Lower Mortality in Sepsis Patients Admitted Through the ED vs Direct Admission

This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:

• Articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers.
• Articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ staff, activities, and publications/products.
• Articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers.
• Articles related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force or Put Prevention into Practice program.
• Articles mentioning the National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report.
• Other research using AHRQ data or products.

AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles

American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Powell ES, Khare RK, Courtney DM, et al. Lower mortality in sepsis patients admitted through the ED vs direct admission. Am J Emerg Med�2011 Feb 25. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellowship grants T32 HS00078 and F32 HS17876-01 (to first and second authors, through the Institute for Healthcare Studies at Northwestern University); uses 2008 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgical Oncology
Zaydfudim V, Whiteside MA, Griffin MR, et al. Health insurance status affects staging and influences treatment strategies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2010 Dec; 17(12):3104-11. [Supported by National Research Service Award grant t32 HS13833 (to first author); presented in part at the 2009 AHRQ NRSA Trainees Research Conference, Chicago, IL, June 27, 2009. Select to access the abstract.

Circulation. Heart Failure
Allen LA, Hernandez AF, Peterson ED, et al. Discharge to a skilled nursing facility and subsequent clinical outcomes among older patients hospitalized for heart failure. Circ Heart Fail 2011 Mar 29. [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by grant 1 U18 HS16964-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Pediatrics
Taylor JA, Richter M, Done S, et al. The utility of alkaline phosphatase measurement as a screening test for rickets in breast-fed infants and toddlers: a study from the Puget Sound Pediatric Research Network. Clin Pediatr 2010 Dec; 49(12):1103-10. [Supported by grant 1 R03 HS16029.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Setoguchi S, Shrank WH, Liu J, et al. Angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: challenges in comparative effectiveness using Medicare data. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2011 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract HHSA290?2005-0016-I-TO3 as part of the Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program and by grant K02 HS17731 (to first author)

Emerging Infectious Diseases
Kendall BA, Varley CD, Choi D, Cassidy PM, Hedberg K, Ware MA, Winthrop KL. Distinguishing tuberculosis from nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease, Oregon, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2011 Mar;17(3):506-9. [Supported by grant 1 K08 HS17552-01 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Informatics in Primary Care
Devine EB, Patel R, Dixon DR, Sullivan SD. Assessing attitudes toward electronic prescribing adoption in primary care: a survey of prescribers and staff. Inform Prim Care 2010; 18(3):177-87. [Supported by Health Information Technology grant 5 UC1 HS 15319 (last author is principal investigator) and Mentored Clinical Scientist training grant 5 K08 HS14739 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal of Medical Informatics
Lapane KL, Rosen RK, Dube' C. Perceptions of e-prescribing efficiencies and inefficiencies in ambulatory care. Int J Med Inform 2011 Jan; 80(1):39-46. [Supported by grant 1 U18 HS16394-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Cevasco M, Borzecki AM, Chen Q, et al. Positive predictive value of the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicator "Postoperative Sepsis": implications for practice and policy. J Am Coll Surg 2011 Apr 5. [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by contract 290-04-0020; uses and cites Patient Safety Indicators Download, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site, and AHRQ publications, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology and AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.0a, 2003; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan and Miller (first author is current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Evidence and Outcomes and second author is former AHRQ researcher) (JAMA, 2003), which uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators and 2000 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
Meyers D. Using the evidence: PCMH and patient-centered outcomes research. J Am Pharm Assoc�2011 Mar-Apr; 51(2):155. [Author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships; cites AHRQ-authored article by Clancy (J Am Pharm Assoc, 2010), AHRQ column "Coordinating Your Care with a Medical Home", 2009, as published in Navigating the Health Care System: Advice Columns from Dr. Carolyn Clancy�on AHRQ's Healthcare 411 Web site, and What is PCMH?, as published on AHRQ's Patient Centered Medical Home Research Web site; discusses AHRQ's role in patient centered medical home research and notes that "AHRQ also is integrating its work on health information technology (HIT) into its PCMH research as we strive to make HIT an 'agent of change' for PCMH"; mentions AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program and its Web site.]

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Atkins D, Chang S, Gartlehner, Buckley DI, Whitlock EP, Berliner E, Matchar D. Assessing applicability when comparing medical interventions: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Effective Health Care Program. J Clin Epidemiol 2011 Apr 6. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program; first author is a former researcher and second and sixth authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Lyles CR, Karter AJ, Young BA, et al. Correlates of patient-reported racial/ethnic health care discrimination in the Diabetes Study of Northern California. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):211-25. [Supported by National Research Service Award grant HS13853; cites AHRQ's National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Su D, Li L. Trends in the use of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States: 2002-2007. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):296-310. [Supported in part by grant R24 HS17003.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Health Communications
Siminoff LA, Step MM. A comprehensive observational coding scheme for analyzing instrumental, affective, and relational communication in health care contexts. J Health Commun 2011 Feb; 16(2):178-97. [Supported by grant R01 HS13152 (first author is principal investigator).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Davies S, McDonald KM, Schmidt E, et al. Expanding the uses of AHRQ's prevention quality indicators: validity from the clinician perspective. Med Care 2011 Apr 6. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract 290-04-0020; evaluates AHRQ's prevention quality indicators using methodologies cited in AHRQ publications, Quality Indicators User Help System, Measures of Pediatric Health Care Quality Based on Hospital Administrative Data: the Pediatric Quality Indicators, 2006, and Guidance on Using the AHRQ QI for Hospital-Level Comparative Reporting, 2009, and AHRQ technical reviewsRefinement of the HCUP Quality Indicators, 2001, and Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data: the Patient Safety Indicators, 2002.] Select to access the abstract.

DeVoe JE, Tillotson CJ, Wallace LS, et al. Comparing types of health insurance for children: a public option versus a private option. Med Care 2011 Apr 6. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by grants 1 K08 HS16181 and 1 R01 HS18569; uses 2002-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, citing AHRQ publications, Access to Health Care: Source and Barriers, 1996, MEPS Research Findings 3, 1997, Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, MEPS Methodology Report 2, 1997, MEPS HC-089: 2004 Full Year Consolidated Data File, and MEPS HC documentation files, all published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site. Also refer to AHRQ-funded articles by Butler et al. (J Ambul Care Manage, 2011), Warren et al. (Pediatrics, 2011), McPheeters et al. (Pediatrics, 2011), and Krishnaswami, McPheeters, and Veenstra-Vanderweele (Pediatrics, 2011) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Kozhimannil KB, Huskamp HA, Graves AJ, Soumerai SB, et al. High-deductible health plans and costs and utilization of maternity care. Am J Manag Care�2011 Jan; 17(1):e17-e25. [Notes that fourth author is an investigator in the HMO Research Network Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs); cites AHRQ publication, The National Hospital Bill: Growth Trends and 2005 Update on the Most Expensive Conditions by Payer, HCUP Statistical Brief 42, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Bloomfield HE, Krause A, Greer N, et al. Meta-analysis: effect of patient self-testing and self-management of long-term anticoagulation on major clinical outcomes. Ann Intern Med 2011 Apr 5; 154(7):472-82. [Cites AHRQ publication, Outpatient Prescription Anticoagulants Utilization and Expenditures for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population Age 18 and Older, 2007, MEPS Statistical Brief 268, 2009, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Owen, Lohr, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010), which discusses AHRQ's evidence grades.] Select to access the abstract.

Drug Topics
van Dusen V, Pray WS. Medication errors: causes, prevention, liability, and the apology. Drug Topics 2011 Feb; 155(2):1-17. [Mentions AHRQ's Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web (WebM&M) as an excellent resource "in understanding issues associated with medical errors", citing AHRQ's WebM&M Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by McPhillips et al. (J Pediatr, 2005), Field et al. (Med Care, 2005), and Bates et al. (JAMA, 1997 and 1995).]

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Hammond WP, Mohottige D, Chantala K, et al. Determinants of usual source of care disparities among African American and Caribbean black men: findings from the National Survey of American Life. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):157-75. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Kirby and Kaneda (J Health Soc Behav, 2005), Franks, Gold, and Clancy (Health Serv Res, 1996), and Moy, Bartman, and Weir (Arch Intern Med, 1995); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Litaker, Koroukiant, and Love (Med Care, 2005), Lara et al. (Annu Rev Public Health, 2005), Lambrew et al. (Med Care, 1996), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Hensley MA. Roles of community helpers in using the Medicare Part D benefit. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):258-70. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by West et al. (J Clin Psychiatry, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

Zweifler J, Prado K, Metchnikoff C. Creating an effective and efficient publicly sponsored health care delivery system. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):311-19. [Cites AHRQ publications, Serving the Uninsured: Safety-Net Hospitals, 2003, HCUP Fact Book 8, 2007, and A Data Book for States and Counties: Monitoring the Health Care Safety Net, 2003, both published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Goldberg D, Benson JL, Schiff G, et al. Contributions of public hospitals to regional health care: a population-based analysis of the county health care system serving metropolitan Chicago. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):346-58. [Cites AHRQ publication, Expenses for a Hospital Emergency Room Visit, 2003, MEPS Statistical Brief 111, 2006, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Shaefer HL, Grogan CM, Pollack HA. Who transitions from private to public health insurance? Lessons from expansions of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):359-70. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Hudson, Selden, and Banthin (Inquiry, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

MedSurg Nursing
Chang JY, Tsai PF, Beck C, et al. The effect of tai chi on cognition in elders with cognitive impairment. MedSurg Nurs�2011 Mar-Apr; 20(2):63-69. [Cites AHRQ/CDC report Physical Activity and Older Americans: Benefits and Strategies, 2002, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Milbank Quarterly
Lewis GH, Vaithianathan R, Hockey PM, et al. Counterheroism, common knowledge, and ergonomics: concepts from aviation that could improve patient safety. Milbank Q 2011 Mar; 89(1):4-38. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Pronovost, Goeschel, Olsen, Pham, Miller, Berenholtz, Sexton, Marsteller, Morlock, Wu, Loeb, and Clancy (last author is AHRQ director and fifth author is former AHRQ researcher) (Health Aff, 2009); cites AHRQ-funded article by Berenholtz et al. (Crit Care Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Mehrotra A, Forrest CB, Lin CY. Dropping the baton: specialty referrals in the United States. Milbank Q 2011 Mar; 89(1):39-68. [Cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, Volume 3: Performance and Tools, 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site, and Expenses for Office-Based Physician Visits by Specialty, 2004, MEPS Statistical Brief 166, 2007, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Bitton, Martin, and Landon (J Gen Intern Med, 2010), Ghandi et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006), Ayanian et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Frakt AB. How much do hospitals cost shift? A review of the evidence. Milbank Q 2011 Mar; 89(1):90-130. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Glazer and McGuire (J Health Econ, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Herridge MS, Tansey CM, Matt� A, et al. Functional disability 5 years after acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med 2011 Apr 7; 364(14):1293-304. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Van Pelt et al. (Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2007) and Angus et al. (Crit Care Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Lee DH, Vielemeyer O. Preexposure chemoprophylaxis for HIV prevention. N Engl J Med 2011 Apr 7; 364(14):1372-3. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Gebo, Fleishman (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends), Conviser et al. (AIDS, 2010).]

Original Internist
Olivier R. Targeted nutritional support for allergy associated symptoms. Orig Internist 2011 Mar; 18(1):15-20. [Cites AHRQ Web site as the source for data on the cost of treatments associated with conditions caused by airborne allergens.]

Pediatrics
Dickerman MJ, Jacobs BR, Vinodrao H, et al. Recognizing hypoglycemia in children through automated adverse-event detection. Pediatrics 2011 Apr; 127(4):e1035-e1041. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Miller, Elixhauser, and Zhan (former AHRQ researcher and researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets and Center for Evidence and Outcomes, respectively) (Pediatrics, 2003), which uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Sharek et al. (Pediatrics, 2006), Woods et al. (Pediatrics, 2005), Classen et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2005), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles

American Surgeon
Uecker JM, Bui EH, Foulkrod KH, et al. Intraoperative assessment of breast cancer specimens decreases cost and number of reoperations. Am Surg�2011 Mar; 77(3):342-4. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for testicular cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reaffirmation recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med�2011 Apr 5; 154(7):483-6. [Updates USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Testicular Cancer, 2004, citing recommendations as published on USPSTF Web site and in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996, second edition; cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening for testicular cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2010); cites AHRQ publications U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Testicular Cancer. Recommendation Statement, 2004, and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Testicular Cancer: Brief Evidence Update, 2004.] Select to access the abstract.

Summaries for Patients. Screening for testicular cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reaffirmation recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med�2011 Apr 5; 154(7):1-36. [Summarizes updated USPSTF recommendation statement cited above in this section.]

Littner MR. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Intern Med�2011 Apr 5; 154(7):ITC4-1-ITC4-16. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using spirometry (Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Taveras EM, Gortmaker SL, Hohman KH, et al. Randomized controlled trial to improve primary care to prevent and manage childhood obesity: the High Five for Kids study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2011 Apr 4. [Epub ahead of print. Cites USPSTF-sponsored targeted systematic review on effectiveness of weight management interventions in children (Pediatrics, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

Breastfeeding Medicine
Academy Of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocol Committee. ABM Clinical Protocol #9: Use of galactogogues in initiating or augmenting the rate of maternal milk secretion (first revision January 2011). Breastfeed Med�2011 Feb; 6(1):41-9. [Mentions that levels of evidence are based on the USPSTF "Quality of Evidence", citing Appendix A Task Force Ratings, in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996, as posted on the NLM Bookshelf Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Clinical Oncology
Drazer MW, Huo D, Schonberg MA, et al. Population-based patterns and predictors of prostate-specific antigen screening among older men in the United States. J Clin Oncol�2011 Mar 28. [Epub ahead of print. Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for prostate cancer and related evidence update by Lin et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Haverkamp D, Perdue DG, Espey D, et al. A survey of Indian Health Service and tribal health providers' colorectal cancer screening knowledge, perceptions, and practices. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):243-57. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002) and USPSTF-sponsored decision analysis on evaluating test strategies for colorectal cancer screening (Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Potter MB, Yu TM, Gildengorin G, et al. Adaptation of the FLU-FOBT program for a primary care clinic serving a low-income Chinese American community: new evidence of effectiveness. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):284-95. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Women's Health
Feldstein AC, Perrin N, Rosales AG, et al. Patient barriers to mammography identified during a reminder program. J Womens Health�2011 Mar; 20(3):421-8. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement Screening for Breast Cancer, 2009, as published on USPSTF and AHRQ Web sites.] Select to access the abstract.

Reiter PL, Linnan LA. Cancer screening behaviors of African American women enrolled in a community-based cancer prevention trial. J Womens Health�2011 Mar; 20(3):429-38. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Garabedian MJ, Lain KY, Hansen WF, et al. Violence against women and postpartum depression. J Womens Health�2011 Mar; 20(3):447-53. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on screening for depression in adults (Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Nelson H, Wang L, Weerasinghe R, et al. Trends and influences on mammography screening in a community health system. J Womens Health 2011 Mar; 20(3):474. [Abstracts study of the relationships between community trends in breast cancer mammography screening, the release of updated USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screening, and insurance coverage, referring to USPSTF recommendation statement Screening for Breast Cancer, 2009.]

Nelson H, Zakher B, Cantor A, et al. Breast cancer risk factors for women aged 40-49. J Womens Health�2011 Mar; 20(3):494. [Abstracts study that evaluates the association between individual risk factors and breast cancer specifically for women aged 40-49 to facilitate screening decisions as recommended in updated USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for Breast Cancer, 2009, and that uses AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) methods to conduct a systematic evidence review.]

MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC grand rounds: chlamydia prevention: challenges and strategies for reducing disease burden and sequelae. MMRW Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011 Apr 1; 60(12):370-373. [Cites USPSTF recommendation on screening for chlamydial infection (Ann Intern Med, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

PLoS One
Cosgrove L, Shi L, Creasey DE, et al. Antidepressants and breast and ovarian cancer risk: a review of the literature and researchers' financial associations with industry. PLoS One�2011 Apr 6; 6(4):e18210. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002) and concludes that "the findings have implications in light of the 2009 USPSTF guidelines for breast cancer screening and for the informed consent process." Also refer to article by Chambers et al. (Milbank Q, 2011) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Breastfeeding Medicine
Lawrence RA. The obstetrician as the lynchpin to successful breastfeeding. Breastfeed Med�2011 Feb; 6(1):1-2. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007, and AHRQ-authored article by Meyers (director in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships) (Breastfeed Med, 2009), which discusses this report.]

Flaherman VJ, Chien AT, McCulloch CE, et al. Breastfeeding rates differ significantly by method used: a cause for concern for public health measurement. Breastfeed Med�2011 Feb; 6(1):31-5. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Women's Health
Gjerdingen D, Crow S, McGovern P, et al. Changes in depressive symptoms over 0-9 months postpartum. J Womens Health 2011 Mar; 20(3):381-6. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening Accuracy, and Screening Outcomes, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Warren Z, McPheeters ML, Sathe N, et al. A systematic review of early intensive intervention for autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics 2011 Apr 4. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract HHSA 290-2007-10065-I; first and last authors (Veenstra-Vanderweele) report previous AHRQ funding; cites AHRQ comparative effectiveness review Therapies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2007, prepared by the Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center under contract 290-02-HHSA-290-2007-10065-I).] Select to access the abstract.

McPheeters ML, Warren Z, Sathe N, et al. A systematic review of medical treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics 2011 Apr 4. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract no. HHSA 290-2007-10065-I; second and last authors (Veenstra-Vanderweele) report previous AHRQ funding; cites AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Therapies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2007, prepared by the Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center under contract 290-02-HHSA-290-2007-10065-I); cites AHRQ-authored article by Owens, Lohr, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010), which discusses AHRQ's evidence grades; cites AHRQ-funded article by Krishnaswami et al. (Pediatrics, 2011) cited below.] Select to access the abstract.

Krishnaswami S, McPheeters ML, Veenstra-Vanderweele J. A systematic review of secretin for children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics 2011 Apr 4. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract no. HHSA 290-2007-10065-I; last author (Veenstra-Vanderweele) report previous AHRQ funding; cites AHRQ comparative effectiveness review Therapies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2007, prepared by the Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center under contract 290-02-HHSA-290-2007-10065-I); cites AHRQ-authored article by Owens, Lohr, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010), which discusses AHRQ's evidence grades.] Select to access the abstract.

Telemedicine Journal and E-Health
Grady B, Myers KM, Nelson EL, et al. Evidence-based practice for telemental health. Telemed J E Health 2011 Mar; 17(2):131-48. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Telemedicine for the Medicare Population—Update, 2006. Also refer to article by Fiscella et al. (J Health Care Poor Underserved, 2011) cited in National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles and articles by Borzecki et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2011) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products] Select to access the abstract.

National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Fiscella K, Humiston S, Hendren S, et al. Eliminating disparities in cancer screening and follow-up of abnormal results: what will it take? J Health Care Poor Underserved 2011 Feb; 22(1):83-100. [Cites AHRQ's National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and NHDR, 2009; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology, 2006, prepared by the Southern California EPC. Also refer to articles by Lyles et al. (J Health Care Poor Underserved, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles and Grossman et al. (Ann Surg Oncol, 2011) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Medical Quality
Chen J, Rizzo JA, Rodriguez H. The health effects of cost-related treatment delays. Am J Med Qual�2011 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2002-2006 MEPS data, citing MEPS HC-105: 2006 Full Year Consolidated Data File, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zuvekas and Fleishman (Med Care, 2008).] Select to access the http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21478458.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Kivim�ki M, Batty GD, Hamer M, et al. Using additional information on working hours to predict coronary heart disease: a cohort study. Ann Intern Med�2011 Apr 5; 154(7):457-63. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgical Oncology
Robinson CN, Chen GJ, Balentine CJ, et al. Minimally invasive surgery Is underutilized for colon cancer. Ann Surg Oncol�2011 Jan 7. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2005-2007 HCUP NIS data; cites articles by Kemp and Finlayson (Surg Endosc, 2008), Kemp, Zuckerman, and Finlayson (J Am Coll Surg, 2008), Guller et al. (Arch Surg, 2003), and others, all of which use various HCUP NIS data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Grossman R, Mukherjee D, Chang DC, et al. Predictors of inpatient death and complications among postoperative elderly patients with metastatic brain tumors. Ann Surg Oncol�2011 Feb; 18(2):521-8. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2005; cites article by Mukherjee et al. (Eur J Endocrinol, 2009), which uses HCUP NIS data.]

HPB
Shah BC, Ullrich F, Smith L, et al. National trends in discharge disposition after hepatic resection for malignancy. HPB�2011 Feb; 13(2):96-102. [Uses 1993-2005 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites articles by Dimick et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2004, and Arch Surg, 2003), both of which use various HCUP NIS data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Injury Prevention
Cox S, Kuo C, Jamieson DJ, et al. Poisoning hospitalisations among reproductive-aged women in the USA, 1998-2006. Inj Prev�2011 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); acknowledges contributions of the AHRQ-CDC HCUP Collaboration on Women's and Children's Health; cites AHRQ-authored article by Coben, Steiner (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), Barrett, et al. (Inj Prev, 2006) and article by Coben et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2010), which use various HCUP NIS data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Bowman SM, Aitken ME, Maham SA, et al. Trends in hospitalisations associated with paediatric burns. Inj Prev�2011 Mar 1. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1993-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ publication, Population Denominator Data for Use with the HCUP Databases, HCUP Methods Series Report 2006-06, 2006; cites article by Shields et al. (J Burn Care Res, 2007) which uses 2000 HCUP NIS data, and article by Westfall and McGloin (Med Care, 2001), which uses 1995-1997 HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Borzecki AM, Kaafarani H, Cevasco M, et al. How valid is the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicator "Postoperative Hemorrhage or Hematoma"? J Am Coll Surg�2011 Apr 5. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicator software, version 3.1a, to investigate the positive predictive value of AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicator for postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma, citing AHRQ publications, Patient Safety Indicators Software SAS Documentation, 2003, Version 3.2, 2008, Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, 2003, Version 3.1, 2007, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, 2003, Version 3.1, 2007, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicator Composite SAS Documentation, Version 3.1a, 2007, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005, and A HRQ Quality Indicators Validation Pilot, all published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan and Miller (current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence and former AHRQ researcher, respectively) (JAMA, 2003), which uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators and 2000 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ technical review, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data ? The Patient Safety Indicators, 2002, prepared by the UCSF-Stanford Evidence-Based Practice Center under contract 290-97-0013.] Select to access the abstract.

Borzecki AM, Kaafarani HM, Utter GH, et al. How valid is the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicator "Postoperative Respiratory Failure"? J Am Coll Surg�2011 Apr 5. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicator software, version 3.1a, to investigate the positive predictive value on postoperative respiratory failure, citing AHRQ publications, Patient Safety Indicators Software SAS Documentation, 2003, Version 3.2, 2008, Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, 2003, Version 3.1, 2007, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, 2003, Version 3.1, 2007, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicator Composite SAS Documentation, Version 3.1a, 2007, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005, and A HRQ Quality Indicators Validation Pilot, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan and Miller (current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence and former AHRQ researcher, respectively) (JAMA, 2003), which uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators and 2000 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ-authored/funded article by Houchens, Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), and Romano (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2008), which uses 2003 HCUP SID data; cites National Information on Measures of Health Care Quality Based on the NIS, Using the AHRQ Quality Indicators, as published on AHRQ's HCUPNet Web site; cites AHRQ technical review, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data ? The Patient Safety Indicators, 2002, prepared by the UCSF-Stanford Evidence-Based Practice Center under contract 290-97-0013).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Gagne JJ, Glynn RJ, Avorn J, et al. A combined comorbidity score predicted mortality in elderly patients better than existing scores. J Clin Epidemiol�2011 Jan 3. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) and the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites articles by van Walraven et al. (Med Care, 2009), Yan et al. (Med Care, 2005), and Schneeweiss and Maclure (Int J Epidemiol, 2000), all of which use AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures and/or the Charlson comorbidity index.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Healthcare Management
Moseley CB, Shen JJ, Ginn GO. Characteristics of acute care hospitals with diversity plans and translation services. J Healthc Manag�2011 Jan-Feb; 56(1):45-61; discussion 61-2. [Uses 2006 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ-authored article by Brach and Fraser (researcher and director, respectively, in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Qual Manag Health Care, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics
Hodgkin D, Merrick EL, Hiatt D, et al. The effect of employee assistance plan benefits on the use of outpatient behavioral health care. J Ment Health Policy Econ�2010 Dec; 13(4):167-74. [Uses AHRQ's Clinical Classification Software (CCS), citing Clinical Classification Software for ICD-9-CM Fact Sheet, 2003, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Nelson RE, Kim J. The impact of mental illness on the risk of employment termination. J Ment Health Policy Econ�2011 Mar; 14(1):39-52. [Uses 2000-2005 MEPS data, citing AHRQ publication, Sample Design of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, 1998-2007, MEPS Methodology Report 22, 2008; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Frank, Huskamp, and Pincus (Psychiatr Serv, 2003) and Wells et al. (JAMA, 2000).]

L� Cook B, Manning W, Alegr�a M, et al. Measuring disparities across the distribution of mental health care expenditures. J Ment Health Policy Econ�2011 Mar; 14 Suppl 1:S17. [Abstracts article which uses 2004-2007 MEPS data.]

Journal of Neurology
Kang JH, Lin HC. Comorbidity profile of poliomyelitis survivors in a Chinese population: a population-based study. J Neurol�2011 Jan 30. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Ding K, Yang J, Cheng G, et al. Hospitalizations and hospital charges for co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. J Subst Abuse Treat�2011 Feb 24. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2003-2007 HCUP NIS data and Clinical Classification Software (CCS), citing HCUP Databases, 2006; cites AHRQ-funded article by Meltzer, Basu, and Meltzer (Health Aff, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Women's Health
Wallace A, Yinong Y. P126: Inequity in access to knee arthroplasty for women. J Womens Health�2011 Mar; 20(3):500. [Uses 2006 HCUP NIS data to estimate the "rate and characteristics of patients who received arthroplasty".]

MBIO
Simonsen L, Taylor RJ, Young-Xu Y, et al. Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination of infants on pneumonia and influenza hospitalization and mortality in all age groups in the United States. MBio 2011 Jan 25; 2(1):e00309-10. [Uses 1996-2006 HCUP SID data from 10 states; cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), which uses various HCUP data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Milbank Quarterly
Hofer AN, Abraham JM, Moscovice I. Expansion of coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and primary care utilization. Milbank Q�2011 Mar; 89(1):69-89. [Uses 2006 and 2007 MEPS Household Component (MEPS HC) data, citing AHRQ's MEPS Web site and AHRQ publication, National Health Care Expenses in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2007, MEPS Statistical Brief no. 272, 2009, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Chambers D, Wilson PM, Thompson CA, et al. Maximizing the impact of systematic reviews in health care decision making: a systematic scoping review of knowledge-translation resources. Milbank Q�2011 Mar; 89(1):131-56. [Includes AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program policymakers' summaries as one of the eleven "knowledge-translation resources that met [the authors'] inclusion criteria", citing AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program; discusses rationale for excluding products of the USPSTF.] Select to access the abstract.

Neurology
Ovbiagele B, Nath A. Increasing incidence of ischemic stroke in patients with HIV infection. Neurology�2011 Feb 1; 76(5):444-50. [Uses 1997-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Neurosurgery
Arrigo RT, Kalanithi P, Boakye M. Is cauda equina syndrome being treated within the recommended timeframe? Neurosurgery�2011 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2003-2006 HCUP SID data for California and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites article by Stukenborg, Wagner, and Connors (Med Care, 2001), which uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures and the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Osteoporosis International
Lix LM, Quail J, Teare G, et al. Performance of comorbidity measures for predicting outcomes in population-based osteoporosis cohorts. Osteoporos Int�2011 Jan 11. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites articles by van Walraven et al. (Med Care, 2009), Bouza et al. (Osteoporos Int, 2007), Quan et al. (Med Care, 2005), Southern, Quan, and Ghali (Med Care, 2004), and others which use AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Schneeweiss et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2004, and Am J Epidemiol, 2001) and Schneeweiss (Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Lopez AS, Zhang J, Brown C, et al. Varicella-related hospitalizations in the United States, 2000-2006: the 1-dose varicella vaccination era. Pediatrics�2011 Feb; 127(2):238-45. [Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2000-2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Revista de Calidad Asistencial
Tejero Gonz�lez JM, Fern�ndez Mart�n J, Mira Solves JJ. Validity and reliability of a synthetic hospital health care quality indicator. Rev Calid Asist�2011 Apr 1. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Quality Indicators, citing General Questions About the AHRQ QIs, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; article is in Spanish.] Select to access the abstract.

Saudi Journal of Kidney Disease and Transplantation
Machnicki G, Lentine KL, Salvalaggio PR, et al. Three-year post-transplant Medicare payments in kidney transplant recipients: associations with pre-transplant comorbidities. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl�2011 Jan; 22(1):24-39. [Uses AHRQ's Clinical Classification Software, citing Clinical Classification Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM, as published on AHRQ's Website, and Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ publications, Hospitalization in the United States, 2002, HCUP Fact Book 6, 2005, and Hospitalizations in the United States, 1997, HCUP Fact Book 1, 2000; cites articles by Robinson (Health Serv Res, 2008), Machnicki et al. (Am J Transplant, 2009, and Clin Transpl, 2005), Quan et al. (Med Care, 2005), and others, all of which use AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures, the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992), and/or AHRQ's CCS.] Select to access the abstract.

Spine
Passias PG, Ma Y, Chiu YL, et al. Comparative safety of simultaneous and staged anterior and posterior spinal surgery. Spine�2011 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and HCUP Databases, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Rajaee SS, Bae HW, Kanim LE, et al. Spinal fusion in the United States: analysis of trends from 1998 to 2008. Spine�2011 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2008 HCUP NIS data and Clinical Classification Software (CCS), citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2008, and Clinical Classification Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM, both published on AHRQ's HCUP and HCUPNet Web sites; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Keller et al. (J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1999), Ciol et al. (J am Geriatr Soc, 1996), Taylor et al. (J Spinal Disord, 1995, and Spine, 1994), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Lad SP, Nathan JK, Boakye M. Trends in the use of bone morphogenetic protein as a substitute to autologous iliac crest bone grafting for spinal fusion procedures in the United States. Spine�2011 Feb 15; 36(4):E274-E281. [Uses 1993-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), as published on AHRQ's Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Farjoodi P, Skolasky RL, Riley LH 3rd. The effects of hospital and surgeon volume on postoperative complications after lumbar spine surgery. Spine�2011 Feb 18. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1992-2005 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ-funded article by Katz et al. (J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2001). Also refer to articles by Powell et al. (Am J Emerg Med, 2011), Cevasco et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2011), and Davies et al. (Med Care, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.