Annals of internal medicine
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To evaluate the feasibility of linking claims-based pattern analysis with medical record review in the assessment of quality of hospital care among Medicare beneficiaries with acute myocardial infarction. ⋯ Medicare principal diagnosis codes for acute myocardial infarction were accurate in the six study hospitals. Therapies that have been endorsed by clinicians in Connecticut were underused in elderly patients. Pattern analysis of Medicare claims data can be useful as a quality-of-care screening tool; however, additional clinical information is required to stimulate quality improvement efforts within hospitals.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on physiologic and psychosocial outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To compare the effects of comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation with those of education alone on physiologic and psychosocial outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ⋯ Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improved exercise performance and symptoms for patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Benefits were partially maintained for at least 1 year and tended to diminish after that time.