AHRQ - Practice-Based Research Networks

pbrn.ahrq.gov/portal/server.pt

Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs) are groups of primary care clinicians and practices working together to answer community-based health care questions and translate research findings into practice. PBRNs engage clinicians in quality improvement activities and an evidence-based culture in primary care practice

Quality Improvement Improving Quality? A View from the Doctor's Office

Vonnegut, MarkIs
N Engl J Med 2007 357: 2652-2653
Extract Full Text PDF

Comparing Physicians on Efficiency

Milstein, Arnold, Lee, Thomas H.
N Engl J Med 2007 357: 2649-2652
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Continuity of primary care and emergency department utilization among elderly people

Raluca Ionescu-Ittu, MSc, Jane McCusker, MD DrPH, Antonio Ciampi, PhD, Alain-Michel Vadeboncoeur, MD, Danièle Roberge, PhD, Danielle Larouche, MSc, Josée Verdon, MD MSc, and Raynald Pineault, MD PhD
CMAJ 2007 177: 1362-1368.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Figures Only]


Editorial

Promoting continuity of care should be integral to any health care system
W. Rosser MD and K. Schultz MD
Can. Med. Assoc. J., November 20, 2007; 177(11): 1385 - 1386.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Heart failure: improving the continuum of care.

Kay D, Blue A, Pye P, Lacy A, Gray C, Moore S.
Care Manag J. 2006 Summer;7(2):58-63.
PubMed

Improving America´s Hospitals: The Joint Commission´s Annual Report on Quality and Safety 2007

http://www.jointcommissionreport.org/

This new report from Joint Commission presents how America´s accredited hospitals performed against quality performance measures and safety goals during 2006 and in previous years.

2007 Report (PDF)

The hospital discharge: A review of a high risk care transition with highlights of a reengineered discharge process.

Greenwald, J.L., Denham, C.R., and Jack, B.W.
Journal of Patient Safety 2007, 3(2), pp. 97-106.

Abstract HTML PDF (469 K)

Outcomes of Care by Hospitalists, General Internists, and Family Physicians

Lindenauer, Peter K., Rothberg, Michael B., Pekow, Penelope S., Kenwood, Christopher, Benjamin, Evan M., Auerbach, Andrew D.
N Engl J Med 2007 357: 2589-2600
Abstract FREE Full Text PDF CME Exam Supplementary Material


Editorial

The Hospitalist Movement -- Time to Move On
McMahon, Laurence F., Jr.
N Engl J Med 2007 357: 2627-2629
Extract FREE Full Text PDF

Using Clinical Trial Summary Results to Establish Quality Measures

Limitations of Applying Summary Results of Clinical Trials to Individual Patients: The Need for Risk Stratification
David M. Kent; Rodney A. Hayward
JAMA. 2007;298(10):1209-1212.
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Using Clinical Trial Summary Results to Establish Quality Measures-Letter
Tracey L. Yap; Winston Y. Yap
JAMA. 2007;298(23):2740-2741.
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Using Clinical Trial Summary Results to Establish Quality Measures—Reply
Rodney Hayward; David M. Kent
JAMA. 2007;298(23):2741.
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Dr Foster - The Hospital Guide

How healthy is your hospital?

www.drfoster.co.uk/hospitalguide/

This report from Dr Foster (UK) examines England hospital quality and performances in several areas, including mortality, readmissions, patient satisfaction and excess bed days.

View the full report (PDF)

methodologies used in the Hospital Guide (PDF).

NPSA - Safety First: one year on

This new report from The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) provides an update on progress against the 14 recommendations set out in Safety First, published by the Department of Health in December 2006.

Safety First: one year on (pdf 3MB)

The Relationship between Hospital Case Volume and Outcome from Carotid Endartectomy in England from 2000 to 2005.

P. Holt, J. Poloniecki, I. Loftus, M. Thompson
European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Volume 34, Issue 6, Pages 646-654

Abstract Full Text Full-Text PDF (301 KB)

Management Strategies to Meet the Core Heart Failure Measures for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

A Nursing Perspective.
Nancy J. Gardetto, Karen C. Carroll
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly. Heart failure. 30(4):307-320, October/December 2007.

Abstract HTML PDF (117 K)

Is the availability of hospital IT applications associated with a hospital's risk adjusted incidence rate for patient safety indicators

results from 66 Georgia hospitals.
Culler SD, Hawley JN, Naylor V, Rask KJ.
J Med Syst. 2007 Oct;31(5):319-27.

PDF (186 kb) HTML

Piloting Nursing-Sensitive Hospital Care Measures in Massachusetts.

Smith, David P. ;Jordan, Harmon S.
Journal of Nursing Care Quality. 23(1):23-33, January/March 2008.

Abstract HTML PDF (93 K)

Comparison of Mortality Risk Adjustment Using

a Clinical Data Algorithm (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program) and an Administrative Data Algorithm (Solucient) at the Case Level Within a Single Institution
Bruce Lee Hall, Mitzi Hirbe, Brian Waterman, Sarah Boslaugh, Wm Claiborne Dunaganpages J Am Coll Surg. 2007 Dec;205(6):767-77.

Abstract Full Text Full-Text PDF (401 KB)

Risk-Adjusted Morbidity in Teaching Hospitals

Correlates with Reported Levels of Communication and Collaboration on Surgical Teams but Not with Scale Measures of Teamwork Climate, Safety Climate, or Working Conditions
Daniel L. Davenport, William G. Henderson, Cecilia L. Mosca, Shukri F. Khuri, Robert M. Mentzer, Participants in the Working Conditions of Surgery Residents and Quality of Care Study
J Am Coll Surg. 2007 Dec;205(6):778-84.

Abstract Full Text Full-Text PDF (191 KB)

J Hosp Med - Articles on hospital discharge

Hospital discharge information and older patients: Do they get what they need?
Journal of Hospital Medicine 2007 Sep;2(5):291-296
Jonathan Flacker, Wansoo Park, Addie Sims
Abstract References HTML, PDF


Understanding rehospitalization risk: Can hospital discharge be modified to reduce recurrent hospitalization?
Journal of Hospital Medicine 2007 Sep;2(5):297-304
Lee Strunin, Meg Stone, Brian Jack
Abstract References HTML, PDF


Editorial

Executing high-quality care transitions: A call to do it right
Eric A. Coleman, Mark V. Williams
Journal of Hospital Medicine 2007 Sep;2(5):287-290.
Abstract References HTML, PDF

Patient Safety Tools

www.ahrq.gov/qual/pips/

17 toolkits designed to help doctors, nurses, hospital managers, patients and others reduce medical errors was released by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

The toolkits correlate with the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals.

Press Release

Six year audit of cardiac arrests and medical emergency team calls in an Australian outer metropolitan teaching hospital

Michael Buist, Julia Harrison, Ellie Abaloz, Susan Van Dyke
BMJ 2007;335:1210-1212
Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]


Editorial

Recognising and responding to acute illness in patients in hospital
Kathryn M Rowan, David A Harrison
BMJ 2007;335:1165-1166
[Extract] [Full text] [PDF]

Evaluating Physician Performance at Individualizing Care

A Pilot Study Tracking Contextual Errors in Medical Decision Making
Saul J. Weiner, Alan Schwartz, Rachel Yudkowsky, Gordon D. Schiff, Frances M. Weaver, Julie Goldberg, and Kevin B. Weiss
Med Decis Making 2007 27: 726-734.
[Abstract] [PDF] [References]


Editorial

Measuring the Care of the Patient in Context
Paul N. Gorman
Med Decis Making 2007 27: 724-725.
[PDF] [References]

The National Emergency Department Safety Study: Study Rationale and Design

Ashley F. Sullivan, Carlos A. Camargo, Jr., Paul D. Cleary, James A. Gordon, Edward Guadagnoli, Rainu Kaushal, David J. Magid, Sowmya R. Rao, and David Blumenthal
Acad Emerg Med 2007 14: 1182-1189.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [National Emergency Department Safety Survey] [National Emergency Department Safety Study Adverse Event Form]

Pay-for-Performance Principles That Promote Patient-Centered Care: An Ethics Manifesto

L. Snyder, R. L. Neubauer and for the American College of Physicians Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee
Ann Intern Med 2007; 792-794.

Abstract Full Text PDF

Medication Use Leading to Emergency Department Visits for Adverse Drug Events in Older Adults

D. S. Budnitz, N. Shehab, S. R. Kegler and C. L. Richards
Ann Intern Med 2007; 755-765.

Abstract Full Text PDF

Future of quality measurement

Helen Lester, Martin Roland
BMJ 2007;335:1130-1131

[Extract] [Full text] [PDF]