Your browser doesn't support JavaScript. Please upgrade to a modern browser or enable JavaScript in your existing browser.
Skip Navigation U.S. Department of Health and Human Services www.hhs.gov
Agency for Healthcare Research Quality www.ahrq.gov
AHRQ Home | Questions? | Contact Us | Site Map | What's New | Browse | Información en español | E-mail UpdatesE-mail Updates
www.ahrq.gov

Electronic Newsletter

June 21, 2002, Issue No. 62

AHRQ News and Numbers

In 2000, 145,432 U.S. patients were hospitalized for bronchoscopy and biopsy of the bronchus, with an average length of stay of 9.3 days and an average charge of $27,786. [Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample.]

Today's Headlines:
  1. New AHRQ/CDC report on physical activity in older Americans
  2. Experience in Florida SCHIP may provide lessons for other States' re-enrollment requirements
  3. Research shows that elderly with osteoarthritis can become more responsible for their care and improve their quality of life
  4. Expanding patient-centered care to empower patients and assist providers
  5. New Evidence-based Practice Centers awarded
  6. Correction to link to NIH Consensus Statement on management of chronic hepatitis C
  7. Journal article details development of MEPS databases
  8. Web-assisted audioconferences on bioterrorism: View Web events or order audiotapes
  9. National Health Care Quality Report fact sheet available
  10. AHRQ in the professional literature

1.  New AHRQ/CDC Report on Physical Activity in Older Americans

AHRQ and CDC developed a white paper on Physical Activity in Older Americans to accompany President Bush's activities this week to promote physical fitness. This report describes the importance of physical activity, the prevalence and costs of inactivity, and the health benefits of regular activity. It also recommends levels of physical activity in older adults. Select to access the paper.

2.  Experience in Florida SCHIP May Provide Lessons for Other States' Re-Enrollment Requirements

AHRQ announced new study findings indicating that Florida's "passive re-enrollment" policy, which does not require parents to take steps to prove that their children are still eligible for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), results in a significantly lower percentage of children losing coverage than in States that require parents to verify periodically their children's eligibility. The research is part of a set of studies being conducted under the Child Health Insurance Research Initiative (CHIRI™), jointly sponsored by AHRQ, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and HRSA. The findings of the study, "The Consequences of States' Policies for SCHIP Disenrollment," were published in the June 2002 issue of Health Care Financing Review. Select to access the AHRQ press release and the CHIRI™ Issue Brief, which summarizes the article. A print copy is available by sending an E-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.

3.  Research Shows That Elderly With Osteoarthritis Can Become More Responsible for Their Care and Improve Their Quality of Life

AHRQ announced a Research in Action synthesis about how elderly patients with osteoarthritis can become more active and responsible for their own care, make more informed decisions, help to control the costs of health care, and improve their quality of life. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) has helped patients manage their symptoms and reduce health care use. The Well Elderly Study showed that providing preventive occupational therapy to the elderly helps improve their personal and social relationships as well as their health status. Select to access this synthesis, Managing Osteoarthritis: Helping the Elderly Maintain Function and Mobility. A print copy is available by sending an E-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.

4.  Expanding Patient-centered Care To Empower Patients and Assist Providers

AHRQ announced a Research in Action synthesis suggesting that a broader use of tools developed by the Agency can help patients, providers, and health plans make better choices when choosing a health plan, obtaining quality care, avoiding medical errors, and getting preventive care. As health care moves toward a patient-centered model rather than a disease-centered model, these tools can help patients become more active in their care. Tools developed as a result of AHRQ funding include the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans (CAHPS®), Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care, and preventive services tools such as Personal Health Guide, Child Health Guide, and Staying Healthy at 50+. Select to access the research synthesis, Expanding Patient-Centered Care To Empower Patients and Assist Providers. A print copy is available by sending an E-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.

5.  New Evidence-based Practice Centers Awarded

AHRQ announced 13 new 5-year contracts awarded to serve as Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs). The EPCs will provide a variety of services and products, including development of evidence reports and technology assessments. The reports and assessments are systematic reviews of the evidence based on rigorous, comprehensive syntheses and analyses of relevant scientific literature, emphasizing explicitly detailed documentation of methods, rationales, and assumptions. Select to access the list of the new EPCs.

6.  Correction to Link To NIH Consensus Statement on Management of Chronic Hepatitis C

In last week's issue, we announced the summary of a new evidence report on the Management of Chronic Hepatitis C by AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center at Johns Hopkins University. This evidence report was used as the basis of the NIH Consensus Development Conference on June 10-11. However, the link we provided to the NIH Consensus Statement was incorrect. The correct link is http://consensus.nih.gov/cons/116/116cdc_intro.htm. Also, select to access the evidence report summary.

7.  Journal Article Details Development of MEPS Databases

An article in the May/June 2002 issue of Journal of Effective Clinical Practice, "The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: An Overview," details the development, content, and uses of MEPS databases and tells readers how to obtain the data. The author is AHRQ's Steven B. Cohen, Ph.D. A print copy is available by sending an E-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.

8.  Web-Assisted Audioconferences on Bioterrorism: View Web Events or Order Audiotapes

AHRQ's User Liaison Program cosponsored with CDC on April 29, 30, and May 1 Web-assisted audioconferences on Bioterrorism and Health System Preparedness: Emerging Tools, Methods and Strategies.

Event 1 on April 29 was called Enhancing Public Health, Health Care System, and Clinician Preparedness: Strategies to Promote Coordination and Communication.

Event 2 on April 30 was called Promoting Clinical Readiness.

Event 3 on May 1 was called Assessing Hospital and Health System Preparedness and Response.

Select to access the sessions. Select to order the audiotapes, or send an E-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.

9.  National Health Care Quality Report Fact Sheet Available

AHRQ developed a fact sheet on the status of the congressionally mandated National Quality Report (NQR). The NQR will include a broad set of performance measures that will be used to measure the Nation's progress toward improved health care quality. The Agency is currently in the design phase of the initiative and expects to deliver the first NQR to Congress in fiscal year 2003. A print copy of the fact sheet is available by sending an E-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.

10.  AHRQ in the Professional Literature

We are providing the following hyperlinks to journal abstracts through PubMed® for your convenience. Unfortunately, some of you may not be able to access the abstracts because of firewalls or specific settings on your individual computer systems. If you are having problems, you should ask your technical support staff for possible remedies.

Chan E, Zhan C, Homer CJ. Health care use and costs for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002 May; 156(5):504-11. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.

Zuvekas SH, Regler DA, Rae DS, et al. The impacts of mental health parity and managed care in one large employer group. Health Aff 2002 May-Jun; 21(3):148-59. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.

Sohn M. A relational approach to measuring competition among hospitals. Health Serv Res 2002 Apr; 37(2):457-82. Select to access the abstract on PubMed®.

Eisenberg JM, Zarin D. Health technology assessment in the United States. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2002 Spring; 18(2):192-8.

Contact Information

Please address comments and questions regarding the AHRQ Electronic Newsletter to Nancy Comfort at Nancy.Comfort@ahrq.hhs.gov or (301) 427-1866.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or E-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your E-mail address to log in.

If you have any questions or problems with the subscription service, E-mail: updates@subscriptions.ahrq.gov. For other inquiries, Contact Us.

If you have questions about AHRQ's activities, please try to find the answers by checking our Home Page, where we have established links to various topical areas. Also check the News & Information section and Frequently Asked Questions. You may also Search or Browse the Web Site. These features are designed to assist you in obtaining the information you are seeking.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality AHRQ).

Current as of June 2002

Internet Citation:

AHRQ Electronic Newsletter. June 21, 2002, Issue No. 62. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/enews/enews62.htm

 
AHRQ Advancing Excellence in Health Care