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Medical errors affect 2 to 3 percent of hospitalized children and are more common in those with special medical needs
Both low- and high-risk patients fare better when they undergo cardiovascular procedures at high-volume hospitals Heart attack patients who develop non-Q-wave vs. Q-wave infarctions after thrombolysis fare better in the short term and at 1 year Studies focus on use of cardiac procedures and post-hospital rehab services among elderly heart attack patients
People who have more disability prior to hip replacement surgery have worse functioning and more pain after surgery Researchers find little evidence to explain the enthusiasm for aggressive screening and treatment for prostate cancer
Reading a large volume of mammograms is only one factor influencing radiologists' accuracy With outpatient breastfeeding support and a home visitor program, early postpartum discharge doesn't reduce breastfeeding First trimester ultrasound identifies more cases of Down syndrome than second trimester maternal serum screening and is more cost effective
Better communication with parents of hospitalized children may be the best way to improve parental ratings of hospital care Parents may not always want antibiotics for their child's illness, sometimes they may just want reassurance
Performing a geriatric assessment of elderly patients in the ER can reduce later nursing home admissions
Quality of the primary care doctor-patient relationship has eroded, even for a doctor's long-time patients Better access to quality outpatient care for sickle cell disease could reduce patients' heavy reliance on expensive ER care Fear of lawsuits may make physicians reluctant to disclose medical errors to patients Conference focuses on ways to improve safety of outpatient care
Capitated payments and gatekeeping practices have minor effects on referrals of managed care patients to specialists Patient characteristics and insurance coverage affect their ratings of managed behavioral health care plans Medicare plan quality information doesn't prompt people to switch from traditional to HMO plans or to choose low-cost HMOs
Most individuals hospitalized for gunshot wounds are young and poor, and more than one-fourth have no insurance Patients with traumatic brain injury should be screened for alcohol problems that can interfere with neurologic recovery Knowledge of non-Western health practices may help doctors avoid misdiagnoses and other problems in Asian-American patients
AHRQ releases FY 2002 annual report on research programs and financial management AHRQ releases new evidence reports on enhancing health care working conditions to improve patient safety and other topics
AHRQ and the National Council on Patient Information and Education publish new consumer guide on reducing medication errors
Research Briefs
Current as of May 2003 AHRQ Publication No. 03-0034
Internet Citation:
Research Activities newsletter. May 2003, No. 273. AHRQ Publication No. 03-0034. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/may03/
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