Health services research
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Health services research · Feb 2012
Does decreased access to emergency departments affect patient outcomes? Analysis of acute myocardial infarction population 1996-2005.
We analyze whether decreased emergency department (ED) access results in adverse patient outcomes or changes in the patient health profile for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). ⋯ Deterioration in geographic access to ED affects a small segment of the population, and most adverse effects are transitory. Policy planners can minimize the adverse effects by providing assistance to ensure adequate capacity of remaining EDs, and facilitating the realignment of health care resources during the critical transition periods.
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Health services research · Feb 2012
An assessment of patient-based and practice infrastructure-based measures of the patient-centered medical home: do we need to ask the patient?
To examine the importance of patient-based measures and practice infrastructure measures of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH). ⋯ Assessment of physician practices for PCMH qualification should consider both patient based patient-centered care measures and practice infrastructure measures.
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Health services research · Feb 2012
Translation of evidence-based clinical standards into a new prehospital resuscitation policy in Los Angeles County.
To translate a set of evidence-based clinical standards designed to allow paramedics to forego unnecessary and potentially harmful resuscitation attempts into a feasible new policy. ⋯ By collaboration, a large EMS agency and a research team were able to develop and implement a revised resuscitation policy within 1 year.
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Health services research · Feb 2012
Is patient safety improving? National trends in patient safety indicators: 1998-2007.
Emphasis has been placed on quality and patient safety in medicine; however, little is known about whether quality over time has actually improved in areas such as patient safety indicators (PSIs). ⋯ This is the first study to establish national trends of PSIs during the past decade indicating areas for potential quality improvement prioritization. While many factors influence these trends, the results indicate opportunities for either emulation or elimination of current patient safety trends.
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Health services research · Feb 2012
"Does this doctor speak my language?" Improving the characterization of physician non-English language skills.
To describe the initial impact of an organizational policy change on measurement of physician non-English language proficiency. ⋯ The organization was willing to adopt a relatively straightforward change in how data were collected and presented to patients based on the face validity of initial findings. This organizational policy change appeared to improve how self-reported physician language proficiency was characterized.