Doing Well by Doing Good: Assessing the Cost Savings of an Intervention To Reduce Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in a Hawaii Hospital

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 Medical Quality
Hsu E, Lin D, Evans SJ, et al. Doing well by doing good: assessing the cost savings of an intervention to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections in a Hawaii hospital. Am J Med Qual 2013 May 7. [Epub ahead of print. Second author is supported by AHRQ through grants to the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality (no funding numbers given); describes the AHRQ-funded On the CUSP: Stop BSI program and its implementation in Hawaii and cites Ending Healthcare-Associated Infections as published on the AHRQ 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.

American Journal of Occupational Therapy
Leland NE, Elliott SJ, O'Malley L, et al. Occupational therapy in fall prevention: current evidence and future directions. Am J Occup Ther 2012 Mar-Apr; 66(2):149-60. [Supported by Postdoctoral Fellowship Training grant 5 T32 HS00011-24 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Elliott SJ, Ivanescu A, Leland NE, et al. Feasibility of interdisciplinary community-based fall risk screening. Am J Occup Ther 2012 Mar-Apr; 66(2):161-8. [Supported by Postdoctoral Fellowship Training grant 5 T32 HS00011-24 (to third author).] Select to access the abstract.

BMJ Quality and Safety
Tubbs-Cooley HL, Cimiotti JP, Silber JH, et al. An observational study of nurse staffing ratios and hospital readmission among children admitted for common conditions. BMJ Qual Saf 2013 May 7. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by grant R36 HS18802 (first author is principal investigator).] Select to access the abstract.

Family Medicine
Keplinger LE, Koopman RJ, Mehr DR, et al. Patient portal implementation: resident and attending physician attitudes. Fam Med 2013 May; 45(5):335-40. [Supported by grant R18 HS17035.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Robinson JC. Case studies of orthopedic surgery in California: the virtues of care coordination versus specialization. Health Aff 2013 May; 32(5):921-8. [Supported by AHRQ, no funding information given.] Select to access the abstract.

Informatics for Health and Social Care
Whipple EC, Dixon BE, McGowan JJ. Linking health information technology to patient safety and quality outcomes: a bibliometric analysis and review. Inform Health Soc Care 2013 Jan; 38(1):1-14. [Supported by contract 290-04-0016 through AHRQ's National Resource Center for Health Information Technology (IT); assesses the output of selected grants funded through AHRQ's Transforming Healthcare Quality through Information Technology (THQIT) initiative, citing AHRQ publication, Funding Opportunity Announcement: Demonstrating the Value of Health Information Technology, and builds on previous analyses presented in article by Damberg et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009) and AHRQ publication, The AHRQ Health IT Value Grant Initiative: A Programmatic Review of the Peer-Reviewed Literature, 2010, prepared under the same contract; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the 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 Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
Daly JM, Xu Y, Levy BT. Patient and physician management of self-monitoring of blood glucose: an Iowa Research Network study. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2012 May 1; 6(3):718-720. [Supported by grant R21 HS14859.]

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Boult C, Leff B, Boyd CM, et al. A matched-pair cluster-randomized trial of guided care for high-risk older patients. J Gen Intern Med 2013 May; 28(5):612-21. [Supported by grant R01 HS14580; cites AHRQ-sponsored Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century, 2001.] Select to access the abstract.

Saha S, Korthuis PT, Cohn JA, Wolff JL, Marsteller JA, Frick KD, et al. Primary care provider cultural competence and racial disparities in HIV care and outcomes. J Gen Intern Med 2013 May; 28(5):622-9. [Supported by contract 290-01-0012 and grant K08 HS13903-05 (to sixth author).] Select to access the abstract.

Victoroff MS, Drury BM, Campagna EJ, Morrato EH. Impact of electronic health records on malpractice claims in a sample of physician offices in Colorado: a retrospective cohort study. J Gen Intern Med 2013 May; 28(5):637-44. [Supported by grant K12 HS19464 (to fourth author).] Select to access the abstract.

Marshall R, Beach MC, Saha S, et al. Patient activation and improved outcomes in HIV-infected patients. J Gen Intern Med 2013 May; 28(5):668-74. [Supported by contract 290-01-0012 and grant K08 HS13903-05 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Health Economics
Konetzka RT, Polsky D, Werner RM. Shipping out instead of shaping up: rehospitalization from nursing homes as an unintended effect of public reporting. J Health Econ 2013 Mar; 32(2):341-52. [Supported by grant R01 HS16478-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Registry Management
Salemi JL, Tanner JP, Bailey M, et al. Creation and evaluation of a multi-layered maternal and child health database for comparative effectiveness research. J Registry Manag 2013 Spring; 40(1):14-28. [Supported by grant R01 HS19997 (through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act); cites Data Innovations on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Rheumatology
Ringold S, Grant S, Girdish C, et al. Methotrexate and injectable tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor adherence and persistence in children with rheumatic diseases. J Rheumatol 2013 Jan; 40(1):80-6. [Supported by grant K12 HS19482.] Select to access the abstract.

Obesity Surgery
Arterburn DE, Bogart A, Sherwood NE, et al. A multisite study of long-term remission and relapse of type 2 diabetes mellitus following gastric bypass. Obes Surg 2013 Jan; 23(1):93-102. [Supported by contract HHSA 290-2005-0033-I-TO10-WA1 as part of the Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions About Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program. Select to access the abstract.

Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare
Clancy CM. CUSP: scaling up a safety framework. Patient Saf Qual Healthc 2013 May-Jun; online. [Author is the AHRQ director; discusses the development and implementation of AHRQ's Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) toolkit, citing AHRQ publications, Eliminating CLABSI, A National Patient Safety Imperative. Final Report on the National On the CUSP: Stop BSI Project,  2013, Eliminating CLABSI, A National Patient Safety Imperative. A Progress Report on the National On the CUSP: Stop BSI Project, Neonatal CLABSI Prevention, 2013, and CUSP Toolkit, all published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-sponsored IOM report, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century, 2001.]

PLOS ONE
Dusetzina SB, Mack CD, Stürmer T. Propensity score estimation to address calendar time-specific channeling in comparative effectiveness research of second generation antipsychotics. PLoS One 2013 May 7; 8(5):e63973. Select to access the abstract.

Population Health Management
Marsteller JA, Hsu YJ, Wen M, et al. Effects of Guided Care on providers' satisfaction with care: a three-year matched-pair cluster-randomized trial. Popul Health Manag 2013 Apr 6. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by grant R01 HS14580.] Select to access the abstract.

Renal Failure
Beaubrun AC, Brookhart MA, Sleath B, et al. Trends and variations in intravenous vitamin D use among hemodialysis patients in the United States. Ren Fail 2013; 35(1):1-8. [Supported by National Research Service Award (NRSA) Pre-Doctoral Traineeship grant T32 HS00032. Also refer to articles by Raman et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2013), Guise et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2013), and Irwin et al. (J Oncol Pract, 2013) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Medical Quality
Glasgow JM, Yano EM, Kaboli PJ. Impacts of organizational context on quality improvement. Am J Med Qual 2013 May-Jun; 28(3):196-205. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Garman, McAlearney, Harrison (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) et al. (Health Care Manage Rev, 2011) and Hearld, Alexander, Fraser, and Jiang (third and fourth authors are the director of and researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively) (Med Care Res Rev, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Schleyer AM, Best JA, McIntyre LK, Improving resident engagement in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives at the bedside: the Advocate for Clinical Education (ACE). Am J Med Qual 2013 May-Jun; 28(3):243-9. [Cites AHRQ publication, Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, 2004.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Chandra A, Dalton MA, Holmes J. Large increases in spending on postacute care in Medicare point to the potential for cost savings in these settings. Health Aff 2013 May; 32(5):864-72. [Cites data from AHRQ publication, The Nation's Hospital Bill: Growth Trends and 2005 Update on the Most Expensive Conditions by Payer, 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Internal Medicine
Daniel GW, Rubens EK, McClellan M. Coverage With evidence development for Medicare beneficiaries: challenges and next steps. JAMA Intern Med, 2013 May 6:1-2. [Epub ahead of print. Mentions provisions in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) draft guidance on coverage with evidence development in the context of coverage decisions for AHRQ to "conduct and support research that appropriately reflects the priorities of Medicare."]

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Sanna MB, Reuben DB. Transforming chronic care for older adults: guided care and the elusive triple aim. J Gen Intern Med 2013 May; 28(5):603-4. [Comments on article by Boult et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/ Authored Articles above; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Leff et al. (Am J Manage Care, 2009) and Boult et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011).]

Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics
Hodge JG Jr, Hanfling D, Powell TP. Practical, ethical, and legal challenges underlying crisis standards of care. J Law Med Ethics 2013 Mar; 41 Suppl 1:50-5. [Cites AHRQ publication, Altered Standards of Care in Mass Casualty Events: Bioterrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Periodontology
Curro FA, Thompson VP, Grill A, et al. Practice based research networks impacting periodontal care: PEARL Initiative. J Periodontol 2013 May; 84(5):567-71. [Notes that the concept of practice-based research networks was "nurtured" by AHRQ and "funded, until recently, on a per-study basis," citing AHRQ-authored article by Lanier (former AHRQ researcher) (Ann Fam Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Decision Making
Zhang G, Parikh PB, Zabihi S, et al. Rating the preferences for potential harms of treatments for cardiovascular disease: a survey of community-dwelling adults. Med Decis Making 2013 May; 33(4):502-9. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored IOM report, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century, 2001.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Economics
Groves N. Hypertension: high prevalence signals new adherence challenges. Med Econ 2013 May 10; 90(9):72-4, 76. [Quotes remarks by David Meyers, director of AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships.]

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

Annals of Internal Medicine
Moyer VA; U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation to prevent fractures in adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med 2013 May 7; 158(9):691-6. [Presents USPSTF recommendations on vitamin D and calcium supplementation to prevent fractures in adults, based on findings from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessments, Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health, 2007, and Vitamin D and Calcium: A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes, 2009, and USPSTF-sponsored updated meta-analysis on vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation (Ann Intern Med, 2011); mentions USPSTF recommendation statements, Prevention of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults, 2012, and Screening for Osteoporosis, 2011, both published on the USPSTF Web site; cites USPSTF-sponsored updated evidence review on screening for osteoporosis (Ann Intern Med, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

Nestle M, Nesheim MC. To supplement or not to supplement: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations on calcium and vitamin D. Ann Intern Med 2013 May 7; 158(9):701-2. [Comments on USPSTF recommendations on vitamin D and calcium supplementation to prevent fractures in adults cited above in this section; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessments, Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health, 2007, and Vitamin D and Calcium: A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes, 2009, and USPSTF-sponsored updated meta-analysis on vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation (Ann Intern Med, 2011).]

Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
Council ML. Common skin cancers in older adults: approach to diagnosis and management. Clin Geriatr Med 2013 May; 29(2):361-72. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence synthesis, Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer: Systematic Evidence Review to Update the 2003 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation, 2011.] Select to access the abstract.

Family Medicine
Young RA, Bayles B, Benold TB, Hill JH, Kumar KA, Burge S. Family physicians' perceptions on how they deliver cost-effective care: a qualitative study from the Residency Research Network of Texas (RRNeT). Fam Med 2013 May; 45(5):311-8. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored cost-effectiveness analysis of colorectal cancer screening (Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Hepatology
Edlin BR. Hepatitis C screening: getting it right. Hepatology 2013 Apr; 57(4):1644-50. [Discusses the USPSTF's 2004 hepatitis C screening recommendations and follow-up analysis by Calonge and Randhawa (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence)  (both in Ann Intern Med, 2004) and its planned update of those recommendations, citing draft recommendation statement, Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Adults, 2012, and associated comparative effectiveness review Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Adults, 2012; discusses USPSTF methodologies, citing articles by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001), Guirguis-Blake et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007), and Sawaya et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007), and USPSTF Procedure Manual, 2008, as published on the USPSTF Web site; discusses and cites USPSTF recommendations on screening and behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce alcohol misuse (Ann Intern Med, 2004) and screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2012), and USPSTF recommendation statements Screening for HIV, 2012, and Screening for Illicit Drug Use, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Mitka M. Evidence lacking for benefit from oral cancer screening. JAMA 2013 May 8; 309(18):1884. [Discusses USPSTF draft recommendations on screening for oral cancer, citing draft recommendation statement, Screening for Oral Cancer, 2013, as published on the USPSTF Web site.]

Mathias JS, Baker DW. Developing quality measures to address overuse. JAMA 2013 May 8; 309(18):1897-8. [Mentions USPSTF recommendations on screening for prostate cancer, citing articles by Volk and Wolf and by Miller and Hollenbeck (both in JAMA, 2011); cites AHRQ-sponsored IOM report, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health Care System for the 21st Century, 2001; notes that second author receives AHRQ funding for other work.]

Woolf SH, Campos-Outcalt D. Severing the link between coverage policy and the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2013 May 8; 309(18):1899-1900. [First author is a former USPSTF member and second author is the liaison between the USPSTF and the American Academy of Family Physicians; discusses Affordable Care Act provisions requiring coverage of preventive services rated A or B by the USPSTF and USPSTF updated recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2010).]

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Adriaensen WJ, Matheï, Buntinx FJ, et al. A framework provided an outline toward the proper evaluation of potential screening strategies. J Clin Epidemiol 2013 Jun; 66(6):639-47. [Cites article by Harris et al. (former and current USPSTF members) (Epidemiol Rev, 2011) on the criteria for evaluating screening programs.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Medicine
Bryan T, Snyder E. The clinical breast exam: a skill that should not be abandoned. J Gen Intern Med 2013 May; 28(5):719-22. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Decision Making
Schackman BR. The value of HIV screening in the United States in the era of effective treatment. Med Decis Making 2013 May; 33(4):457-9. [Discusses draft USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for HIV, 2012, as published on the USPSTF Web site, and associated evidence review update by Chou et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012).]

Abbey CK, Eckstein MP, Boone JM. Estimating the relative utility of screening mammography. Med Decis Making 2013 May; 33(4):510-20. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Public Health Reports
Herrin J, Wesolowski LG, Heffelfinger JD, Bostick N, Hall HI, Ethridge SF, Branson BM. HIV screening practices and hospital characteristics in the US, 2009-2010. Public Health Rep 2013 May-Jun; 128(3):161-9. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement, Screening for HIV, 2005, as published on the USPSTF Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Hered RW, Wood DL. Preschool vision screening in primary care pediatric practice. Public Health Rep 2013 May-Jun; 128(3):189-97. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on vision screening for children 1 to 5 years of age (Pediatrics, 2011).] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Raman G, Moorthy D, Hadar N, et al. Management strategies for asymptomatic carotid stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 2013 May 7; 158(9):676-85. [Supported by contract 290-2007-10055-I to Tufts EPC and based on a technology assessment commissioned by the CMS Coverage and Analysis Group; uses methodologies described in AHRQ publication, Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2011; cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review update on screening for carotid artery stenosis (Ann Intern Med, 2007). Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Farias M, Jenkins K, Lock J, et al. Standardized Clinical Assessment And Management Plans (SCAMPs) provide a better alternative to clinical practice guidelines. Health Aff 2013 May; 32(5):911-20. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic reviews on updating systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines by Shojania et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007), supported by contract 290-02-0021, and Shekelle et al. (JAMA, 2001), supported by contracts 290-97-0001 and 290-97-0001, task 1, level 1 to the Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC); cites AHRQ publication, Using Clinical Practice Guidelines to Evaluate Quality of Care, Vol. 1, 1995.]   Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Ecker J. Elective cesarean delivery on maternal request. JAMA 2013 May 8; 309(18):1930-6. [Reviews findings from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Cesarean Delivery on Maternal Request, 2006, and uses levels of evidence ratings from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Systems to Rate the Strength of Scientific Evidence, 2002.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Guise JM, O'Haire C, McPheeters M, et al. A practice-based tool for engaging stakeholders in future research: a synthesis of current practices. J Clin Epidemiol 2013 Jun; 66(6):666-74. [Supported by contract 290-2007-10057-I to the Oregon EPC and contract 290-2007-10065-I to the Vanderbilt EPC; cites AHRQ methods future needs report, Engaging Stakeholders to Identify and Prioritize Future Research Needs, 2011, prepared under the same contract by the same EPCs; also cites AHRQ-funded/authored article by Chang (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Oncology Practice
Irwin B, Hirsch BR, Samsa GP, et al. Conflict of interest disclosure in off-label oncology clinical trials. J Oncol Pract 2012 Sep; 8(5):298-302. [Supported by contract HHSA 290-2002-25, performed by the Duke EPC; extends the technology assessments presented in AHRQ-funded systematic review by Abernethy et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009) on the reliability of compendia methods for off-label oncology indications and AHRQ-sponsored technology assessment, Report on the Evidence Regarding Off-Label Indications for Targeted Therapies Used in Cancer Treatment, 2010, as published on the CMS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Decision Making
Fleurence RL, Meltzer DO. Toward a science of research prioritization? The use of value of information by multidisciplinary stakeholder groups. Med Decis Making 2013 May; 33(4):460-2. [Comments on article by Carlson et al. cited below in this section; cites AHRQ methods future needs report, Evaluating the Potential Use of Modeling and Value-of-Information Analysis for Future Research Prioritization within the Evidence-based Practice Center Program, 2011, prepared by the Duke EPC.]

Carlson JJ, Thariani R, Roth J, et al. Value-of-information analysis within a stakeholder-driven research prioritization process in a US setting: an application in cancer genomics. Med Decis Making 2013 May; 33(4):463-71. [Cites AHRQ methods future needs report, Evaluating the Potential Use of Modeling and Value-of-Information Analysis for Future Research Prioritization within the Evidence-based Practice Center Program, 2011, prepared by the Duke EPC. Also refer to article by Whipple, Dixon, and McGowan (Inform Health Soc Care, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles and article by Moyer, et al (Ann Intern Med, 2013) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Medical Quality
Reich DL, Porter C, Levin MA, et al. Data-driven interdisciplinary interventions to improve inpatient pain management. Am J Med Qual 2013 May-Jun; 28(3):187-95. [Uses AHRQ's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey data.] Select to access the abstract3.

Chen Q, Borzecki AM, Cevasco M, et al. Examining the relationship between processes of care and selected AHRQ patient safety indicators postoperative wound dehiscence and accidental puncture or laceration using the VA electronic medical record. Am J Med Qual 2013 May-Jun; 28(3):206-13. [Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs), citing Patient Safety Indicators (PSI) Log of Revisions to PSI Documentation and Software, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site, AHRQ Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals, as published on the AHRQ Web site, and Patient Safety Indicators Technical Specifications Version 3.0a, 2006; also uses AHRQ's HCUP Clinical Classifications Software, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgical Oncology
Yang RL, Newman AS, Reinke CE, et al. Racial disparities in immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy: impact of state and federal health policy changes. Ann Surg Oncol 2013 Feb; 20(2):399-406. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures, citing article by Southern, Quan, and Ghali (Med Care, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Arora G, Rockey D, Gupta S. High in-hospital mortality after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: results of a nationwide population-based study. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013 Apr 16. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2006-2007 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, HCUP Comorbidity Software, and HCUP CCS, all accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) and 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 publications, NIS Comparison Report, 2008, and Calculating Nationwide Inpatient Sample Variances, 2005, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Dental Traumatology
Nalliah RP, Allareddy V, Kim MK, et al. Economics of facial fracture reductions in the United States over 12 months. Dent Traumatol 2013 Apr; 29(2):115-120. [Uses 2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample Year 2008 Documentation, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Affairs
Thorpe KE. Treated disease prevalence and spending per treated case drove most of the growth in health care spending in 1987-2009. Health Aff 2013 May; 32(5):851-8. [Uses 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) data (citing National Medical Expenditure Survey, 1987: Household Survey, Health Status Questionnaire, and Access to Care Supplement, as accessed on the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research Web site) and 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data (citing MEPS Household Full Year File, 1996, and MEPS Household Full Year File, 2009, both accessed on AHRQ's MEPS Web site); also uses methodologies from AHRQ-authored article by Zuvekas and Cohen (Inquiry, 2002); cites AHRQ publication, Design, Methods, and Field Results of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Medical Provider Component (MEPS MPC)—2006 Calendar Year Data, 2008, and AHRQ-authored article by Machlin et al. (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, and Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Med Care, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Eibner C, Goldman DP, Sullivan J, et al. Three large-scale changes to the Medicare program could curb its costs but also reduce enrollment. Health Aff  2013 May; 32(5):891-9. [Uses MEPS data as incorporated into the Future Elderly Model, citing AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Heart Surgery Forum
Vassileva CM, Boley T, Standard J, et al. Relationship between patient income level and mitral valve repair utilization. Heart Surg Forum 2013 Apr 1; 16(2):E89-95. [Uses 2005-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and HCUP Quality Control Procedures, 2008, both accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also 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.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Pant C, Anderson MP, Deshpande A, et al. Health care burden of Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalized children with inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2013 Apr; 19(5):1080-5. [Uses 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998). Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Surgery
Park BD, Azefor N, Huang CC, et al. Trends in treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: impact of endovascular repair and implications for future care. J Am Coll Surg 2013 Apr; 216(4):745-54; discussion 754-5. [Uses 2005-2009 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2000, 2002, and Introduction to the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2002, 2004.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Herzig SJ, Rothberg MB, Feinbloom DB, et al. Risk factors for nosocomial gastrointestinal bleeding and use of acid-suppressive medication in non-critically ill patients. J Gen Intern Med 2013 May; 28(5):683-90. [Uses AHRQ's CCS as assessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Heart Valve Disease
Vassileva CM, Kwedar K, Boley T, et al. Mitral valve procedure selection and outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Heart Valve Dis 2013 Jan; 22(1):14-19. [Uses 2005-2008 HCUP NIS data, as assessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics
Barton SE, Campbell JW, Piatt JH Jr. Quality measures for the management of hydrocephalus: concepts, simulations, and preliminary field-testing. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2013 Apr; 11(4):392-7. [Uses 2009 HCUP KID data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Urology
Belsante MJ, Zhao LC, Hudak SJ, et al. Cost Effectiveness of risk-stratified follow-up after urethral reconstruction: a decision analysis. J Urol 2013 Apr 11. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2010 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Laryngoscope
Ahmed S, Shapiro NL, Bhattacharyya N. Incremental health care utilization and costs for acute otitis media in children. Laryngoscope. 2013 May 6. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2009 MEPS data, citing AHRQ-authored articles by Cohen (Med Care, 2003) and Cohen, Cohen, and Banthin (Med Care, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Ophthalmic Epidemiology
Galor A, Zheng DD [Diane Zheng D in PubMed®] , Arheart KL, et al. Influence of socio-demographic characteristics on eye care expenditure: data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2007. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2013 May 10. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2007 MEPS data as accessed on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology
Lee MK, Dodson TB, Nalliah RP, et al. Nine-year trend analysis of hospitalizations attributed to oral and oropharyngeal cancers in the United States. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2013 Apr 6. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2000-2008 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Lee MK, Dodson TB, Karimbux NY, et al. Effect of occurrence of infection-related never events on length of stay and hospital charges in patients undergoing radical neck dissection for head and neck cancer. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2013 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2008 HCUP NIS data, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) and Miller (JAMA, 2003) and AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
Chan JY, Semenov YR, Gourin CG. Postoperative urinary tract infection and short-term outcomes and costs in head and neck cancer surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013 Apr; 148(4):602-10. [Uses 2003-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), and uses HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, both accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Deshpande A, Pant C, Anderson MP, et al. Clostridium difficile infection in the hospitalized pediatric population: increasing trend in disease incidence. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2013 Mar 29. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2009 HCUP KID data; also uses All-Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRGs) as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

PLOS ONE
McNabb-Baltar J, Trinh QD, Barkun AN. Disparities in outcomes following admission for cholangitis. PLoS One 2013; 8(3):e59487. [Uses 1998-2009 HCUP Nis data and 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.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Aliu O, Davis MM, DeMonner S, et al. The influence of evidence in the surgical treatment of thumb basilar joint arthritis. Plast Reconstr Surg 2013 Apr; 131(4):816-28. [Uses 2006-2009 HCUP State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD) for Florida.] Select to access the abstract.

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
White AM, MacInnes E, Hingson RW, et al. Hospitalizations for suicide-related drug poisonings and co-occurring alcohol overdoses in adolescents (ages 12-17) and young adults (ages 18-24) in the United States, 1999-2008: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2013 Apr; 43(2):198-212. [Uses 199-2008 HCUP NIS data and HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, both accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Addendum to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) E Code Evaluation Report (Updated for 2009), HCUP Methods Series Report 2004-06, 2011.] Select to access the abstract.

Surgical Neurology International
Dickinson H, Carico C, Nuño M, et al. The effect of weight in the outcomes of meningioma patients. Surg Neurol Int 2013 Apr 3; 4:45. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998). Also refer to article by Hsu (Am J Med Qual, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.