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 institutional award grants T32 HS00078 and F32 HS17876-01 (to first and second authors, through the Institute for Healthcare Studies at Northwestern University); uses 2008 HCUP NIS data, citing data as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Epidemiology
Rosen DL, Wohl DA, Schoenbach VJ. All-cause and cause-specific mortality among black and white North Carolina state prisoners, 1995-2005. Ann Epidemiol 2011 Oct; 21(10):719-26. [Supported in part by postdoctoral fellowship grant T32 HS19442.] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Friedly J, Deyo RA. Imaging and uncertainty in the use of lumbar epidural steroid injections. Arch Intern Med 2011 Dec 12 [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by grant R01 HS19222-01; comments on article by Cohen et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Related Articles.]

Health Services Research
Hernandez-Boussard T, Downey JR, McDonald K, et al. Relationship between patient safety and hospital surgical volume. Health Serv Res 2011 Aug 30 [Epub ahead of print. Supported by grant K01 HS18558 (to first author); uses 2005-2008 HCUP NIS data, AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators software version 4.1b, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 2008), citing NIS Trends Supplemental Files, 2008, and Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2007, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ publications, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, version 3.0, 2003, and AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, version 3.2, 2003; cites AHRQ's National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), 2007; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data—The Patient Safety Indicators, 2002; cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, Volume 1: Assessment, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Davis Giardina T, Singh H. Should patients get direct access to their laboratory test results? An answer with many questions. JAMA 2011 Dec 14; 306(22):2502-3. [Supported in part by grant R18 HS17820 (to second author).]

Journal of Aging and Health
Sabol VK, Resnick B, Galik E, et al. Exploring the factors that influence functional performance among nursing home residents. J Aging Health 2011 Feb; 23(1):112-34. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS13372.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Arthroplasty
Memtsoudis SG, Dy CJ, Ma Y, et al. In-hospital patient falls after total joint arthroplasty: incidence, demographics, and risk factors in the United States. J Arthroplasty 2011 Nov 22 [Epub ahead of print. Supported by CERTs grant RFA HS0514; uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data and HCUP comorbidity software, citing various pages on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Community Health
Pandhi N, Schumacher JR, Barnett S, et al. Hearing loss and older adults' perceptions of access to care. J Community Health 2011 Oct; 36(5):748-55. [Supported in part by grant K08 HS15700.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Birnberg JM, Drum ML, Huang ES, et al. Development of a safety net medical home scale for clinics. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec; 26(12):1418-25. [Supported in part by Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Services Research grant 5 T32 HS00084-12 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Gross CP, Soulos PR, Ross JS, et al. Assessing the impact of screening colonoscopy on mortality in the Medicare population. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec; 26(12):1441-9. [Supported by grant 1 R21 HS17624-01 (attributed to NIH); uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); mentions that the USPSTF "recently cautioned against routine screening of patients 76-85-years old," citing USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer and related decision analysis on evaluating test strategies for colorectal cancer screening by Zauber et al. (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008); cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on screening for colorectal cancer in adults at average risk (Ann Intern Med, 2002).]; Select to access the abstract.

Gellad WF, Huskamp HA, Li A, et al. Use of prescription drug samples and patient assistance programs, and the role of doctor-patient communication. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec; 26(12):1458-64. [Supported in part by grants 1 R01 HS17695 and R01 HS18657.] Select to access the abstract.

Higashi A, Zhu S, Stafford RS, Alexander GC. National trends in ambulatory asthma treatment, 1997-2009. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec; 26(12):1465-70. [Supported in part by grants K08 HS15699-01A1 and R01 HS189960 (both to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Trauma
Myers SR, Branas CC, Kallan MJ, Wiebe DJ, Nance ML, Carr BG. The use of home location to proxy injury location and implications for regionalized trauma system planning. J Trauma 2011 Nov; 71(5):1428-34. [Supported in part by grants F32 HS18604 (to first author) and K08 HS17960 (to last author).] Select to access theabstract.

Maternal and Child Health Journal
Bauer J, Angus L, Fischler N, Rosenberg KD, Gipson TF, Devoe J. The impact of citizenship documentation requirements on access to Medicaid for pregnant women in Oregon. Matern Child Health J 2011 Aug; 15(6):753-8. [Supported in part by grant K08 HS16181 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Blood and Cancer
Panepinto JA, Owens PL, Mosso AL, Steiner CA, et al. Concentration of hospital care for acute sickle cell disease-related visits. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011 Dec 16 [Epub ahead of print. Supported by grant K08 HS15482-01A1; second and fourth authors are former and current researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively.] Select to access the abstract.

Psychology and Health
Vilhauer RP. 'Them' and 'us': the experiences of women with metastatic disease in mixed-stage versus stage-specific breast cancer support groups. Psychol Health 2011 Jun; 26(6):781-97. [Supported by grant R03 HS10565.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

Academic Medicine
Polich AL, Etherton GM, Knezevich JT, et al. Can eliminating risk stratification improve medical residents' adherence to venous thromboembolism prophylaxis? Acad Med 2011 Dec; 86(12):1518-24. [Gives AHRQ's estimates of the costs for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, citing article by Goldhaber et al. (Am J Cardiol, 2004); notes initiatives led by AHRQ and other organizations to increase prophylaxis to reduce incidence of venous thromboembolism in U.S. hospitals, citing article by Dobesh et al. (Pharmacotherapy, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Nursing
Kennedy MS. Grandma was right-wash your hands! Am J Nurs 2011 Dec; 111(12):7. [Mentions AHRQ 2010 finding that "more than 42,000 patients (0.2% of all hospital stays) had a health care-associated infection in 2007."] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Internal Medicine
Cohen SP, Gupta A, Strassels SA, et al. Effect of MRI on treatment results or decision making in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy referred for epidural steroid injections: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2011 Dec 12 [Epub ahead of print. Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Jarvik et al. (JAMA, 2003) and Jarvik and Deyo (Ann Intern Med, 2002); see comments in AHRQ-funded article by Friedly and Deyo (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles above.] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth
Cox KJ. Providers' perspectives on the vaginal birth after cesarean guidelines in Florida, United States: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2011 Oct 12 [Epub ahead of print. Cites AHRQ publication Hospitalizations Related to Childbirth, 2006, HCUP Statistical Brief 71, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Canadian Journal of Surgery
Brown CJ, Finlayson SR, Taylor MC, et al. Access to emergency operative care: a comparative study between the Canadian and American health care systems. Can J Surg 2011 Dec; 54(6):403-6. [Reviews and comments on article by Krajewski (Surgery, 2009), which uses 2001-2005 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data in conjunction with data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database.] Select to access the abstract.

Canadian Medical Association Journal
Schultz AS, Finegan B, Nykiforuk CI, et al. A qualitative investigation of smoke-free policies on hospital property. CMAJ 2011 Dec 13; 183(18):E1334-E1344. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Ethnicity and Disease
Lizaola E, Schraiber R, Braslow J, et al. The partnered research center for quality care: developing infrastructure to support community-partnered participatory research in mental health. Ethn Dis 2011 Summer; 21(3 Suppl 1):S1-58-S1-70. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (second and third authors are former AHRQ center director and current AHRQ director, respectively) (JAMA, 2003).]

Gerontologist
Castle NG. The influence of consistent assignment on nursing home deficiency citations. Gerontologist 2011 Dec; 51(6):750-60. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Castle and Ferguson (Gerontologist, 2010) and Castle and Engberg (Gerontologist, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Simmons SF, Rahman A, Beuscher L, et al. Resident-directed long-term care: staff provision of choice during morning care. Gerontologist 2011 Dec; 51(6):867-75. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology
Ramsahai RR, Grieve R, Sekhon JS. Extending iterative matching methods: an approach to improving covariate balance that allows prioritisation. Health Serv Outcomes Res Method 2011 Dec; 11(3-4):95-114. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Glance et al. (Med Care, 2007).]

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Niedner MF, Huskins WC, Colantuoni E, et al. Epidemiology of central line-associated bloodstream infections in the pediatric intensive care unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2011 Dec; 32(12):1200-8. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Jeffries et al. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2009), Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006), and Berenholtz et al. (Crit Care Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Abstracts: Archives of Surgery. Relationship between Leapfrog Safe Practices Survey and outcomes in trauma. JAMA 2011 Dec 14; 306(22):2437. [Summarizes AHRQ-funded article by Glance et al. (Arch Surg, 2011).]

Singh M, Holmes DR Jr, Dehmer GJ, et al. Percutaneous coronary intervention at centers with and without on-site surgery: a meta-analysis. JAMA 2011 Dec 14; 306(22):2487-94. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Hannan et al. (JAMA, 1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Brawley O, Byers T, Chen A, et al. New American Cancer Society process for creating trustworthy cancer screening guidelines. JAMA 2011 Dec 14; 306(22):2495-9. [Cites AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Wynia MK, Classen DC. Improving ambulatory patient safety: learning from the last decade, moving ahead in the next. JAMA 2011 Dec 14; 306(22):2504-5. [Cites AHRQ publication, Conference Synthesis: Research Agenda for Ambulatory Patient Safety, 2001, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded article by Bishop, Ryan, and Casalino (JAMA, 2011).]

Kinlay S. The trials and tribulations of percutaneous coronary intervention in hospitals without on-site CABG surgery. JAMA 2011 Dec 14; 306(22):2507-9. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Hannan et al. (JAMA, 1997).]

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Tsai AC, Bangsberg DR. The importance of social ties in sustaining medication adherence in resource-limited settings. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec; 26(12):1391-3. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Eisenberg and Power (former AHRQ director and researcher, respectively) (JAMA, 2000); cites AHRQ-funded article by Tsai et al. (Am J Manag Care, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Shrank WH. Helping our patients to adhere to chronic medications: a new arrow for the quiver. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec; 26(12):1394-5. [Names AHRQ as one of the representative bodies in health care that has "identified the reduction of nonadherence as a top priority."] Select to access the abstract.

Blackstock OJ, Wang KH, Fiellin DA. State variation in AIDS drug assistance program prescription drug coverage for modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec; 26(12):1426-33. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008; cites AHRQ-funded article by Smith and Buchanan (Ann Pharmacother, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Neuroscience Nursing
Lu YY, Haase JE. Content validity and acceptability of the daily enhancement of meaningful activity program: intervention for mild cognitive impairment patient-spouse dyads. J Neurosci Nurs 2011 Dec; 43(6):317-28. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored NIH Consensus Development Conference Statement on Preventing Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline: NIH Consensus and State-of-the-Science Statements, 2010 (based on AHRQ evidence report/technology assessment Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Patient Safety
Singh H, Classen DC, Sittig DF. Creating an oversight infrastructure for electronic health record-related patient safety hazards. J Patient Saf 2011 Dec; 7(4):169-74. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Sittig and Singh (JAMA, 2009), Kilbridge and Classen (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2008), Koppel et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2008, and JAMA, 2005), and others; cites AHRQ Federal Register notice "Common Formats for Patient Safety Data Collection and Event Reporting", 2010, and publication, AHRQ Common Formats Device or Medical/Surgical Supply, Including HIT, as published on the PSO Privacy Center Web site; cites article by Mosquera (Government HealthIT, 2011) which reports on an AHRQ-funded database created to facilitate reporting of EHR-related incidents.] Select to access the abstract.

Saint S, Krein SL, Manojlovich M, et al. Introducing the patient safety professional: why, what, who, how, and where? J Patient Saf 2011 Dec; 7(4):175-80. [Discusses the AHRQ-funded Keystone ICU project and Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP); cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Zimlichman E, Shinar Z, Rozenblum R, et al. Using continuous motion monitoring technology to determine patient's risk for development of pressure ulcers. J Patient Saf 2011 Dec; 7(4):181-4. [Mentions that pressure ulcers "accounted for 503,300 total hospital stays in the United States or 2.0% of the total hospital stays for that year," citing AHRQ publication, Hospitalizations Related to Pressure Ulcers among Adults 18 Years and Older, 2006, HCUP Statistical Brief 64, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Ohrn A, Rutberg H, Nilsen P. Patient safety dialogue: evaluation of an intervention aimed at achieving an improved patient safety culture. J Patient Saf 2011 Dec; 7(4):185-92. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (Circulation, 2009), Frankel (Health Serv Res, 2008), and Thomas et al. (BMC Health Serv Res, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Gu X, Itoh K. A pilot study on safety climate in Chinese hospital. J Patient Saf 2011 Dec; 7(4):204-12. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored publication, Psychometric Analysis of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety: Final Report to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 2003; cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Lubberding S, Zwaan L, Timmermans DR, et al. The nature and causes of unintended events reported at 10 internal medicine departments. J Patient Saf 2011 Dec; 7(4):224-31. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Sinopoli et al. (J Crit Care, 2007), Nuckols et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2007), Pronovost et al. (J Crit Care, 2006), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Milani RV, Oleck SA, Lavie CJ. Medication errors in patients with severe chronic kidney disease and acute coronary syndrome: the impact of computer-assisted decision support. Mayo Clin Proc 2011 Dec; 86(12):1161-4. [Cites cites AHRQ/Kaiser Family Foundation report, National Survey on Americans as Health Care Consumers: An Update on the Role of Quality Information, 2000, as published on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Aronson PL, Yan AC, Mittal MK, et al. Delayed acyclovir and outcomes of children hospitalized with eczema herpeticum. Pediatrics 2011 Dec; 128(6):1161-7. [Cites Development of the 3M™ All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR DRGs), 2009, in Mortality Measurement, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded article by Mongelluzzo et al. (JAMA, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Neuspiel DR, Stubbs EH, Liggin L. Improving reporting of outpatient pediatric medical errors. Pediatrics 2011 Dec; 128(6):e1608-e1613. [Cites AHRQ publications, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, Volume 1: Assessment, 2008, and Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 1: Research Findings, 2005; cites Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture, 2011,as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Zandieh et al. (J Pediatr, 2008), Kaushal et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2010, and Ambul Pediatr, 2007), and McPhillips et al. (J Pediatr, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents. Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents: summary report. Pediatrics 2011 Dec; 128 Suppl 5:S213-S2156. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

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

American Family Physician
Starr SP, Raines D. Cirrhosis: diagnosis, management, and prevention. Am Fam Physician 2011 Dec 15; 84(12):1353-9. [Uses USPSTF recommendations and AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ as data sources; cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse, 2004, as published on the USPSTF Web site;]

Archives of Internal Medicine�
You YN, Xing Y, Feig BW, et al. Young-onset colorectal cancer: is it time to pay attention? Arch Intern Med 2011 Dec 15 [Epub ahead of print. Uses subject selection dates to cover the most recent decade after issuance of USPSTF recommendations on colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites USPSTF recommendations in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd edition, 1996.]

Bellizzi KM, Breslau ES, Burness A, et al. Prevalence of cancer screening in older, racially diverse adults: still screening after all these years. Arch Intern Med 2011 Dec 12; 171(22):2031-7. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on cancer screening in older adults in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd edition, 1996; cites Recommendations for Adults as published on the USPSTF Web site; see comments by Walter cited below in this section.] Select to access the abstract.

Walter LC. What is the right cancer screening rate for older adults? Arch Intern Med 2011 Dec 12; 171(22):2037-8. [Notes that age ranges for cervical cancer quality measures from the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) and Veterans Affairs "are based on US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines."]

Stormo AR, Hawkins NA, Cooper CP, et al. The pelvic examination as a screening tool: practices of US physicians. Arch Intern Med 2011 Dec 12; 171(22):2053-4. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for ovarian cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2004).]

Canadian Urological Association Journal
Klotz LH. USPSTF and FDA: PSA and 5ARIs. Can Urol Assoc J 2011 Dec; 5(6):373-4. [Discusses and cites updated USPSTF-sponsored evidence review, Screening for Prostate Cancer: A Review of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2011, as published on the USPSTF Web site.]

Pediatrics
Marcell AV, Wibbelsman C, Seigel WM, et al. Male adolescent sexual and reproductive health care. Pediatrics 2011 Dec; 128(6):e1658-e1676. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statements, Screening for Testicular Cancer, 2011, Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2008, and Screening for Gonorrhea, 2005, all published on the USPSTF Web site; cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for chlamydial infection (Ann Intern Med, 2007), screening for HIV (Ann Intern Med, 2005, and Am Fam Physician, 2005), and screening for syphilis infection (Ann Fam Med, 2004), cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening for testicular cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2010); cites articles by Workowski and Berman (MMWR Recomm Rep, 2010) and Branson et al. (MMWR Recomm Rep, 2006) which discuss USPSTF recommendations on sexually transmitted diseases and on screening for HIV. Also refer to AHRQ-funded article by Gross et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles and article by Davis et al. (Gerontologist, 2011) cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Aging Health
Kane RL, Shamliyan TA, McCarthy T. Do geriatric healthcare teams work? Aging Health 2011 Dec; 7(6):865-76. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Integration of Mental Health/Substance Abuse and Primary Care, 2008, prepared by the Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract 290-02-0009.]

American Family Physician
Wasserman AM. Diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis. Am Fam Physician 2011 Dec 1; 84(11):1245-52. [Uses AHRQ's evidence reports as a source of relevant publications, citing Choosing Medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clinician's Guide, 2008, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Law and Medicine
Kinney ED. Comparative effectiveness research under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: can new bottles accommodate old wine? Am J Law Med 2011; 37(4):522-66. [Discusses in detail the establishment and missions of AHRQ and its predecessor agencies as authorized by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1989, the Health Care Research and Quality Act of 1999, and the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 (which expanded AHRQ's duties on comparative effectiveness research), and describes/lists AHRQ's past and current responsibilities related to technology assessment and comparative effectiveness research as conducted by AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Centers program, Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutic (CERTs), and Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program; mentions AHRQ's receipt of comparative effectiveness research funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA); cites AHRQ publications, AHRQ and the Recovery Act, 2011, Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) Overview: Fact Sheet, 2008, and Fiscal Year 2009 Budget at a Glance, 2009, all published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Centers and Effective Health Care Program Web sites; cites What Is Comparative Effectiveness Research? on AHRQ's Effectiveness Health Care Program Web site and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Comparative Effectiveness Research, 2010, on the Department of Health and Human Services Web site; discusses AHRQ's role as a board member of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute; cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Acute Low Back Problems in Adults, 1994, and Back Pain Patient Outcomes Assessment Team (BOAT), 1994, as published on the AHRQ Archive Web site; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Conway and Clancy (AHRQ director) (JAMA, 2010 and 2009), Clancy and Collins (Sci Transl Med, 2010), and Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) (Med Care, 2007).]

Ethnicity and Disease
Alegría M. Community-based partnered research: new directions in mental health services research. Ethn Dis 2011 Summer; 21(3 Suppl 1):S1-8-S1-16. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Community-based Participatory Research: Assessing the Evidence, 2004, prepared by the RTI International-University of North Carolina under contract 290-02-0016; cites AHRQ-funded article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (second and third authors are former AHRQ center director and current AHRQ director, respectively) (JAMA, 2003).]

Health Care Management Science
Kazley AS, Diana ML, Menachemi N. The agreement and internal consistency of national hospital EMR measures. Health Care Manag Sci 2011 Dec; 14(4):307-13. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, performed by the Southern California-University of California at San Francisco EPC.] Select to access the abstract.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Comer A, Harris AD, Shardell M, et al. Web-based training improves knowledge about central line bloodstream infections. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2011 Dec; 32(12):1219-22. [Cites AHRQ technical review, Closing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategies, 2005, prepared by the Stanford University-UCSF EPC under contract 290-02-0017; cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 4: Programs, Tools, and Products, 2005; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and Berenholtz et al. (Crit Care Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Patient Safety
Holden RJ. What stands in the way of technology-mediated patient safety improvements?: a study of facilitators and barriers to physicians' use of electronic health records. J Patient Saf 2011 Dec; 7(4):193-203. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Costs and Benefits of Health Information Technology, 2006; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, performed by the Southern California-University of California at San Francisco EPC; cites AHRQ publications, Electronic Health Record Usability: Interface Design Considerations, 2009, Clinical Practice Improvement and Redesign: How Change in Workflow Can Be Supported by Clinical Decision Support, 2009, and Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, 2008; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Poon et al. (Med Care, 2010), Zhou et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2009), Linder et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2007), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Blumenthal D. Wiring the health system—origins and provisions of a new federal program. N Engl J Med 2011 Dec 15; 365(24):2323-9. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, performed by the Southern California-University of California at San Francisco EPC; cites AHRQ-funded article by Koppel et al. (JAMA, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Jones JR, Kogan MD, Singh GK, et al. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in the United States. Pediatrics 2011 Dec; 128(6):1117-25. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

[Also refer to article by Bowry et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2011), cited in Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products below.]

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

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Davis MM, Riebschleger MP. The next century of children's health care: addressing disparities, workforce deficiencies, and undercoordinated services. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2011 Dec; 165(12):1067-8. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2010.]

Gerontologist
Kang Y, Meng H, Miller NA. Rurality and nursing home quality: evidence from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey. Gerontologist 2011 Dec; 51(6):761-73. [Cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2009; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Lau, Kasper, Potter (researcher in Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) et al. (Health Serv Res, 2004) and Spector (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Outcomes, and Markets) et al. (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2007); cites AHRQ-funded article by Intrator, Zinn, and Mor (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Academic Medicine
O'Connor AB, Lang VJ, Bordley DR. Restructuring an inpatient resident service to improve outcomes for residents, students, and patients. Acad Med 2011 Dec; 86(12):1500-7. [Uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Vidyarthi et al. (Acad Med, 2006), Hauer et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2004), and Fletcher et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Public Health
Strauss SM, Alfano MC, Shelley D, et al. Identifying unaddressed systemic health conditions at dental visits: patients who visited dental practices but not general health care providers in 2008. Am J Public Health 2011 Dec 15 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2008 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, citing the Survey Background page and MEPSnet Query Tools page on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.]

European Journal of Public Health
Laaksonen E, Lallukka T, Lahelma E, et al. Economic difficulties and physical functioning in Finnish and British employees: contribution of social and behavioural factors. Eur J Public Health 2011 Aug; 21(4):456-62. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Gerontologist
Arnetz JE, Zhdanova LS, Elsouhag D, et al. Organizational climate determinants of resident safety culture in nursing homes. Gerontologist 2011 Dec; 51(6):739-49. [Uses AHRQ's Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture, citing AHRQ publications, Survey User's Guide in Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture, 2008, and Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, 2004; cites articles by Castle et al. (J Appl Gerontol), 2011), Handler et al. (Qual Saf Health Care, 2006), Castle and Sonon (Qual Saf Health Care, 2006), and others, all of which use AHRQ's Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSPSC); cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Klein DJ, Elliott MN, Haviland AM, et al. Understanding nonresponse to the 2007 Medicare CAHPS survey. Gerontologist 2011 Dec; 51(6):843-55. [Uses 2007 Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (MCAHPS) survey data, citing AHRQ-funded and other articles by Elliott et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009 and 2005), Goldstein et al. (Health Care Financ Rev, 2001), Schnaier et al. (Med Care, 1999), and others, all of which use various CAHPS survey data sets.] Select to access the abstract.

Davis MM, Bond LA, Howard A, et al. Primary care clinician expectations regarding aging. Gerontologist 2011 Dec; 51(6):856-66. [Uses AHRQ's Practice Based Research Network (PBRN) Resource Center Registry as source for selection of participants, citing PBRN Registry as published on AHRQ PBRN Resource Center Web site; cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence-based approach on evaluating primary care behavioral counseling interventions (Am J Prev Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Care Management Science
Mehrotra S, Kim K. Outcome based state budget allocation for diabetes prevention programs using multi-criteria optimization with robust weights. Health Care Manag Sci 2011 Dec; 14(4):324-37. [Uses HCUP data as published on the HCUPnet landing page on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Iowa Orthopaedic Journal
Gao Y. Children hospitalized with lower extremity fractures in the United States in 2006: a population-based approach. Iowa Orthop J 2011; 31:173-80. [Uses 2006 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data, citing Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Bowry AD, Shrank WH, Lee JL, et al. A systematic review of adherence to cardiovascular medications in resource-limited settings. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec; 26(12):1479-91. [Uses "the [AHRQ] tool for rating cross-sectional studies," citing AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Systems to Rate the Strength of Scientific Evidence, 2002.] Select to access the abstract.

Neurosurgical Focus
Hubbard ME, Jewell RP, Dumont TM, et al. Spinal injury patterns among skiers and snowboarders. Neurosurg Focus 2011 Nov; 31(5):E8. [Uses 2000-2008 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Epstein AM, Jha AK, Orav EJ. The relationship between hospital admission rates and rehospitalizations. N Engl J Med 2011 Dec 15; 365(24):2287-95. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) and 2008 Hospital CAHPS (HCAHPS); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Elliott (Health Serv Res, 2005), O'Malley et al. (Health Serv Res, 2005), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Weitzman M, Rosenthal DG, Liu YH. Paternal depressive symptoms and child behavioral or emotional problems in the United States. Pediatrics 2011 Dec; 128(6):1126-34. [Uses 2004-2008 MEPS-HC data, citing the MEPS landing page on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Cohen (director in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care, 2003), which uses MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Research Brief (National Institute for Health Care Reform)
Sommers A, Cunningham PJ. Physician visits after hospital discharge: implications for reducing readmissions. Res Brief Natl Inst Health Care Reform 2011 Dec; (6):Online. [Uses 2000-2008 MEPS Household Component (MEPS-HC) data from AHRQ's MEPS Web site, citing Using Appropriate Price Indices for Analyses of Health Care Expenditures or Income Across Multiple Years, as published on MEPS Web site; cites AHRQ publication, All-Cause Hospital Readmissions among Non-Elderly Medicaid Patients, 2007, HCUP Statistical Brief 89, 2010, under "Notes" in the Technical appendix; cites AHRQ-authored article by Friedman, Bernard, and Basu (authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery Organization, and Markets, Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, and Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships, respectively) (Med Care Res Rev, 2004).]

Revista de Calidad Asistencial
Tejero González JM, Fernández Martín J, Mira Solves JJ. [Validity and reliability of a synthetic hospital health care quality indicator]. Rev Calid Asist 2011 Jul-Aug; 26(4):234-41. [Uses AHRQ's Quality Indicators, citing General Questions About the AHRQ Quality Indicators and AHRQ publication, Guide to Inpatient Quality Indicators: Quality of Care in Hospitals—Volume, Mortality, and Utilization, version 3.0, 2002, both published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; article is in Spanish.] Select to access the abstract.

Thrombosis Research
Stein PD, Matta F, Goldman J. Obesity and pulmonary embolism: The mounting evidence of risk and the mortality paradox. Thromb Res 2011 Dec; 128(6):518-23. [Uses 1998-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 1998-2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site. Also refer to AHRQ-funded articles by Powell et al. (Am J Emerg Med, 2011), Hernandez-Boussard et al. (Health Serv Res, 2011), Gross et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2011) and Memtsoudis et al. (J Arthroplasty, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles] Select to access the abstract.