October 2014

This study examines patterns of high-risk prescribing in the elderly Medicare Advantage population and demonstrates that the practice varies widely by geography and drug class.

This study identifies factors associated with seeking physician assistance and participating in a diabetes self-management class in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study finds no evidence of a deleterious impact of pay-for-performance on minority patients in the Premier Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration.

Caregivers' presence during patient recruitment is associated with a greater rate of completion of a post hospital transitional care coaching intervention, particularly among men.

Common vascular surgery procedures are associated with frequent and high-cost readmissions. Open wounds with infection, functional dependence, lengthy procedures, and transfusion are associated with 90-day readmission after vascular surgery.

Using EHR clinical decision support is associated with improved quality of care. Most primary care practices are missing at least 1 "meaningful use" clinical decision support module.

The Health Plan Tobacco Cessation Index-based on the 5C paradigm of Foldes & Manley-is introduced through a survey of New York plans.

We implemented and evaluated a collaborative therapy review process aimed at optimizing heart failure therapy among patients managed by their primary care providers.

The authors used a modified Delphi process involving primary care providers and gastroenterologists to identify safe patient discharges from gastroenterology clinics to primary care.

Nationally representative data show that outpatient office visits to both primary care physicians and specialists grew longer over the period from 1993 to 2010.

Quality of care varies according to the compensation methods used in primary care, but the relationship between compensation methods and preventable hospital admissions is inconsistent.

A hospital-based transitional care program for patients with heart failure or pulmonary disease failed to reduce 30- or 90-day readmissions or emergency department visits.

The authors describe and apply a methodology for defining tailored health communications in order to increase the number of completed colorectal cancer screenings.

Quality of care for 3 conditions, based on widely accepted objective measures, was superior in MinuteClinics compared with ambulatory care facilities or emergency departments.