Methods

Research Findings

Research Activities, August 2012:
New tool developed to reduce risks to patients during clinical handoffs

Research Activities, July 2012:
Costly, ineffective tests used more often than more effective, but inexpensive tests to diagnose peripheral neuropathy

Research Activities, March 2012:
Hospital emergency departments get tips from AHRQ on how to reduce crowding and better triage patients
Crisis checklists for the operating room can improve safety and management
Evaluation of TeamSTEPPS® implementation finds improved teamwork and clinical outcomes

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Research Activities, December 2011:
Hospital boards adopt practices to enhance oversight on quality of care

Research Activities, October 2011:
Going "smooth" can help relieve weekday crowding at children's hospitals

Research Activities, July 2011:
Report shows physicians view e-prescribing features as cumbersome

Research Activities, March 2011:
Re-engineered discharge project dramatically reduces return trips to the hospital
Landmark initiative to reduce healthcare-associated infections cuts deaths among Medicare patients in Michigan ICUs

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Research Activities, December 2010:
Physicians can use 10 strategies to manage abnormal test result alerts in electronic health records
While treatments for miscarriage are safe, providers do not always offer them all to their patients

Research Activities, October 2010:
Quality improvement initiative successful in sustaining reduction in bloodstream infections caused by catheters

Research Activities, August 2010:
Emergency physicians suggest ways to reduce errors in patient handoffs during shift changes
Surgical simulation training improves speed and confidence in residents learning endoscopic sinus surgery

Research Activities, July 2010:
New approach reduces microemboli responsible for neurologic injury following open-heart surgery

Research Activities, May 2010:
Drug monitoring may be improved by the use of health information technology and clinical pharmacists
Health information technology improves the timely availability of diagnostic information

Research Activities, April 2010:
Medication review technique may help identify drug-related problems in the elderly

Research Activities, February 2010:
ICU scoring system better predicts the risk of death for trauma patients

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Research Activities, December 2009:
Best time to start statins in patients with diabetes depends on the cardiovascular risk model used
Specimens from multiple body sites are needed to accurately test for MRSA
Certain types of hospitals are more likely to use computerized physician order entry

Research Activities, November 2009:
Instituting patient safety rounds can boost adverse event reporting in outpatient cancer clinics

Research Activities, October 2009:
New methods estimate the costs of covering the uninsured
Several approaches can help motivate cognitively impaired nursing home residents to participate in restorative care

Research Activities, July 2009:
More comprehensive American Indian and Alaska Native diabetes education programs are linked to better diabetes care
Using a chronic care model improves smoking cessation programs in primary care clinics
Evidence-based practices improve pain management and lower costs for patients hospitalized for hip fracture
Surgical Apgar score can help pinpoint patients at risk for major complications and/or death after surgery
Several practices of hospital governing boards are linked to improved quality of care

Research Activities, June 2009:
Clinician interviews are the best method to determine whether patients with kidney failure are also depressed
Weekly telephone calls help patients with limited English proficiency and literacy self-manage diabetes
Nurse-led disease management of heart failure is cost-effective in ethnically diverse urban communities

Research Activities, April 2009:
A novel system lets rural hospitals obtain a remote pharmacist's review of medication orders around-the-clock

Research Activities, March 2009:
Risk of bleeding events is reduced among patients who report receiving instructions in warfarin use

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