American Journal of Medical Quality This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Ordering Wisely: Engaging Faculty to Champion High-Value Care Initiatives
(Source: American Journal of Medical Quality)
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Modes, M., Davis, A., Farnan, J., Arora, V. Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

Monthly "Grief Rounds" to Improve Residents Experience and Decrease Burnout in a Medical Intensive Care Unit Rotation
(Source: American Journal of Medical Quality)
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Wilde, L., Worster, B., Oxman, D. Tags: Q-Tip Source Type: research

The Value of Negative Results in Quality Improvement: A Simulation Perspective
(Source: American Journal of Medical Quality)
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Day, T. E., Gellad, Z. F. Tags: Commentary Source Type: research

An Appraisal of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetic Retinopathy
The objective is to evaluate the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS), and Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCO) for diabetic retinopathy. Four evaluators independently appraised the CPGs using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument, which covers 6 domains (Scope and Purpose, Stakeholder Involvement, Rigor of Development, Clarity of Presentation, Applicability, and Editorial Independence). Scores ranged from 35% to 78% (AAO), 60% to 92% (COS), and 35% to 82% (RC...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Wu, C. M., Wu, A. M., Young, B. K., Wu, D. J., Margo, C. E., Greenberg, P. B. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Publication Types in Quality Improvement Journals
This study’s goal is to establish the prevalence of the types of research conducted in articles published in journals dedicated to quality improvement. A cross-sectional analysis was performed of 145 research articles published in 11 quality improvement journals in 2011. The majority of study designs were considered pre-experimental (95%), with a small percentage of quasi-experimental and experimental designs. Of the studies that reported the results of an intervention (n = 60), the most common research designs were pre–post studies (33%) and case studies (25%). There were few randomized controlled trials or qu...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Wong, C. J., White, A. A., Merel, S. E., Brock, D. M., Staiger, T. O. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

The Association Between Dialysis Facility Quality and Facility Characteristics, Neighborhood Demographics, and Region
This article studies the association between the overall dialysis facility quality and facility characteristics, neighborhood demographics, and region. Data from the CMS Payment Year 2014 Dialysis Compare File were used, and were linked to 2010 US Census data (n = 4086). Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between dialysis facility quality and facility characteristics, neighborhood demographics, and region. The analysis demonstrates that dialysis facility quality varies significantly by facility profit status, chain membership, and facility size. Dialysis facilities in neighborhoods with a higher...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Zhang, Y. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Influence of the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program in ICUs: Evidence From the Keystone ICU Project
This study demonstrated that unit-based, formalized processes targeting cultural improvements in teamwork, communication, self-identification of hazards, and hazard mitigation can improve several aspects of patient safety climate in ICUs. (Source: American Journal of Medical Quality)
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Hsu, Y.-J., Marsteller, J. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Addressing Disparities in Stroke Prevention for Atrial Fibrillation: Educational Opportunities
This study identified barriers to optimal stroke prevention to develop a framework for clinician education. A comprehensive educational needs assessment was developed focusing on clinicians within the Stroke Belt. The mixed qualitative-quantitative approach included regional surveys and one-on-one clinician interviews. Identified contributors to disparities included implicit racial biases, lack of awareness of racial disparities in AF stroke risk, and lack of effective multicultural awareness and training. Additional barriers affecting disparities included patient medical mistrust and clinician-patient communication challe...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Karcher, R., Berman, A. E., Gross, H., Hess, D. C., Jauch, E. C., Viser, P. E., Solenski, N. J., Wolf, A. M. D. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Physician Satisfaction in Practices That Transformed Into Patient-Centered Medical Homes: A Statewide Study in New York
Patient-centered medical home (PCMH) transformation can significantly affect physicians’ job satisfaction, which in turn can affect the quality of patient care. Between November 2012 and March 2013, the study team surveyed 159 community-based physicians in 159 practice sites that had experienced PCMH practice transformations in New York State. Of the 159 physicians, 121 responded (77% response rate) to the online survey. Nearly two thirds (60%) of physicians reported being somewhat or very satisfied overall with their practice after PCMH transformation. Overall satisfaction was lower than satisfaction with specific d...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Richardson, J. E., Kern, L. M., Silver, M., Jung, H.-Y., Kaushal, R., HITEC Investigators Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Population-Level Quality Measures for Behavioral Screening and Intervention
This article assesses the adequacy of quality measures for BSI. Online searches of the National Quality Forum’s Quality Positioning System and the National Clearinghouse for Quality Measures databases were conducted using the keywords smoking, tobacco, alcohol, depression, and obesity. The types and focuses of each measure were classified, and differences between the metrics and evidence-based practice were identified. Most measures indicate whether BSI components are delivered, not how well. Clinicians can perform well on most metrics without delivering evidence-based services. More rigorous quality measures are nee...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Brown, R. L., Smith, M. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Automated Communication Tools and Computer-Based Medication Reconciliation to Decrease Hospital Discharge Medication Errors
This study sought to determine the effects of automated primary care physician (PCP) communication and patient safety tools, including computerized discharge medication reconciliation, on discharge medication errors and posthospitalization patient outcomes, using a pre-post quasi-experimental study design, in hospitalized medical patients with ≥2 comorbidities and ≥5 chronic medications, at a single center. The primary outcome was discharge medication errors, compared before and after rollout of these tools. Secondary outcomes were 30-day rehospitalization, emergency department visit, and PCP follow-up visit rates. T...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Smith, K. J., Handler, S. M., Kapoor, W. N., Martich, G. D., Reddy, V. K., Clark, S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Elucidating Reasons for Resident Underutilization of Electronic Adverse Event Reporting
Reasons for resident underutilization of adverse event (AE) reporting systems are unclear, particularly given frequent resident exposure to AEs and near misses (NMs). Residents at an academic medical center were surveyed about AEs/NMs, barriers to reporting, patient safety climate, and educational interventions. A total of 350 of 527 eligible residents (66%) completed the survey; 77% of respondents reported involvement in an AE/NM, though only 43% had used the reporting system. Top barriers to reporting were not knowing what or how to report. Surgeons reported more than other residents (surgery, 61%; medical, 38%; hospital...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Hatoun, J., Suen, W., Liu, C., Shea, S., Patts, G., Weinberg, J., Eng, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

The Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records and Health Care Utilization
This study sought to determine the effects on health care utilization of meaningful use (MU) of electronic health records (EHRs) compared to typical use of EHRs without MU. This was a cohort study of primary care physicians in New York State (2010-2011). A total of 7 outcomes (primary care visits, specialist visits, laboratory tests, radiology tests, emergency department visits, admissions and readmissions) and 11 potential confounders were considered. The study sample included 213 physicians (50% of whom had achieved MU) and 127 353 patients. There were 17 fewer primary care visits and 61 fewer laboratory tests for every ...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Kern, L. M., Edwards, A., Kaushal, R., HITEC Investigators Tags: Articles Source Type: research

The Health Innovations Scholars Program: A Model for Accelerating Preclinical Medical Students Mastery of Skills for Leading Improvement of Clinical Systems
Dramatic changes in health care require physician leadership. Efforts to instill necessary skills often occur late in training. The Heath Innovations Scholars Program (HISP) provided preclinical medical students with experiential learning focused on process improvement. Students led initiatives to improve the discharge process for stroke patients. All students completed an aptitude survey and Quality Improvement Knowledge Assessment Test (QIKAT) before and after the program. Significant improvements occurred across subject areas of leadership (18.4%, P < .001), quality and safety (14.7%, P < .001), and health care sy...
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - June 30, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Sweigart, J. R., Tad-y, D., Pierce, R., Wagner, E., Glasheen, J. J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Reducing Co-Ordering of Amylase and Lipase Testing at an Academic Medical Center: A Quality Improvement Project
(Source: American Journal of Medical Quality)
Source: American Journal of Medical Quality - April 28, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Barbieri, J. S., Riggio, J. M., Jaffe, R. Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research