The authors identify a 4-step plan to accelerate the spread of evidence-based practices.
Significant clinically meaningful improvements in asthma impairment are documented by administrative data for 1 year after initiation of step-up care in patients with uncontrolled asthma.
Joyce furthered the discussion on the role of pharmacists in patient-care started by Haydon-Greatting by providing case studies that stemmed out of a CMS-funded research grant.
There were no significant differences in the risk of ambulatory care—sensitive condition hospitalization or mortality between patients who initiated analogue insulin compared with the neutral protamine Hagedorn.
Cost is a common barrier to medication adherence. The authors discuss the potential role of medication rebates in patients’ out-of-pocket costs and medication adherence.
Drug therapy management implementation in 2 health plans resulted in significant cost savings and modest to significant reductions in emergency department visits and inpatient admissions among patients with diabetes.
Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who are compliant with proton pump inhibitor therapy stay on NSAIDs longer than noncompliant patients.
Patients, caregivers, and providers need education on immunotherapy treatment, support in patient-provider communications as well as support in mitigating the financial impact of immunotherapy treatment.
Typical health plan data provide limited information for benchmarking physician performance using even a less stringent rule for attributing patient measures to physicians.
This study explores potential weight-related disparities in the quality of care for adults with diabetes in a large health plan according to recommended quality indicators.
This study describes a widespread variation in medication adherence, pharmacy cost sharing, and medical spending. Increased cost sharing may decrease adherence and increase total diabetes spending.
From the Adult Diabetes and Clinical Research sections, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
High-deductible health plan members with bipolar disorder experienced a reduction in nonpsychiatrist mental health provider visits but no changes in other utilization.
Anticoagulation clinics in an integrated healthcare system differed widely in their organization and management, but these differences were not consistently related to their performance.
This study identified populations with non-cancer chronic pain to determine which patients may be more likely to receive an opioid prescription in an outpatient setting.
Electronic health record data can be used to predict patient absenteeism accurately. Predictive overbooking of missed appointments can significantly increase service utilization.
An interdisciplinary transitions of care service composed of nurse navigators, pharmacists, and medical providers reduced 30-day hospital readmissions among patients who received all components of the intervention.
Type of health insurance plays a significant role in the likelihood of receiving the recommended treatment among women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
Among patients likely needing mental health care, two-thirds had no discussion or perfunctory discussion of mental health during periodic health exams.
Hospitalization is costly and associated with the potential for adverse medical events. Hospitalists are uniquely positioned to help avoid unnecessary emergency department admissions through consultation.