Screening Mammography Use in Medicare Beneficiaries Reflects 4-year Mortality Risk

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 Medicine
Koya DL, Chen JG, Smith TG, et al. Screening mammography use in Medicare beneficiaries reflects 4-year mortality risk. Am J Med 2011 Apr; 124(4):369.e1-369.e8. [Supported by National Research Service Award grant 5 T32 HS13851 (to first author); cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer and related evidence update by Nelson et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Transplantation
Boyarsky BJ, Hall EC, Singer AL, et al. Estimating the potential pool of HIV-infected deceased organ donors in the United States. Am J Transplant 2011 Mar 28. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by HIV Research Network contract 290-01-0012 to Johns Hopkins University; uses 2005-2008 HCUP NIS data and Clinical Classification Software (CCS) and 2000 and 2008 data from the HIV Research Network; lists AHRQ under "Sponsoring Agencies" in the Appendix, with named representatives Fred Hellinger, John Fleishman, and Irene Fraser (first and third are researcher and director, respectively, in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, and second is researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends); cites AHRQ-authored/funded articles by Fleishman et al. (Med Care, 2010) and Gebo, Fleishman, Conviser et al. (J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2005); cites AHRQ-funded article by Yehia et al. (AIDS Patient Care STDs, 2008), which uses AHRQ-sponsored HIV Research Network (HIVRN) clinical data.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation. Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Concannon TW, Kent DM, Normand SL, et al. Comparative effectiveness of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction regionalization strategies. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2010 Sep; 3(5):506-13. [Supported by grant R01 HS10282 (to first and second authors) and grants T32 HS00060-12 and K01 HS17726 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Gerontologist
Lepore MJ, Miller SC, Gozalo P. Hospice use among urban Black and White U.S. nursing home decedents in 2006. Gerontologist 2011 Apr; 51(2):251-260.[Supported by grants R03 HS16918 and 5 T32 HS00011-24.] Select to access the http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21076085.

Health Affairs
Pronovost PJ, Marsteller JA, Goeschel CA. Preventing bloodstream infections: a measurable national success story in quality improvement. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):628-34. [Supported in part by AHRQ, grant number not given; cites AHRQ press release, "AHRQ Awards $3 Million To Help Reduce Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Hospital ICUs", 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites article by Berenholtz et al. cited above.] Select to access the abstract.

Share DA, Campbell DA, Birkmeyer N, et al. How a regional collaborative of hospitals and physicians in Michigan cut costs and improved the quality of care. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):636-45. [Supported in part by AHRQ, grant number not given.] Select to access the abstract.

Werner RM, Kolstad JT, Stuart EA, et al. The effect of pay-for-performance in hospitals: lessons for quality improvement.Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):690-8. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS18409-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Honoré PA, Wright D, Berwick DM, Clancy CM, et al. Creating a framework for getting quality into the public health system. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):737-45. [Fourth author is AHRQ director; notes recommendations from theConsensus Statement on Quality in the Public Health System, 2008, that quality "concepts should also be applied in continuity with existing and future quality advancing programs already familiar to the public health community," such as the USPSTF-sponsored Guide to Clinical Preventive Services; discusses and cites the publication, Quality First: Better Health Care for All Americans, 1998, released by the AHRQ-supported President's Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Conway (former AHRQ researcher) and Clancy (JAMA, 2009) and Clancy and Eisenberg (former AHRQ director) (Science, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Communication
Harrison TR, Morgan SE, King AJ, et a. Promoting the Michigan Organ Donor Registry: evaluating the impact of a multifaceted intervention utilizing media priming and communication design. Health Commun 2010 Dec; 25(8):700-58. [Supported by grant D71 HS08577 5 (attributed to HRSA Division of Transplantation).] Select to access the abstract.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Berenholtz SM, Pham JC, Thompson DA, et al. Collaborative cohort study of an intervention to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2011 Apr; 32(4):305-14. [Supported in part by grant 1 UC 1 HS14246 (for the Keystone ICU Project); first, ninth (Sexton), twelve (Goeschel) and last (Pronovost) authors report previous AHRQ funding.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Smith HA, Matthews A, Markovic N, et al. A comparative study of complementary and alternative medicine use among heterosexually and lesbian identified women: data from the ESTHER Project (Pittsburgh, PA, 2003-2006). J Altern Complement Med 2010 Nov; 16(11):1161-70. [Supported by Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award grant T32 HS17587.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Allen AS, Forman JP, Orav EJ, et al. Primary care management of chronic kidney disease. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr; 26(4):386-92. [Supported in part by grant R18 HS18226.] Select to access the abstract.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jena AB, Goldman DP, Joyce G. Association between the birth of twins and parental divorce. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Apr; 117(4):892-7. [Supported in part by training grant T32 HS00046 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Medicine
Butt S, Swiatlo E. Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in an ambulatory setting. Am J Med 2011 Apr; 124(4):297-300. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Labarere (Chest, 2007) and Fine et al. (Arch Intern Med, 1997).]

Willett LL, Arora V, Halvorsen AJ, et al. Challenges with duty hour reforms: a survey of residency program directors. Am J Med 2011 Apr; 124(4):370-8. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored Institute of Medicine report Resident Duty Hours: Enhancing Sleep, Supervision, and Safety, 2009; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Landrigan et al. (JAMA, 2006) and Fletcher et al. (JAMA, 2005).]

Gerontologist
Choi S. Longitudinal changes in access to health care by immigrant status among older adults: the importance of health insurance as a mediator. Gerontologist 2011 Apr; 51(2):156-69. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Banthin and Bernard (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (JAMA, 2006), which uses 1996-2003 MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Lepore MJ, Miller SC, Gozalo P. Hospice use among urban Black and White U.S. nursing home decedents in 2006. Gerontologist 2011 Apr; 51(2):251-60. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Miller et al. (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2010 and 2004), Gozalo and Miller (Health Serv Res, 2007), and Mor et al. (J Palliat Med, 2005, and Milbank Q, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Chassin MR, Loeb JM. The ongoing quality improvement journey: next stop, high reliability. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):559-68. [Mentions the creation of AHRQ's predecessor Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in 1989 as a replacement for the National Center for Health Services Research; cites AHRQ publication, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and Dixon and Shofer (Health Serv Res, 2006); cites article by Gray, Gusmano, and Collins (Health Aff, 2003), which discusses AHRQ's involvement in health services research funding.] Select to access the abstract.

Pronovost PJ, Lilford R. A road map for improving the performance of performance measures. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):569-73. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Haywood et al. (Health Serv Res, 2007), Linder, Kaleba, and Kmetik (Med Care, 2009) and Lawthers et al. (Med Care, 2000).] Select to access the abstract.

Pauly MV. The trade-off among quality, quantity, and cost: how to make it—if we must. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):574-80. [Author previously served on an advisory committee to AHRQ; cites AHRQ-funded article by Rosenthal and Dudley (JAMA, 2007).]Select to access the abstract.

Van Den Bos J, Rustagi K, Gray T, et al. The $17.1 billion problem: the annual cost of measurable medical errors. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):596-603. [Cites AHRQ publications, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005, and AHRQ's Patient Safety Initiative: Building Foundations, Reducing Risk. Interim Report to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, 2003; cites AHRQ-funded article by Weinstein et al. (JAMA, 1996).] Select to access the abstract.

Pryor D, Hendrich A, Henkel RJ, et al. The quality 'journey' at Ascension Health: how we've prevented at least 1,500 avoidable deaths a year—and aim to do even better. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):604-11. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21471479.

Gabow PA, Mehler PS. A broad and structured approach to improving patient safety and quality: lessons from Denver Health. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):612-18. [Cites AHRQ publication, Final Report: A Toolkit for Redesign in Health Care, 2005, prepared by Denver Health under contract 290-00-0014-7 and as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Hong et al. (JAMA, 2010), Ghaferi, Birkmeyer, and Dimick (N Engl J Med, 2009), and Bradley et al. (JAMA, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

People and places. Confronting medical errors: thousands of lives saved. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):635. [Mentions the AHRQ-funded Michigan Keystone Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Project, which "produced a 66 percent reduction in bloodstream infections throughout the state, saving more than 1.500 lives and $200 million in the first eighteen months alone"; mentions article by Pronovost, Marsteller, and Goeschel cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles above and article by Pronovost and Lilford cited above in this section.]

Higgins A, Zeddies T, Pearson SD. Measuring the performance of individual physicians by collecting data from multiple health plans: the results of a two-state test. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):673-81. [Cites Overview: AHRQ Learning Network for Chartered Value Exchanges, 2010, published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-sponsored HMO Research Network Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Brown et al. (Med Care, 2010) and Scholle et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Roski J, McClellan M. Measuring health care performance now, not tomorrow: essential steps to support effective health reform. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):682-9. [Notes contributions to "the underlying ideas and strategy laid out in the article" by the Quality Alliance Steering Committee, which includes AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy; cites AHRQ-funded article by Brown et al. (Med Care, 2010), Diamond, Mostashari, and Shirky (Health Aff, 2009), Hammill et al. (Am Heart J, 2009), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Fowler FJ Jr, Levin CA, Sepucha KR. Informing and involving patients to improve the quality of medical decisions. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):699-706. [Describes AHRQ's CAHPS® and HCAHPS surveys and their potential as "mechanisms for measuring [and providing feedback on] the quality of the decision-making process" and discusses the "new instrument designed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and CAHPS collaborators "to evaluate how well primary care providers meet the standards for a patient-centered medical home;" cites CAHPS Survey Products: CAHPS Survey Instruments, 2002, as published on AHRQ's CAHPS® Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Trivedi AN, Grebla RC, Wright SM, et al. Despite improved quality of care in the Veterans Affairs health system, racial disparity persists for important clinical outcomes. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):707-15. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Fiscella, Franks, Gold, and Clancy (AHRQ director) (JAMA, 2000); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Rehman et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2005), Trivedi et al. (JAMA, 2006, and N Engl J Med, 2005), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Naylor MD, Aiken LH, Kurtzman ET, et al. The importance of transitional care in achieving health reform. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):746-54. [Mentions that the transitional care interventions most effective in reducing readmissions have been highlighted as "innovations and preferred practices" by AHRQ and the National Quality Forum; cites the AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Jasti et al. (Clin Infect Dis, 2008) and Mion et al. (Ann Emerg Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Rosen B, Pawlson LG, Nissenholtz R, et al. What the United States could learn from Israel about improving the quality of health care. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):764-72. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Landon et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Peabody J, Shimkhada R, Quimbo S, et al. Financial incentives and measurement improved physicians' quality of care in the Philippines. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):773-81. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Rosenthal and Frank (Med Care Res Rev, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal of Health Services
Clarke TC, Arheart KL, Muennig P, et al. Health care access and utilization among children of single working and nonworking mothers in the United States. Int J Health Serv 2011; 41(1):11-26. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Shone et al. (Pediatrics, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Wachter RM, Auerbach AD. Filling the black hole of hospital discharge (Editorial in response to article by Walz et al., J Gen Intern Med, 2011). J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr; 26(4):354-5. [Cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, Volume 2: Culture and Redesign, 2008.]

Tuot DS, Powe NR. Chronic kidney disease in primary care: an opportunity for generalists. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr; 26(4):356-8. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Kinchen et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2002).]

Anderson WG, Chase R, Pantilat SZ, et al. Code status discussions between attending hospitalist physicians and medical patients at hospital admission. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr; 26(4):359-366. [Cites AHRQ publication, Advance Care Planning: Preferences for Care at the End of Life, Research in Action no. 12, 2003; cites AHRQ-funded article by Auerbach and Pantilat (Am J Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Hauer KE, Fernandez A, Teherani A, et al. Assessment of medical students' shared decision-making in standardized patient encounters. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr; 26(4):367-72. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Saba et al. (Ann Fam Med, 2006) and Levinson et al. (JAMA, 1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Walz SE, Smith M, Cox E, et al. Pending laboratory tests and the hospital discharge summary in patients discharged to sub-acute care. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr; 26(4):393-8. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Poon et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Nguyen LT, Davis RB, Kaptchuk TJ, et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine and self-rated health status: results from a national survey. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr; 26(4):399-404. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Chaudhry, Jin, and Meltzer (Med Care, 2005) and Ware and Sherbourne (Med Care, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Pediatrics
Neu J. Routine probiotics for premature infants: let's be careful! J Pediatr 2011 Apr; 158(4):672-4. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Holman, Stoll, Curns, Yorita, Steiner (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) et al. (Pediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 2006), which uses 2006 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data.]

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Burkle CM. Medical malpractice: can we rescue a decaying system? Mayo Clin Proc 2011 Apr; 86(4):326-32. [Mentions AHRQ's 2010 award of $25 million in grants through the Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstration to several pilot projects, citing Fact Sheet: Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstration, as published on the HHS Health Reform Web site; quotes remarks from AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy in article by Langel (Health Aff, 2010), which discuses various AHRQ-funded patient safety projects.]

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Richter HE, Litman HJ, Lukacz ES, et al. Demographic and clinical predictors of treatment failure one year after midurethral sling surgery. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Apr; 117(4):913-21. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Katz et al. (Med Care, 1996).] Select to access the abstract.

Committee Opinion No. 487: preparing for clinical emergencies in obstetrics and gynecology. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Apr; 117(4):1032-4. [Mentions AHRQ's promotion—with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement—of the development of a rapid response system, citing TeamSTEPPS® Rapid Response Systems Module: Instructor's Materials, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

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

American Family Physician
Donangelo I, Braunstein GD. Update on subclinical hyperthyroidism. Am Fam Physician 2011 Apr 15; 933-8. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening for subclinical thyroid dysfunction in nonpregnant adults (Ann Intern Med, 2004).]

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Hoerger TJ, Ekwueme DU, Miller JW, et al. Estimated effects of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early detection Program on breast cancer mortality. Am J Prev Med 2011 Apr; 40(4):397-404. [Discusses the controversy over release of updated USPSTF breast cancer screening recommendations, citing USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer, associated evidence update by Nelson et al., and related AHRQ-funded article by Mandelblatt et al. (all in Ann Intern Med, 2009); cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer and related evidence summary by Humphrey et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Khoury MJ, Bowen MS, Burke W, et al. Current priorities for public health practice in addressing the role of human genomics in improving population health. Am J Prev Med 2011 Apr; 40(4):486-93. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement Genetic Risk Assessment and BRCA Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility, 2005, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Pincus HA, Spaeth-Rublee B, Watkins KE. The case for measuring quality in mental health and substance abuse care. Health Aff2011 Apr; 30(4):730-6. [Cites as sources for the proposed mental health quality indicators for depression screening and follow-up and alcohol abuse screening/brief intervention/referral USPSTF recommendation statements, Screening for Depression in Adults, 2009, and Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse, 2004, both published on the USPSTF Web site; notes that AHRQ "has taken the initiative by conducting stakeholder meetings to refine priorities and incorporate mental health into several of its comparative effectiveness initiatives."] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
Shore RN, Shore P, Monahan NM, et al. Serial screening for melanoma: measures and strategies that have consistently achieved early detection and cure. J Drugs Dermatol 2011 Mar; 10(3):244-52. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for skin cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Family Practice
Alexander SC, Cox ME, Yancy WS Jr, et al. Weight-loss talks: what works (and what doesn't). J Fam Pract 2011 Apr; 60(4):213-19. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for obesity in adults (Ann Intern Med, 2003).]

Jackson J, Kornrich R, Safranek S. How should you evaluate a toddler for speech delay? J Fam Pract 2011 Apr; 60(4):230-1. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for speech and language delay in preschool children and related systematic evidence review by Nelson et al. (both in Pediatrics, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Roberts SW, Sheffield JS, McIntire DD, et al. Urine screening for Chlamydia trachomatis during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Apr; 117(4):883-5. [Cites USPSTF recommendations statement, Screening for Chlamydial Infection , 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site (originally in Ann Intern Med, 2007); cites AHRQ-funded article by Cook et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Practice Bulletin No. 119: female sexual dysfunction. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Apr; 117(4):996-1007. [Uses USPSTF evidence-rating methodologies to reviewed and evaluated identified studies for quality of evidence.]

Committee Opinion No. 483: primary and preventive care: periodic assessments. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Apr; 117(4):1008-15. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (Ann Intern Med, 2009). Also refer to AHRQ-funded/authored articles by Koya et al. (Am J Med 2011) and Honoré, Wright, Berwick, and Clancy (Health Aff, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles and article by Yonkers, Vigod, and Ross (Obstet Gynecol, 2011) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Health Affairs
Spinks TE, Walters R, Feeley TW, et al. Improving cancer care through public reporting of meaningful quality measures. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):664-72. [Cites AHRQ publications, Final Report: Identifying, Categorizing, and Evaluating Health Care Efficiency Measures, 2008, prepared by the Southern California-RAND Evidence-Based Practice Center (EPC) under contract 282-00-0005-21, and Mortality Risk Adjustment Methodology for University Health System's Clinical Data Base, 2009, both published on AHRQ Web site; mentions the use by many providers of AHRQ's "endorsed" Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey.] Select to access the abstract.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Yonkers KA, Vigod S, Ross LE. Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of mood disorders in pregnant and postpartum women. Obstet Gynecol 2011 Apr; 117(4):961-77. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Perinatal Depression, Prevalence, Screening Accuracy, and Screening Outcomes, 2005; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review of prevalence and incidence by Gavin et al. (Obstet Gynecol, 2005) on perinatal depression, prepared by the RTI International-University of North Carolina EPC under contract 290-02-0016; cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening for depression in adults (Ann Intern Med, 2002) and AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Depression in Primary Care: Volume 2, Treatment of Major Depression, 1993.] Select to access the abstract.

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

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Tackett S, Stelzner C, McGlynn E, et al. The impact of health plan physician-tiering on access to care. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2008; cites AHRQ-funded article by Scholle et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2008). Also refer to article by Paquette, Zuckerman, and Finlayson (Ann Surg, 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 Cardiology
Krieger EV, Landzberg MJ, Economy KE, et al. Comparison of risk of hypertensive complications of pregnancy among women with versus without coarctation of the aorta. Am J Cardiol 2011 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al, Med Care, 1998), cites articles by Opotowsky et al. (Am Heart J and J Am Coll Cardiol, 2009), Clowse et al. (Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2008), and James et al. (Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2006), all of which use various HCUP NIS data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgery
Paquette IM, Zuckerman R, Finlayson SR. Perforated appendicitis among rural and urban patients: implications of access to care. Ann Surg 2011 Mar; 253(3):534-8. [Uses 2003-2004 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Health Care Disparities in Rural Areas: Selected Findings from the 2004 National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2005, published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Smink et al. (Pediatrics, 2005) and Romano, Roos, and Jollis (J Clin Epidemiol, 1993).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Gopaldas RR, Chu D, Dao TK, et al. Staged versus synchronous carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting: analysis of 10-year nationwide outcomes. Ann Thorac Surg 2011 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data and the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2001; cites articles by Gopaldas et al. (J Surg Res, 2010, and J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 2010), both of which use various HCUP NIS data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Link J, Glazer C, Torres F, et al. International Classification of Diseases coding changes lead to profound declines in reported idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension mortality and hospitalizations: implications for database studies. Chest2011 Mar; 139(3):497-504. [Uses 1993-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ's HCUPNet Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Classen DC, Resar R, Griffin F, et al. 'Global trigger tool' shows that adverse events in hospitals may be ten times greater than previously measured. Health Aff 2011 Apr; 30(4):581-589. [Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, citing Kaiser Permanente Experience with Automating the IHI Global Trigger Tool, slide presentation from the AHRQ 2010 Annual Conference, 2010, published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Zhan and Miller (current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence and former AHRQ researcher, respectively) (Qual Saf Health Care, 2003) and Altman, Clancy (AHRQ director) and Blendon (N Engl J Med, 2004); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Sharek et al. (Pediatrics, 2006) and Layde et al. (JAMA, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Lapar DJ, Bhamidipati CM, Walters DM, et al. Primary payer status affects outcomes for cardiac valve operations. J Am Coll Surg 2011 Mar 12. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2003-2007 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al, Med Care, 1998); cites Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2003-2007, and AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series Report 2007-03, 2007, published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites articles by LaPar et al. (Ann Surg, 2010), Vogel et al. (Vasc Endovascular Surg, 2008), and Southern, Quan, and Ghali (Med Care, 2004), which use various HCUP data sets and/or AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures; cites AHRQ-authored article by Cohen (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Health Serv Res, 1989) and AHRQ publication, Usual Sources of Medical Care and Their Characteristics, 1991; cites AHRQ-funded article by Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Fry DE, Pine M, Jones BL, et al. The impact of ineffective and inefficient care on the excess costs of elective surgical procedures. J Am Coll Surg 2011 Mar 12. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2002-2005 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al, Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ's HCUPNet Web site and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Pine, Jordan, Elixhauser et al. (JAMA, 2007), Fry, Pine, Jordan, Elixhauser et al. (Ann Surg, 2007), Zhan and Miller (JAMA, 2003), and Friedman, De La Mare (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), Andrews (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Health Care Finance, 2002); cites articles by Fry et al. (Am J Surg, 2011, and Arch Surg, 2010) and Pine et al. (Med Care, 2010), all of which use various HCUP NIS data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Maybury RS, Chang DC, Freischlag JA. Rural hospitals face a higher burden of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and are more likely to transfer patients for emergent repair. J Am Coll Surg 2011 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2001-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Introduction to the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2008, published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al, Med Care, 1998); cites articles by Wallace et al. (Obes Surg, 2010) and Dimick et al. (J Vasc Surg, 2003), both of which use various HCUP NIS data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Cevasco M, Borzecki AM, McClusky DA 3rd, et al. Positive predictive value of the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicator "postoperative wound dehiscence". J Am Coll Surg 2011 Apr 12. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicator software, version 3.1a, and the definition of Patient Safety Indicator "postoperative wound dehiscence", citingAHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.1, 2007, and version 3.0a, 2003; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan and Miller (JAMA, 2003), which uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators; cites AHRQ publicationAdvances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005; cites AHRQ-funded articles by White et al. (Thromb Res, 2010, and Med Care, 2009) and articles by Borzecki et al. (J Am Coll Surg, and J Am Coll Surg, 2011), Kaafarani et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2010), Romano et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009), and others, which use AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, and by Scanlon et al. (Pediatrics, 2008), which uses AHRQ's Pediatrics Quality Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Chen Q, Rosen AK, Cevasco M, et al. Detecting patient safety indicators: how valid is "foreign body left during procedure" in the Veterans Health Administration? J Am Coll Surg 2011 Apr 12. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicator 5 "foreign body left during procedure" to detect foreign body events using administrative data", citing PSI Foreign Body Left During Procedure Technical Specifications, 2010, published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Romano, Geppert, Davies, Elixhauser et al. (Health Aff, 2003), which uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators and HCUP data; cites articles by Borzecki et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2011) and Kaafarani et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2010), both of which use AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Cevasco M, Borzecki AM, O'Brien WJ, et al. Validity of the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicator "Central Venous Catheter-Related Blood Stream Infections". J Am Coll Surg 2011 Apr 12. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators software, version 3.1a, and a CR-BSI-specific modification of standardized chart abstraction tools and guidelines developed by AHRQ for "selecting infections due to medical care", citing AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.0a, 2007, and AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators: Initial Software Release, Version 2.1, 2003; cites AHRQ's National Quality Measures Clearinghouse Web site and AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005; cites AHRQ-funded articles by White et al. (Med Care, 2009), Utter et al. (Ann Surg, 2009), and Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006); cites articles by Zrelak et al. (J Healthcare Qual, 2011), Cevasco et al (J Am Coll Surg, 2011), and Utter et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2010), all of which use AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Borzecki AM, Cevasco M, Chen Q, et al. How valid is the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicator "postoperative physiologic and metabolic derangement"? J Am Coll Surg 2011 Apr 12. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicator "postoperative physiologic and metabolic derangement," citing AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.1, 2003, Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, Version 3.1, 2003, Patient Safety Indicators: Software Documentation, Version 3.2, 2003, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicator Composite SAS Documentation, Version 3.1a, 2007, and AHRQ Quality Indicators Validation Pilot, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site, and AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Houchens, Elixhauser, and Romano (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2008) and Zhan and Miller (JAMA, 2003), which use AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators; cites AHRQ technical review, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data—The Patient Safety Indicators, 2002, prepared by the UCSF-Stanford EPC under contract 290-97-0013; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Utter et al. (J Am Coll Surg, 2010), White et al. (Med Care, 2009), and Weingart et al. (Med Care, 2000); cites articles by Romano et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009), Bahl et al. (Med Care, 2008, Rosen et al. (Med Care, 2005), and others, all of which use AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Press MJ, Silber JH, Rosen AK, et al. The impact of resident duty hour reform on hospital readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr; 26(4):405-11. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), HCUP Comorbidity Software, version 3.6, citing Comorbidity Software, Version 3.6, published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites AHRQ-funded article by Glance et al. (Health Serv Res, 2006) and articles by Quan et al. (Med Care, 2005), Southern, Quan, and Ghali (Med Care, 2004), and Stukenborg, Wagner, and Connors (Med Care, 2001), of which use AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures and the Charlson comorbidity index; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Landrigan et al. (JAMA, 2006), Allison et al. (JAMA, 2000), Thomas (Inquiry, 1996), and Keeler et al. (JAMA, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics
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).]

Journal of Pediatrics
Lautz TB, Raval MV, Reynolds M. Does timing matter? A national perspective on the risk of incarceration in premature neonates with inguinal hernia. J Pediatr 2011 Apr; 158(4):573-7. [Uses 2003 and 2006 HCUP KIDS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Roy A, Sheffield P, Wong K, et al. The effects of outdoor air pollutants on the costs of pediatric asthma hospitalizations in the United States, 1999 to 2007. Med Care 2011 Mar 21. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1999-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2009, and Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, 2009, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ's HCUPNet Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Elshaug AG, Garber AM. How CER could pay for itself—insights from vertebral fracture treatments. N Engl J Med 2011 Apr 14; 364(15):1390-3. [Uses 2008 HCUP NIS and State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD) data, citing Health Care Cost and Utilization Project landing page on AHRQ's HCUPNet Web site; notes that SASD data were analyzed and provided by Claudia Steiner, researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets.]

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Creanga AA, Shapiro-Mendoza CK, Bish CL, et al. Trends in ectopic pregnancy mortality in the United States: 1980-2007.Obstet Gynecol 2011 Apr; 117(4):837-43. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2010, published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics
Kim MK, Nalliah RP, Lee MK, et al. Factors associated with length of stay and hospital charges for patients hospitalized with mouth cellulitis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), Year 2008 Documentation, published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites article by Allareddy et al. (J Am Dent Assoc, 2010), which uses 2008 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Surgery International
Choo S, Papandria D, Zhang Y, et al. Outcomes analysis after percutaneous abdominal drainage and exploratory laparotomy for necrotizing enterocolitis in 4,657 infants. Pediatr Surg Int 2011 Mar 13. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS and KID data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Holman, Stoll, Curns, Yorita, and Steiner et al. (Pediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 2006), which uses 2000 HCUP KID data.] Select to access the abstract.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Basseri B, Kianmahd BD, Roostaeian J, et al. Current national incidence, trends, and health care resource utilization of cleft lip-cleft palate. Plast Reconstr Surg 2011 Mar; 127(3):1255-62. [Uses 1997-2007 HCUP KID data, citing AHRQ's HCUPNet Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Stroke
Brinjikji W, Rabinstein AA, Lanzino G, et al. Effect of age on outcomes of treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysms: a study of the National Inpatient Sample 2001-2008. Stroke 2011 Mar 24. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2001-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Calculating NIS Variances Guide; cites articles by Alshekhlee et al. (Stroke, 2010), Hoh et al. (Stroke, 2010, and AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 2003), Andaluz and Zuccarello (J Neurosurg, 2008, and others, all of which use various HCUP NIS data sets. Also refer to article by Boyarsky et al. (Am J Tranplant, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.