The authors report the experience of one of the first Southern US communities to develop a comprehensive health care data repository for tracking processes and outcomes of care and identifying areas of greatest need.
Among HIV-positive Medicaid patients with comorbid medical and psychiatric disorders, there was increased outpatient service utilization, yet relative cost savings, for patients who were treated in patient-centered medical homes.
An analysis of the opportunity cost associated with ambulatory medical care in the United States demonstrates substantial time costs for individuals and society.
Self-testing of anticoagulation improves outcomes, but is expensive. One might assume it is more helpful for patients living farther from care, but the authors disprove this assumption.
Omission of radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery leads to poor outcomes. Geographic isolation and scarcity of healthcare specialists correlate with low adjuvant radiation therapy use.
Compared with other costs of treatment, expenditures for antibiotics were nominal in an adult primary care population with lower respiratory tract infections.
Although we found no DCIS treatment disparities by race/ethnicity, use of adjuvant radiation therapy was less among older women and among residents of poorer neighborhoods.
Influenza vaccination rates in pregnant women and healthcare workers were increased with standing orders, vaccine advocates, and educational activities on influenza immunization.
This study utilizes a validated instrument to create case and control groups to measure the effect of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)’s patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model on utilization patterns among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Disease management programs for diabetes can improve some processes of care, but they do not improve intermediate outcomes beyond doubt.
Enrollment in managed care among Medicaid enrollees presents challenges to classifying Medicaid coverage in cancer registries.
Introduction of drug-eluting stents resulted in improved clinical outcomes for patients and reduced overall procedural costs.
In 2001, Maryland began to reimburse hospitals for excess volume at full case rates. The authors investigated the impact on hospital utilization and finances.
Efficacy of switching statin therapy from generic simvastatin was examined in a VA population. Ezetimibe/simvastatin was more potent than atorvastatin or rosuvastatin in lowering LDL.
Analysis of spending differences among accountable care organizations (ACOs) may help identify cost savings opportunities. We examined the magnitude and sources of spending variation among ACOs over 4 years.
Creating a healthcare consumer is more likely than ever before thanks to innovations in information technology, but the benefits are not yet fully realized.
Many patients with cancer desire cost discussions with doctors, but those discussions are rare. Nevertheless, cost discussions may lower patient costs-usually without altering treatment.
For patients with symptomatic severe (>70%) carotid stenosis carotid endarterectomy is highly effective at reducing the risk of subsequent stroke; however few eligible Veterans appear to be receiving this procedure.
We found that, in 2008, variations across Texas in total spending and inpatient utilization are similar in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Medicare.
Clinic wait times do not just affect overall patient satisfaction, but also specifically affect the perception of providers and the quality of care.
This study synthesized published evidence on Lynch syndrome screening and expanded that evidence to match the decision needs of internal decision makers.