Research Activities

June 2012, No. 382

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Contents

About Research Activities

Feature Story

Disparities Report highlights health care challenges for minorities, underscores importance of Affordable Care Act
From the Director

Access to Care

Vulnerable populations with heart failure less likely to receive early physician followup after discharge
Dual Veterans Administration/Medicare users are not hospitalized more for ambulatory care sensitive conditions

Patient Safety and Quality

A hospital's ability to rescue patients from complications after high-risk surgery determines mortality rates
Infrequent physician use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators presents potential risks to patient safety
Patients recovering in the hospital from total knee or hip replacement have increased risk of falls
Contact isolation of new patients reduces adherence to process-of-care quality measures for pneumonia
1 in 10 computer-generated prescriptions include at least one error
Magnet® hospitals offer better work environment for nurses than non-Magnet hospitals

Health Care Costs and Financing

Large variations in Medicare payments for surgery underscore savings potential from bundled payment programs
Remote intensive care monitoring is cost effective for sickest patients

Health Information Technology

Clinicians find triggers and algorithms in e-prescribing software helpful in avoiding inappropriate medications in older adults
Paper previsit reminders for doctors do not add value to electronic reminders from an electronic health record system
Clinical decision support systems are effective but research is needed to promote widespread use

Acute Care/Hospitalization

Use of pulmonary artery catheters provides no patient benefit and increases costs
Decision support may aid emergency physicians in interpreting benign from serious eye movement patterns in dizzy patients
Risk of venous thromboembolism low for young trauma patients without a central venous catheter

Child/Adolescent Health

Japanese cultural beliefs linked to increased female infant mortality in 1966, the year of the fire horse
No evidence of serious cardiovascular events in children and young adults using medications for ADHD

Comparative Effectiveness Research

Evidence lacking on effectiveness of antipsychotics for children
Supplemental phenylketonuria therapies may help some
Effectiveness of noninvasive diagnostic tests for breast abnormalities depends on woman's history
Limited evidence prevents firm conclusions on psoriatic arthritis drug therapies
Glaucoma treatments can lower eye pressure

Elderly/Long-Term Care

Risks high for elderly patients receiving angioplasty to fix narrowed heart artery
Several risk factors point to the use of high-risk medications in older veterans
Drug industry-sponsored patient assistance programs are seldom used by older adults
Study of Medicare beneficiaries validates Medical Expenditure Panel Survey's prescription drug data

Prevention

Patients recovering from stroke tend to continue using secondary preventive medications

Chronic Disease

Inmates remain at risk for HIV and HCV after release from prison

Agency News and Notes

Men more likely to be readmitted to hospital after discharge

Announcements

AHRQ seeks comments on a proposed children's health care quality measures project

Research Briefs

Research Briefs

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AHRQ Publication No. 12-RA009
Current as of June 2012

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Internet Citation:

Research Activities Newsletter. June 2012, No. 382. AHRQ Publication No. 12-RA009. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/jun12/index.html

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