Sporadic, unsubstantiated side effects were reported in the mass media after a formulation change of levothyroxine tablets induced patients to monitor thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and to unnecessarily stop taking medication.
From the Adult Diabetes and Clinical Research Sections, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School. Approved May 10, 2016; updated April 24, 2018. For the Figure and Tables, download the PDF at the end of the chapter.
There are effective strategies that can be employed concurrently to promote adherence to medications for schizophrenia, including but not limited to pharmacological, technological, and psychosocial interventions.
An asthma case management program increased preventive care but did not significantly decrease markers of exacerbations.
Two standardized rating scales appeared to be valid and reliable for use at admission and possibly follow-up in a child psychiatry system of care.
Influenza vaccination rates in pregnant women and healthcare workers were increased with standing orders, vaccine advocates, and educational activities on influenza immunization.
The 30-day readmission risk was reduced 25% by a collaborative program model employing discharge planning and telephonic follow-up for high-risk patients with CMS penalty diagnoses.
New value frameworks should incorporate real-world evidence that reflects patient treatment behavior, adherence to medication, and equity concerns arising from disparities in care.
A decision-analytic model was used to estimate cost-effectiveness of adopting a 21-gene assay in treatment decisions for women with early-stage N (1-3)/ER HER2-negative breast cancer.
Overview of alternative payment models and how leading national organizations are involved with linking quality improvement initiatives and payment reform.
Research documentation is a critical aspect of running a clinical trial. Key patient information such as informed consent, adverse events (AEs), concomitant medications, and medical and surgical histories are collected and used to determine patient safety and efficacy as the trial proceeds. Ultimately, the sponsor may make decisions—ranging from modifying the dose of the investigational drug to closing the study due to AEs—based on the data collected.
Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes who are at the lowest levels of healthcare consumption often become some of the highest level consumers in subsequent years.
Among a working population, patients with asthma experienced significantly higher direct medical costs and modestly higher work loss than patients without asthma.
Integrated care systems allegedly provide better care. This study of 97 large medical groups nationally provides suggestive evidence that this may be true.
Offering a meal delivery service to patients in a community-based care transition program was associated with cost savings and a 38% lower 30-day hospital readmission rate.
Patients enrolled in the tuberculosis pay-for-performance program received more comprehensive ambulatory care with slightly lower costs and a higher treatment success rate.