduce adverse events in obstetric patients
No greater risk or mortality observed for endoscopic vein harvesting for coronary bypass surgery
Duplicate medication order errors increase after computerized provider order entry is implemented
Medical residents can use quality improvement methods to promote obesity screening
Measuring quality of care for middle ear infection has many pitfalls
California nurse staffing mandate did not reduce nursing workforce skill levels
Leg compression devices are not a significant factor in in-hospital falls

Child/Adolescent Health

A large proportion of hospitalized children receive numerous medications during their hospitalization
Clostridium difficile infection rate has risen among hospitalized children since late 1990s
Pediatric cardiology centers vary in treatment of infants with single ventricle congenital heart disease

Women's Health

Breast cancer is associated with higher health care use and costs for women covered by fee-for-service Medicaid
Lower educational level increases the likelihood of preclinical changes in mobility in older women

Disparities/Minority Health

Many Texas residents cross Mexican border to obtain health care services
Communications between patients with HIV and their providers differ along racial and substance use lines

Agency News and Notes

ADHD medications don't increase serious heart risks in children or adults
New study finds e-prescribing is safe and efficient, but barriers remain
Cost of hospitalization highest among the non-elderly
More seniors getting pneumonia shots, but some lag behind
Evidence is weak on whole-body vibration therapy for osteoporosis
New AHRQ campaign encourages Hispanics to work with their doctors to make the best treatment decisions
Potential role of physical therapy in ICU patients
Evidence lacking on optimal transition-of-care programs for heart attack and stroke patients following hospitalization
Screening and treatment of subclinical thyroid dysfunction inadequately studied

Announcements

AHRQ releases first primary care workforce facts and stats series
Report explores prevalence of hypertension and use of antihypertensive drugs
New health information technology funding opportunity on advancing health services through system modeling research
Two EHC program report series identify research needs and provide guidance on identifying gaps in clinical evidence

Research Briefs

Research Briefs

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AHRQ Publication No. 12-RA004
Current as of January 2012


Internet Citation:

Research Activities Newsletter. January 2012, No. 377. AHRQ Publication No. 12-RA004. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/jan12/


 

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