Proceedings / AMIA ... Annual Symposium. AMIA Symposium
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Health care provider quality improvement organization Medicare data-sharing: a diabetes quality improvement initiative.
This paper describes a collaborative Medicare claims data linkage and sharing effort between the Baylor Health Care System (BHCS) and Texas Medical Foundation (TMF, the Texas Quality Improvement Organization) designed to assess the effect of three quality improvement interventions on care delivered to elderly patients with diabetes. The randomized controlled trial is being conducted among a network of primary care physician practices owned by BHCS and focuses on measures of care process and outcome. ⋯ The use of Medicare claims data, through collaboration with a QIO, can help health care providers overcome a significant barrier associated with quality improvement initiatives. Limitations associated with the use of Medicare claims can impact implementation of intervention strategies, but do not prevent them from being a practical tool for improving care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy of computerized decision support for mechanical ventilation: results of a prospective multi-center randomized trial.
200 adult respiratory distress syndrome patients were included in a prospective multicenter randomized trial to determine the efficacy of computerized decision support. The study was done in 10 medical centers across the United States. There was no significant difference in survival between the two treatment groups (mean 2 = 0.49 p = 0.49) or in ICU length of stay between the two treatment groups when controlling for survival (F(1df) = 0.88, p = 0.37.) There was a significant reduction in morbidity as measured by multi-organ dysfunction score in the protocol group (F(1df) = 4.1, p = 0.04) as well as significantly lower incidence and severity of overdistension lung injury (F(1df) = 45.2, p < 0.001). ⋯ Protocols were used for 32,055 hours (15 staff person years, 3.7 patient years or 1335 patient days). Protocols were active 96% of the time. 38,546 instructions were generated. 94% were followed. This study indicates that care using a computerized decision support system for ventilator management can be effectively transferred to many different clinical settings and significantly improve patient morbidity.