MedWorm: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Million Hearts Campaign Aims to Lower Risk, Improve Care

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:25:27 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Heart Diseases (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Primary Care Workforce Facts and Stats No. 3: Distribution of the U.S. Primary Care Workforce

Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:27:27 +0100

Shows that primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants are more likely to practice in rural areas than are non-primary care specialists, but are still more concentrated in urban areas. -- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Source: Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center)

AHRQ Pharmacy Health Literacy Center

Rural web sites and other tools via the Rural Assistance Center — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:39:00 +0100

Provides tools for pharmacy faculty and pharmacy residents. Includes the module titled Advancing Pharmacy Health Literacy Practices Through Quality Improvement Curricular Modules for Faculty. -- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Source: Rural web sites and other tools via the Rural Assistance Center)

Family Physicians Lead in Specialties in Providing Rural Health Care

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

AAFP News Now article reports that family physicians provide more health care to rural areas than other primary care or subspecialty physicians, according to data released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

Data Illustrate Geographic Dispersal of Family Physicians, Other Primary Care Professionals

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

AAFP News Now article reports that family physicians are the most likely of any physician specialty or subspecialty to practice in rural areas and the most likely to be geographically distributed in the same proportion as the U.S. population, according to a one-page fact sheet published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

Being Foreign-Born Affects Access to Care

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:29:21 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Health Disparities (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Children of Working Mothers Face More Health Problems

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:23:30 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Children's Health (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Depending on a Woman's Age, Hysterectomy May Be the Best Option for Resolving Chronic Pelvic Pain and Heavy Bleeding

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:20:51 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Hysterectomy (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Lack of Folic Acid Supplementation for Nonpregnant Women Means Missed Opportunities to Prevent Neural Tube Defects in Children

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:14:17 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Folic Acid (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Study Finds Potentially Suboptimal Use of Antidepressants for Residents in Veterans Affairs Nursing Homes

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:09:36 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Veterans and Military Health (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Physicians Need Better Understanding of Factors that Patients Use to Decide about Colorectal Cancer Screening

MedlinePlus Health News — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:09:29 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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HIV Outcomes and Medication Use Are Similar between Rural and Urban HIV Patients

MedlinePlus Health News — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:03:30 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: HIV/AIDS Medicines, Living with HIV/AIDS (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Increasing Body Mass Index Lowers Quality of Life in Obese Individuals

MedlinePlus Health News — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:58:56 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Obesity (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Associated with Elevated Hemoglobin A1c Levels in Low-Income Blacks with Diabetes

MedlinePlus Health News — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:56:00 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Diabetes Type 2, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Benefits of Active Surveillance Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer Not Yet Demonstrated

MedlinePlus Health News — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:47:35 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Prostate Cancer (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Older Medications for Epilepsy Obtain Better Control but Have More Adverse Effects

MedlinePlus Health News — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:42:57 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Epilepsy (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Newer Antidepressants Equally Effective in Treating Major Depressive Disorder

MedlinePlus Health News — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:37:40 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Antidepressants, Depression (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Educational Intervention Helps Doctors and Patients Split Statin Tablets to Save Money for Patients and Payers

MedlinePlus Health News — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:31:57 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Statins (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

AHRQ Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals

Rural web sites and other tools via the Rural Assistance Center — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:55:53 +0100

Helps hospitals understand the Quality Indicators (QIs) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and support the use of them to successfully improve quality and patient safety in hospitals. -- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Source: Rural web sites and other tools via the Rural Assistance Center)

New Toolkit Helps Hospitals Use Inpatient, Patient Safety Indicators

American Academy of Neurology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:14:00 +0100

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers a free toolkit to guide hospitals through the process of using the AHRQ Inpatient Quality Indicators and Patient Safety Indicators to improve care. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

Challenge of Changing Nursing Home Prescribing Culture.

The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This article described a framework for improving prescribing in nursing homes (NH) by focusing on the whole facility as a system that has created a "prescribing culture." We offered this paradigm as an alternative to focused interventions that target prescribers only. We used the example of atypical antipsychotics to illustrate the approach. We also highlighted elements of the NH culture change movement that are germane to medication prescribing, and illustrated which elements of NH culture were shown to be associated with suboptimal quality of care. We concluded by describing current models, including our study funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to identify the best methods of disseminating evidence-based medication use guides in NHs. PMID: 22264855 [PubMed - as...

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Study finds remote dermatology consults help treatment, outcomes

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:28:53 +0100

Source: Andis Robeznieks, ModernHealthcare Content: “Live interactive telemedicine consults with dermatologists appeared to result in improved treatment and positive outcomes, according to a report in the American Medical Association’s Archives of Dermatology journal. In a study funded by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, researchers examined the records of 1,490 patients who had a live [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

Declines in Employer‐Sponsored Insurance between 2000 and 2008: Examining the Components of Coverage by Firm Size

Health Services Research — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ObjectiveTo examine trends in employer‐sponsored health insurance coverage rates and its associated components between 2000 and 2008, to provide a baseline for later evaluations of the Affordable Care Act, and to provide information to policy makers as they design the implementation details of the law.Data SourcesPrivate sector employer data from the 2000, 2001, and 2008 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey‐Insurance Component (MEPS‐IC).Study DesignWe examine time trends in employer offer, eligibility, and take‐up rates. We add a new dimension to the literature by examining dependent coverage and decomposing its trends. We investigate heterogeneity in trends by firm size.Data CollectionThe MEPS‐IC is an annual survey, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and co...

Small Group Uses Big Share of Healthcare Dollars

MedPage Today Public Health — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:26:55 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Just 1% of the U.S. population accounted for 22% of all healthcare spending in 2009 -- but that's actually better than it once was, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Improving Efficiency and Productivity in the Operation Room: Implementing a Process Flow Control System

Journal of Surgical Research — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:29:48 +0100

Introduction: The AHRQ and National Science Foundation have highlighted the critical role of Systems Engineering for HealthCare delivery. the operating room (OR) is a complex system requiring coordination across multiple units; efficient execution of its processes is hampered by fragmented communication. Process flow control systems providing real-time information to users have improved quality and efficiency within numerous industries. Our goals were to implement a process flow control system in the OR and to determine its effects on OR efficiency and productivity. Methods: The OR Control System (ORC) was implemented on April 2010. Specialized hardware equipment was installed in all perioperative areas and flow control software was tailored to hospital practices. OR efficiency was measure...

EHR Data Will Help Advance Comparative Effectiveness Research

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:50:16 +0100

Source: Robert Rowley, EHR Bloggers Content: “Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) has been an ongoing effort to identify best-practices for health care, based on clinical evidence. The AHRQ defines comparative effectiveness as research “designed to inform health-care decisions by providing evidence on the effectiveness, benefits, and harms of different treatment options.” However, the vision for truly getting [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

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Baby Boomers Trigger Major Increase in Knee Replacement Surgeries

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:24:38 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Knee Replacement (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

AHRQ provides guidelines for evaluating medical homes

Cardiovascular Business News — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:35:41 +0100

Patient-centered medical homes (PCMH), healthcare organizations that employ a coordinated delivery model designed to provide cost-effective care, are emerging as efforts to cure the fragmented nature of the healthcare system have escalated. However, there are few standards to guide evaluations of PCMHs' effectiveness, which has prompted the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to make PCMH evaluation recommendations. (Source: Cardiovascular Business News)

NLM on YouTube

What's New on JEFFLINE — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:49 +0100

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has launched its YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/nlmnih, thereby joining a growing list of NIH and other U.S. government agency channels for health information. The NLM channel allows unregistered users to watch videos and registered users to post videos of lectures, training, special events NLM exhibitions, public service announcements, and more. Registration is free. Users may also subscribe to the channel to receive notification when new materials are loaded. The YouTube channel is one of the many ways NLM is celebrating its 175th anniversary: “175 years of information innovation.” Visit the NLM channel Visit the NLM 175th anniversary celebration site Other health-related channels: NIH Channels and Other Health Resources...

Clostridium difficile Infection Rate Has Risen among Hospitalized Children Since Late 1990s

MedlinePlus Health News — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:23:32 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Clostridium Difficile Infections (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Home monitoring may help manage and reduce costs for heart failure

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0100

UCLA RESEARCH ALERT FINDINGS: Heart failure affects 5.8 million people in the U.S. alone and is responsible for nearly 1 million hospitalizations each year, most resulting from a build-up of body fluid in the lungs and other organs due to the heart's inability to pump effectively. The disease needs to be closely tracked in order to avoid such hospitalizations, and home-monitoring interventions may be especially useful, UCLA researchers say. In their new paper, the UCLA authors discuss the importance of heart failure disease-management and early identification, as well as the treatment of body-fluid congestion, using a number of home-monitoring strategies, including self-care, such as daily weighing and medication management; phone calls from a nurse or a...

No Greater Risk or Mortality Observed for Endoscopic Vein Harvesting for Coronary Bypass Surgery

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:34:22 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

“Learning” From Other Industries: Lessons and Challenges for Health Care Organizations

The Health Care Manager — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

This article investigates health care learning from other industries in the recent decade, focusing on aviation, high-reliability organizations, car manufacturing, telecommunication, car racing, entertainment, and retail; evidence suggests that most innovative practices originate with these fields. The diffusion of innovations from other industries appears to start with a few early adopter organizations (hospitals and health systems) and influential other organizations (The Joint Commission, Institute of Medicine, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or Institute for Healthcare Improvement) pushing for the innovations. Once the trend becomes accepted, consultants and copying behavior seem to contribute to its spread across the industry. An important question to explore is whether th...

Effect of Illness Severity and Comorbidity on Patient Safety and Adverse Events

American Journal of Medical Quality — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The objective was to investigate the effect of admission health status on hospital adverse events and added costs. Secondary data were from merged administrative and clinical sources for Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota hospital discharges in 2005 (N = 60 599). This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of the effect of demographics, diagnosis group, comorbidity, and admission illness severity on adverse events, incremental costs, and length of stay (LOS) using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Indicators and provider-reported events with harm. Estimates are derived from generalized linear models. Admission severity increased the likelihood of all types of adverse events (7.2% per unit acute physiology score for any event); 7 specific comorbidities were asso...

AHRQ calls for improvement in quality reporting sites

Healthcare IT News — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:14:21 +0100

A new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) contends that consumers and care providers don't make use enough use of public reporting websites about hospital quality -- partly because they don't know about them, and partly because the language is too technical. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News)

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Preface

Dermatologic Clinics — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is increasingly being recognized as an important parameter to consider in research as well as in patient care. In fact, the Healthy People 2020 initiative, developed by lead federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Institutes of Health, and Food and Drug Administration, to name a few, has named “health-related quality of life and well-being” as a new topic area for this decade as a high-priority national health objective. (Source: Dermatologic Clinics)

The effectiveness of integrated health information technologies across the phases of medication management: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:25:20 +0100

Source: McKibbon KA et al, J Am Med Inform Assoc, 19(1) Content: Objective The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality funded an evidence report to address seven questions on multiple aspects of the effectiveness of medication management information technology (MMIT) and its components (prescribing, order communication, dispensing, administering, and monitoring). Materials and Methods [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

AHRQ: Hospitals need policies to mitigate risks with mobile devices

CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:50:59 +0100

While IT systems have the potential to enhance patient safety, improve quality of care and reduce healthcare costs, John Halamka, MD, MS, CIO of Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, believes that they also introduce new opportunities for error that need to be addressed before health IT can achieve maximum effectiveness. (Source: CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives)

Order Interrupted by Text: Multitasking Mishap

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:28:32 +0100

Source: Halamka JD. AHRQ, 2011 Content: The Obama Administration is spending $27 billion dollars to accelerate the meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) in pursuit of three policy goals: enhanced safety, improved quality, and increased efficiency. However, despite some evidence that electronic health records can achieve these goals, implementation can introduce new errors, new [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

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AHRQ, RAND partner to create comprehensive EHR guide

Health Imaging News — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:23:51 +0100

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) made available a free, online guide developed under contract by RAND, a nonprofit research organization headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., to assist healthcare organizations with EHR implementation and use. (Source: Health Imaging News)

AHRQ releases toolkit to help reduce adverse drug events

Drug Topics - Top News — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a new toolkit to help hospitals improve their medication reconciliation processes to reduce adverse drug events. (Source: Drug Topics - Top News)

Online guide helps health organizations adopt electronic health records

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(RAND Corporation) A new online guide is available from the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to help hospitals and other health care organizations anticipate, avoid and address problems that can occur when adopting and using electronic health records. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

NLM Announces the Expansion of PubMed Health

The Cornflower — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:02:26 +0100

NLM announces the expansion of the information available from PubMed Health (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/), which provides integrated access to clinical effectiveness reviews. PubMed Health specializes in reviews of clinical effectiveness research, with easy-to-read summaries for consumers as well as full technical reports. Clinical effectiveness research finds answers to the question “What works?” in medical and health care. It is a service provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). NLM’s National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), in partnership with England’s National Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, the Cochrane Collaboration, the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Qualit...

NLM Announces Expansion of PubMed Health

Network News — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:20:36 +0100

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) announces the expansion of the information available from PubMed Health (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/), which provides integrated access to clinical effectiveness reviews. NLM’s National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), in partnership with England’s national Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, the Cochrane Collaboration, the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other agencies in the US and abroad, now makes available more than 18,000 clinical effectiveness reviews via PubMed Health. PubMed Health organizes these clinical effectiveness research results, including full texts as well as summary information, for consumers and clinicians. Effectiveness studies are essential for informed clinical and cons...

For-Profit Dialysis Chains Have Higher Mortality Rates Than Non-Profit Dialysis Chain

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:14:54 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Dialysis (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Transitioning to New Electronic Health Records Can Result in Potential Safety Problems

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:10:29 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Personal Health Records (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome Have Shorter Survival Times If They Have Coexisting Medical Conditions

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:05:42 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Myelodysplastic Syndromes (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Fewer Than 1 in 5 Emergency Departments Implement Recommendations for HIV Screening

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:25 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Emergency Medical Services, HIV/AIDS, Health Screening (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Overweight or Obese Patients Have Higher Health Care Expenditures

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:53:18 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Obesity, Obesity in Children (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Good Communication with the Doctor Treating Their Child for Cancer Improves Parental Satisfaction with Their Role in Decisions

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:49:20 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Cancer in Children, Talking With Your Doctor (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Most Children Receiving Palliative Care Live for More Than a Year After Beginning Such Treatment

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:44:20 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Palliative Care (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Increase in Pediatric Stimulant Use Since 1996 Mostly Linked to Treatment of ADHD in Adolescents

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:39:36 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Deaf Patients Who Use American Sign Language Receive More Preventive Care If Their Clinician Also Uses Sign Language

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:06:24 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Hearing Disorders and Deafness (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Birth Defects May Be Linked to High Blood Pressure, Not Use of ACE Inhibitors in Early Pregnancy

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:50:51 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Birth Defects, High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Children's Use of Asthma Controller Drugs Doubles

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:43:50 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Asthma in Children (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Hospitalizations for Eating Disorders Declined, But Big Increase Seen in Pica Disorder

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:36:31 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Eating Disorders (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Knee Replacements Up Dramatically among Adults 45 to 64 Years Old

MedlinePlus Health News — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:05:08 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Knee Replacement (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Science News » Prescribed stimulant use for ADHD continues to rise steadily

National Institute of Mental Health — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:50:27 +0100

Priority Preparedness Issues

Journal of Emergency Nursing: JEN — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

September 2011 is a month to recognize and reflect upon the 10-year anniversaries of the September 11, 2001, and East Coast anthrax attacks and the 6-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. These tragedies remind us of the harsh reality of foreign and domestic terrorism within the United States and the destructive capability of natural hazards such as hurricanes. The scarce medical resources available for victims of Hurricane Katrina made the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's 2005 “Crisis Standards of Care” concepts a reality as several New Orleans area hospitals sought to provide the best care possible in the worst circumstances. The anniversaries of these catastrophes provide benchmarks for gauging our past preparedness level, current status, and opportunities for the futur...

Simulation and Education in Gynecologic Surgery

Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Simulation training has suddenly become the rage in healthcare, with every week some new center marketing themselves as the first simulation training center in the area. Most announcements elaborate upon the attributes of this “brand new” technology, when in fact most other industries have used sophisticated simulation training for decades … and healthcare is only now trying to catch up! Aviation and nuclear energy are only 2 of the many industries that have for years embedded simulation into both their education and quality improvement programs. Aviation is noteworthy in that today a regularly scheduled assessment on sophisticated flight simulators is a well-ingrained part of an airline pilot's maintenance of licensure and accreditation. As in gynecologic surgery today, the simulato...

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Patient‐centered outcomes research and nurse practitioners’ role in shared decision making

Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This article provides a brief overview of a new program from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) called the Effective Healthcare Program. This program has supported more than 70 research projects since its inception and published more than 50 products, including guides for clinicians and patients that provide a comprehensive analysis of treatment options for common, chronic illnesses. Research summaries are also available for mobile devices. (Source: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners)

E-Prescribing Is Safe And Efficient, But Barriers Remain

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Physician practices and pharmacies generally view electronic prescribing as an important tool to improve patient safety and save time, but both groups face barriers to realizing the technology's full benefit, according to a study funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The study is published online today in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Health Literacy and Depression in the Context of Home Visitation

Maternal and Child Health Journal — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:42:36 +0100

We examined differences in initial depression ratings for demographic subgroups and explored patterns of change in health literacy among depressed versus not-depressed parents. Correlation analysis showed that at each of four assessments better depression scores were consistently and positively correlated with use of information and services (r = 21–22, P < .001) and with self-management of personal and child health (r = 42–49, P < .001). Overall, parents made significant improvements in health literacy (P < .001). As expected, depressed parents demonstrated lower baseline health literacy scores than not-depressed parents; however, they achieved greater gains (P < .001). While depression is linked with lower pa...

Intracerebral Hemorrhage with Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Pulmonary Embolism

The American Journal of Medicine — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Background: Intracranial hemorrhage is one of the dreaded complications of thrombolytic therapy for acute pulmonary embolism. We identified patients with pulmonary embolism who may be at relatively high risk of intracerebral hemorrhage from those selected for thrombolytic therapy by their physicians and presumably thought to be of reasonable risk. Methods: The number of patients discharged from short-stay hospitals in the United States from 1998 to 2008 with pulmonary embolism who received thrombolytic therapy and the proportion with intracerebral hemorrhage were determined from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Results: From 1998 to 2008, 2,237,600 patients were discharged with a diagnosis ...

New Study Finds E-prescribing Is Safe and Efficient, but Barriers Remain

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:40:44 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Medication Errors, Medicines (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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eRx worthwhile, but still problematic for docs, pharmacies

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:38:33 +0100

Source: Mike Miliard, Healthcare IT News Content: “A new study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality finds that physician practices and pharmacies are both keen on e-prescribing’s ability to improve safety and save time – but that both groups face barriers to realizing its full benefit. The [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

New Study Finds E-prescribing Is Safe and Efficient, but Barriers Remain

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:31:36 +0100

Source: AHRQ news Content: “Physician practices and pharmacies generally view electronic prescribing as an important tool to improve patient safety and save time, but both groups face barriers to realizing the technology’s full benefit, according to a study funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

eRx worthwhile, but still problematic for docs, pharmacies

Healthcare IT News — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:52:29 +0100

A new study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality finds that physician practices and pharmacies are both keen on e-prescribing's ability to improve safety and save time – but that both groups face barriers to realizing its full benefit. No read more (Source: Healthcare IT News)

New Study Finds E-prescribing is Safe and Efficient, but Barriers Remain

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0100

Physician practices and pharmacies generally view electronic prescribing as an important tool to improve patient safety and save time, but both groups face barriers to realizing the technology's full benefit, according to a study funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

Effective Health Care Clinician Guides

Modern Medicine — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Making good decisions requires that physicians have reliable and practical data. Comparative effectiveness reviews and objective findings on different medical interventions and strategies, as provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in its Effective Health Care Program, can help physicians make the most informed choices among treatment options. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Glaucoma recommendations under fire

Modern Medicine — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society are calling for a new evaluation of glaucoma screening and treatment in response to recent draft reviews prepared by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:00:04 +0100

This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to request that the Office of Management and Budget approve the proposed information collection project: "Assessing the Feasibility of Disseminating Effective Health Care Products through a Shared Electronic Medical Record Serving Member Organization of a Health Information Exchange." (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)

Rate of Pneumonia Vaccination Among Seniors Falls Short

MedPage Today State Required CME — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:43:21 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- More patients 65 and older are getting vaccinated for pneumonia, but the rate hasn't quite reached government targets, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the CDC. (Source: MedPage Today State Required CME)

Ophthalmologists Blast Federal Review of Glaucoma ScreeningOphthalmologists Blast Federal Review of Glaucoma Screening

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:37:03 +0100

AHRQ findings ignore value of glaucoma screening for at-risk groups, advocates say. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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AHRQ issues new format for patient safety data on VTE

Modern Medicine — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new Common Format designed to help healthcare providers gather data on patient safety events related to venous thromboembolism (VTE). MORE (Source: Modern Medicine)

AHRQ: Big Jump in Knee Replacement Surgery

MedPage Today Surgery — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:37:38 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Knee replacement surgery among middle-aged men and women increased 2.5-fold from 1997 to 2009, new figures from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) show. (Source: MedPage Today Surgery)

Home Health Care During an Influenza Pandemic: Issues and Resources

Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:30:10 +0100

Provides information and resources to aid in and improve influenza pandemic planning and preparedness. -- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Source: Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center)

New Report on Transition of Care for Acute Stroke and Myocardial Infarction Patients Is Now Available

American Academy of Neurology — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:50:00 +0100

View the final report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

Knee Replacements Up Dramatically For Adults 45 To 64 Years Old

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Women and men ages 45 to 64 were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for knee replacement surgery in 2009 than in 1997, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). AHRQ's analysis of hospital stays for knee replacement surgery from 1997 to 2009 found that: The rate for women ages 45 to 64 jumped from 16 to 42 stays per 10,000 people, while for men the same age, the rate climbed from 11 to 28 stays per 10,000 people... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Recent Trends in Hospital Use by Children and Youths Are a Mixed Bag—Lower for Teen Pregnancies, Much Higher for Skin Infections

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:19:39 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Health Facilities (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Blacks and Patients at Hospitals with a High Percentage of Black Patients More Likely to Suffer Adverse Events

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:15:25 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Health Disparities, Health Facilities (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Blacks Have Higher Rates of Pituitary Adenoma

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:08:13 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Health Disparities, Pituitary Tumors (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Heart Disease, Cancer and Trauma-Related Disorders among the Most Costly Conditions for Men

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:59:32 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Men's Health (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Brief Psychotherapy Helps Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Insomnia and Depression

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:21:00 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Multiple Sclerosis (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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ADHD in young children better treated with parental training

Modern Medicine Contemporary Pediatrics — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Commonly prescribed medications appear to be safe and effective in controlling symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in older children, at least in the short term, but little evidence supports their use in children younger than 6 years, according to a recent government report. The report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommends that pediatricians consider advocating formal training in parenting strategies instead of drug therapies for preschoolers. Find out how effective those interventions have been. (Source: Modern Medicine Contemporary Pediatrics)

Fecal Occult Blood Tests and Followup Need to Be Better Targeted to Healthy Older Adults

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:13:41 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Colorectal Cancer (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Nearly 1 in 10 Outpatient Computerized Prescriptions Contains Errors

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:08:01 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Medication Errors (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Children Are Commonly Exposed to Ionizing Radiation from Medical Diagnostic Imaging Procedures

MedlinePlus Health News — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:42:14 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Radiation Exposure (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Hospital Readmissions for COPD Highest among Black Patients

MedlinePlus Health News — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:37:59 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Health Disparities (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Blood Infections Most Costly Hospital Care in 2009

MedlinePlus Health News — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:32:18 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Sepsis (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Heart Disease Tx Claims Billions of Healthcare Dollars

MedPage Today Allergy — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:19:29 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Heart disease ranked as the costliest medical condition in 2008 in adult U.S. patients, followed by cancer, a statistical brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found. (Source: MedPage Today Allergy)

Parent Training Is Low Risk And Effective For Treating Preschoolers With ADHD

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0100

A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) shows that formal training in parenting strategies is a low-risk, effective method for improving preschool-aged children's behavior who are at risk for developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), whereas using medication for children below the age of 6 years shows less evidence... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Validity of Selected Patient Safety Indicators: Opportunities and Concerns

Journal of Vascular Surgery — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:45:46 +0100

Patient safety indicators should be used primarily for screening and case finding. Use of patient safety indicators for public reporting and pay for performance is suspect. Two landmark reports from the Institute of Medicine, “To Err is Human” and “Crossing the Quality Chasm,” have stimulated numerous studies measuring adverse events, safety-related events, and medical errors. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) designed evidence-based ICD-9-based algorithms termed Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs). PSIs are potentially readily obtainable from hospital discharge data. They can be used to screen for inpatient safety events. PSIs were intended to be used as screening tools to identify safety-related events. However, they have also been adopted by organizations for h...

Rendezvous: Comparative Effectiveness Research

Dragonfly — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:19:24 +0100

Edit: A recording is now available at https://webmeeting.nih.gov/p77505591/ Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER, also known as Patient Centered Outcomes Research) has received much attention over the past two years stimulated in part by federal research funding, but also by issues of healthcare quality and cost as well as by an array of market forces. Come join us on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 1pm Pacific time (Noon Alaska, 2pm Mountain) during our free monthly webcast at http://webmeeting.nih.gov/rendezvous If you are unable to join us then, we invite you to view a recording of the webcast at the Rendezvous website later. We are pleased to welcome Ione Auston, Librarian, National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR), National Library ...

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Training Parents Effective For Treating Young Children With ADHD

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0100

Formal training in parenting strategies is a low-risk, effective method for improving behavior in preschool-age children at risk for developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while there is less evidence supporting the use of medications for children younger than 6 years old, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Report Finds Parent Training Effective for Treating Young Children with ADHD

MedlinePlus Health News — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:20:30 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Comparative effectiveness clinical trials in psychiatry: superiority, noninferiority, and the role of active comparators

NeLM - Mental Health — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Source: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, has issued several Requests for Applications to conduct comparative effectiveness research (CER). Many of the applications will involve randomised, controlled clinical trials that include an active comparator. The inclusion of an active comparator has implications for clinical trial design. Despite a common misperception, a clinical trial result of no significant difference between active treatment groups does not imply equivalence or noninferiority. A noninferiority trial, on the other hand, can directly test whether one active treatment group is noninferior to the othe...

Chronic Pain Care For Women Cost Nearly $13 Billion In 2008

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0100

An estimated 12.1 million women age 18 and older reported suffering from chronic pain in 2008 as a result of underlying medical conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, fibromyalgia and vulvodynia. Of these women, only 8.7 million reported receiving treatment that year at a total cost of $12.9 billion, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Among other findings: -- About 11.2 percent of non-Hispanic white women, 8.3 percent of non-Hispanic black women and 8... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Birth Defects May Be Linked To High Blood Pressure, Not Use Of ACE Inhibitors

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0100

Women who take angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to treat high blood pressure in the first trimester of their pregnancies are at no greater risk of having babies with birth defects than are women who take other types of high blood pressure medication or who take no blood pressure drugs, according to a new study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Birth Defects May Be Linked to High Blood Pressure, Not Use of ACE Inhibitors in Early Pregnancy

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:20:07 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Birth Defects (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Children's Use Of Asthma Controller Drugs Has Doubled

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0100

The proportion of children who used a prescribed controller drug to treat their asthma doubled from 29 percent in 1997 - 1998 to 58 percent in 2007 - 2008, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Asthma controller drugs, such as cortisteroids, control inflammation thereby reducing the likelihood of airway spasms; asthma reliever drugs, such as short-acting beta-2-agonists, make breathing easier; and leukotrienes help prevent asthma symptoms from occurring... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

$8.4 million grant supports health information exchange and research on Alzheimer's drugs

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Indiana University School of Medicine) An $8.4 million award from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is enhancing the infrastructure of the Indiana Network for Patient Care, the nation's largest and most sophisticated health information exchange. The grant simultaneously supports a ground-breaking comparative effectiveness research study using real world data to be acquired by an augmented INPC to compare the benefits and harms of three drugs commonly used to treat Alzheimer's disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Blood Infections Most Costly Hospital Condition

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Septicemia, an illness caused by blood infections with bacteria such as E. coli and MRSA, was the single most expensive condition treated in U.S. hospitals at nearly $15.4 billion in 2009, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Data include cases of septicemia acquired within the community and during hospital stays... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

AHRQ Issues Guidance on Relative Benefits, Risks of GERD Treatments

AAFP Health of the Public — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:20:00 +0100

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ, has released guides outlining the risks and benefits of various management options for gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, for clinicians and adult patients. The guides are based on a comparative effectiveness review of 166 clinical studies that was conducted by researchers at Tufts Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center in Boston. In addition to the full report, an executive summary of that review is available on the AHRQ website. (Source: AAFP Health of the Public)

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AHIMA: Failing to see healthcare quality as a science is 'huge mistake'

CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:21:47 +0100

SALT LAKE CITY—Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, director of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, used a quotation from Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, an intensive care physician from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore to lay out her keynote presentation at the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) conference: “The fundamental problem with the quality of American medicine is that we’ve failed to view the delivery of healthcare as a science … that’s a mistake, a huge mistake.” (Source: CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives)

Science News » Prescribed stimulant use for ADHD continues to rise steadily

National Institute of Mental Health — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 05:45:19 +0100

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Rheumatology News — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

There is “moderate” evidence that disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are more effective than conventional treatments for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, according to a comparative-effectiveness review released by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The Duke Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, N.C., analyzed studies that compared DMARDs – biologics and nonbiologics – with conventional arthritis treatments and each other. While DMARDs generally performed better than therapies such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, there was insufficient evidence about their long-term safety and effectiveness, the researchers found. The studies also failed to determine whether any type of DMARD is more effective than another against juvenile idiopathic arthritis. (S...

1 in 4 Adults Treated for High Blood Pressure

MedPage Today State Required CME — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:43:14 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- More than 55 million U.S. adults were treated for hypertension in 2008 at a cost of more than $47 billion, according to new data from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ). (Source: MedPage Today State Required CME)

Increase In Prescribed Stimulant Use For ADHD

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0100

The prescribed use of stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rose slowly but steadily from 1996 to 2008, according to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The study was published online ahead of prin in the American Journal of Psychiatry. ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders, and can continue through adolescence and adulthood... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Effective Health Care (EHC) Program Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews: keeping up-to-date in a rapidly evolving field

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 06:24:23 +0100

A challenge for any research program is to ensure consistent use of the most current scientific methods, especially in a rapidly evolving field. Systematic review is a field that is moving into maturity from its adolescence. This issue of the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology includes 5 papers that nearly complete version 1.0 of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Effective Health Care Program Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (Methods Guide). The Methods Guide is a collaborative effort among participating scientists at the 14 Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs) and AHRQ to identify the best methods for conducting systematic reviews on comparative effectiveness of interventions. The AHRQ-funded EPC Program was established in 1997. These articles addres...

ADHD Drug Prescribing Grew Steadily Over 12 Years, USA

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0100

The number of children aged 4 to 17 years being prescribed ADHD medications in the USA has been steadily rising since 1996, researchers from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) have reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The authors wrote that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which often persists right into adulthood, is one of the most common disorders among children... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

One Quarter Of Americans Receive Hypertension Treatment, Reveals AHRQ

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0100

According to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, In 2008, one in four adults in the U.S. (55.1 million) received treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure). The federal agency also revealed that for treatment of hypertension in 2008: Approximately 29% of individuals treated for hypertension were black, compared to 25% of whites, 15% of Hispanics, and 20% of individuals of other races. Total costs were $47.3 billion, $21... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Not Enough Evidence To Back The "Off Label" Use Of Antipsychotic Drugs

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0100

According to an article from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), there is not enough evidence to support the use of atypical antipsychotic medicines for some treatments other than their officially approved purposes, despite that fact that several physicians still frequently prescribe these medications for so-called "off label" uses. An editorial based on data in the report is published in the Sep. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The U.S... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Disease That Springs from Water Parasites May Also Be a Risk Factor for HIV for Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:58:31 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: HIV/AIDS in Women, Parasitic Diseases (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Married Couples Who Have Twins Are More Likely to Divorce

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:47:53 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Divorce, Twins, Triplets, Multiple Births (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Medicare Part D Reduces Out-of-Pocket Costs and Modestly Boosts Prescription Volume

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:43:27 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

"Off-label" Use of Antipsychotic Drugs for Some Conditions Not Supported by Evidence

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:30:05 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Medicines, Mental Disorders, Psychotic Disorders (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Prescribed stimulant use for ADHD continues to rise steadily

National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:05:00 +0100

The prescribed use of stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rose slowly but steadily from 1996 to 2008, according to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The study was published online ahead of print Sept. 28, 2011, in the American Journal of Psychiatry. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)

Full Use of Evidence-based Therapies for Heart Failure Could Save Nearly 70,000 Lives Each Year

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:58:03 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Heart Failure (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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Cancer Patients More Likely to Face Higher Cost Burdens Than Those with Other Chronic Conditions

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:50:42 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Cancer, Cancer--Living with Cancer (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Study Identifies Fractures Most and Least Likely to Be Caused by Osteoporosis

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:42:15 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Osteoporosis (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Simpler Drug Warning Labels Are Easier to Understand

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:16:42 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Birth Defects, Pregnancy and Medicines (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Prescribed stimulant use for ADHD continues to rise steadily

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(NIH/National Institute of Mental Health) The prescribed use of stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rose slowly but steadily from 1996 to 2008, according to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Hospitalizations for Children with Influenza and Skin Infections Increased in the Last Decade

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:27:53 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Children's Health, Health Facilities (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

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More Than 20,000 Emergency Room Visits for Air and Paintball Gun Injuries in 2008

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:21:10 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Emergency Medical Services (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

GERD Treatments, Benefits And Risks - New Report

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 01:00:00 +0100

New plain-language reports compare the risks and benefits of therapies for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive condition that affects millions of individuals in the U.S., and can be treated with medications or surgery. The reports are from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and are based on an updated evidence publication also released today... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

AHRQ tests patient safety tool

Healthcare IT News — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:40:59 +0100

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is testing a tool among physicians to identify and report patient safety risks and near misses that may arise from the interaction of health IT with other systems or as a result of software design. The health IT hazard manager will ultimately be scalable for use as a national clearinghouse of health IT-related risks, near misses and safety incidents so they can be compared and analyzed and systems corrected. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News)

AHRQ Initiative Encourages Better Two-way Communication between Clinicians and Patients

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:00:00 +0100

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) today launched an initiative with the Ad Council to encourage clinicians and patients to engage in effective two-way communication to ensure safer care and better health outcomes. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

AHRQ guide seeks to reduce unintended EHR consequences

Cardiovascular Business News — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:36:19 +0100

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a guide to reduce unintended consequences of EHRs to address provider problems that can occur when implementing and using an EHR. (Source: Cardiovascular Business News)

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Quality Oral Health Care in Medicaid Through Health IT

AHRQ Health IT News and Events — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:29:30 +0100

This project report for Medicaid-SCHIP details whether and how health information technology (health IT) and the Medicaid EHR incentive program can be used as tools to improve access to quality oral health care for children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (Source: AHRQ Health IT News and Events)

COPD Hospital Readmissions Higher Among African-Americans

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:00:00 +0100

According to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 2008 hospital readmissions within 30 days of initial treatment were 30% higher among black patients aged 40 years or above with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), compared to those in Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders and about 9% higher than in whites... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Health IT Key to Patient Engagement, Better Care, Experts Say

RWJF News Digest - Quality/Equality — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have teamed up on a new initiative aimed at boosting patient engagement in an effort to improve the quality of health care in the U.S. Health care experts argue that patient empowerment is key to driving health care improvements. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Quality/Equality)

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Hospital Readmissions For COPD Highest Among Black Patients

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0100

For patients age 40 and over with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hospital readmissions within 30 days of initial treatment were 30 percent higher among blacks than Hispanics or Asians and Pacific Islanders and about 9 percent higher than whites in 2008, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Despite Hospitalizations For Eating Disorders Declining, A Large Increase Is Seen In Pica Disorder

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0100

According to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for healthcare Research and Quality, hospitalizations for eating disorders have dropped by 23% from 2007 and 2009, following a steep and consistent increase from 1999 to 2007. The severity of eating disorders has also gradually reduced, with symptoms, such as irregular heartbeat declining by 39% and menstrual disorders declining by 46%... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

New limits on physician training hours could prove costly for U.S. teaching hospitals

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0100

The new limits on hours that physicians-in-training can work will prove costly for U.S teaching hospitals, which will need to spend up to $1.3 billion a year, and possibly more, to effect the changes, a new UCLA study suggests. On July 1, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the national body charged with overseeing the training of junior doctors as they complete their specialty training, put into effect strict duty-hour limits on interns and medical residents and instituted related changes to the training environment. These reforms are intended to reduce medical errors by physicians-in-training at teaching hospitals that result from fatigue due to long work hours, though the changes do not assure a reduction in error rates. The new UCLA st...

Paintball And Air Guns Caused Over 20,000 Emergency Visits In 2008

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0100

According to the recent News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in 2008, over 20,000 injuries caused by air and paintball guns were observed in hospital emergency departments nationwide, representing a decrease of 20% from 2006 in emergency room visits for injuries resulting from these guns. AHRQ also discovered in emergency departments in 2008 that: Approximately 60% of visits for injuries caused by air and paintball guns were from children and adolescents 17 and younger, and over 25% were for children aged between 10 to 14... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Trends in in-hospital newborn male circumcision --- United States, 1999--2010.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abstract The publication of three recent studies showing that circumcision of adult, African, heterosexual men reduces their risk for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus infection and other sexually transmitted infections has stimulated interest in the practice of routine newborn male circumcision (NMC) and the benefits it might confer for HIV prevention. In the United States, rates of in-hospital NMC increased from 48.3% during 1988--1991 to 61.1% during 1997--2000. To monitor trends in in-hospital NMC during 1999--2010, CDC used three independent data sources (the National Hospital Discharge Survey [NHDS] from the National Center for Health Statistics, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample [NIS] from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Charge Data Mast...

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Improving the Delivery of Coordinated and Individualized Care

Seminars In Dialysis — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

AbstractPharmatech comprises systems for the automated use and coordination of clinical information, medical devices, care paths, and pharmacologic agents into specific prescription and care‐delivery processes tailored to meet individual patient needs. In ESRD, future suites of applications to run on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis machines, external computers and devices both in‐center and in the home setting offer the potential to further automate billing and inventory, improve documentation, reduce medical errors, and decrease costs. On a clinical basis, these systems will aid nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and physicians in performing and overseeing a wide range of clinical activities that constitute 21st‐century medicine. Future innovations may allow Pharma...

Quality of Children's Asthma Care is Affected by Emergency Department Crowding

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:49:05 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Pages: Asthma in Children, Emergency Medical Services (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Friends' Behavior and Parental Values Influence Rates of Unprotected Vaginal Intercourse among Teens

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:42:14 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Teenage Pregnancy (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Patients with Sepsis Fare Better When Admitted Via the Emergency Department Rather Than Directly to the Hospital

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:40:47 +0100

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Related MedlinePlus Page: Sepsis (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)