Health services research
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Health services research · Oct 2008
Comparative StudyA comparative study of quality outcomes in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers and hospital-based outpatient departments: 1997-2004.
To compare quality outcomes from surgical procedures performed at freestanding ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital-based outpatient departments (HOPDs). ⋯ There appear to be important variations in quality outcomes for certain procedures, which may be related to differences in organizational structure, processes, and strategies between ASCs and HOPDs. The study also confirms the importance of risk-adjustment for comorbidities when using administrative data, particularly for procedures that are sensitive to differences in severity.
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Health services research · Oct 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTargeting primary care referrals to smoking cessation clinics does not improve quit rates: implementing evidence-based interventions into practice.
To evaluate the impact of a locally adapted evidence-based quality improvement (EBQI) approach to implementation of smoking cessation guidelines into routine practice. ⋯ EBQI stimulated practices to increase smoking cessation clinic referrals and try other less evidence-based interventions that did not translate into improved quit rates at a population level.
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Health services research · Oct 2008
The impact of gaps in health insurance coverage on immunization status for young children.
To examine the impact of full-year versus intermittent public and private health insurance coverage on the immunization status of children aged 19-35 months. ⋯ Our findings raise concerns about access to needed immunizations for children with gaps in private health insurance coverage and challenge the prevailing belief that private health insurance represents the gold standard with regard to UTD status for young children.