Health services research
-
Health services research · Oct 2014
Comparative StudyUsing estimated true safety event rates versus flagged safety event rates: does it change hospital profiling and payment?
To assess whether use of the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) composite measure versus modified composite measures leads to changes in hospital profiles and payments. ⋯ Changes in hospital profiles and payments would be substantial for some hospitals if the PSI composite score used weights reflecting the relative prevalence of true versus flagged events.
-
Health services research · Jun 2014
The Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program: potential unintended consequences for hospitals serving vulnerable populations.
To explore the impact of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) on hospitals serving vulnerable populations. ⋯ Policies to reduce hospital readmissions must balance the need to ensure continued access to quality care for vulnerable populations.
-
Health services research · Jun 2014
Comparative StudyAre dual eligibles admitted to poorer quality skilled nursing facilities?
Dual eligibles, persons who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage, often receive poorer quality care relative to other Medicare beneficiaries. ⋯ Disparities exist in access to quality SNF care for duals. Strategies to improve discharge planning processes are required to redirect patients to higher quality providers, regardless of Medicaid eligibility.
-
Health services research · Apr 2014
Health care utilization and costs associated with adherence to clinical practice guidelines for early magnetic resonance imaging among workers with acute occupational low back pain.
To estimate health care utilization and costs associated with adherence to clinical practice guidelines for the use of early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; within the first 6 weeks of injury) for acute occupational low back pain (LBP). ⋯ Nonadherence to guidelines for early MRI was associated with increased likelihood of lumbosacral injections or surgery and higher costs for out-patient, inpatient, and nonmedical services, and disability compensation.
-
Health services research · Apr 2014
Hospital costs and inpatient mortality among children undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease.
To determine the association between hospital costs and risk-adjusted inpatient mortality among children undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) in U.S. acute-care hospitals. ⋯ Greater hospital costs are associated with lower risk-adjusted inpatient mortality for children undergoing CHD surgery. The specific mechanisms by which greater costs improve mortality merit further exploration.