Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Direct Healthcare Costs Of Hip, Vertebral, And Non-Hip, Non-Vertebral Fractures., Nianwen Shi, Kathleen Foley, Gregory Lenhart, Enkhe Badamgarav

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Limited data exist regarding the cost of non-hip, non-vertebral (NHNV) fractures. Although NHNV fractures may be less expensive than hip and vertebral fractures, they have a higher incidence rate. The objective of this study was to quantify first-year healthcare costs of hip, vertebral, and NHNV fractures. This was a claims-based retrospective analysis using a case-control design among patients with commercial insurance and Medicare employer-based supplemental coverage. Patients were > or =50 years old with a closed hip, vertebral, or NHNV fracture between 7/1/2001 and 12/31/2004, and continuous enrollment 6 months prior to and 12 months after the index fracture. Adjusted mean …

Impact Of Allhat Publication On Antihypertensive Prescribing Patterns In Regione Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Vittorio Maio, Pharmd, Ms, Msph, Joshua J. Gagne, Pharmd, Ms

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Background and objective: Studies from the US and Canada observed changes in antihypertensive prescribing patterns in accordance with Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) study findings immediately after the study's publication, but little is known about the impact of ALLHAT in Italy. The objective of this study was to examine antihypertensive prescribing patterns in Regione Emilia-Romagna (RER), Italy, following the publication of the ALLHAT main results.

Methods: We conducted a time series analysis using automated pharmacy data of approximately 4 million RER residents between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2003. We computed monthly relative percentages …

Hand Hygiene Compliance Rates In The United States--A One-Year Multicenter Collaboration Using Product/Volume Usage Measurement And Feedback., Maryanne Mcguckin, Richard Waterman, John Govednik

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Hand hygiene (HH) is the single most important factor in the prevention of health care-acquired infections. The 3 most frequently reported methods of measuring HH compliance are: (1) direct observation, (2) self-reporting by health care workers (HCWs), and (3) indirect calculation based on HH product usage. This article presents the results of a 12-month multicenter collaboration assessing HH compliance rates at US health care facilities by measuring product usage and providing feedback about HH compliance. Our results show that HH compliance at baseline was 26% for intensive care units (ICUs) and 36% for non-ICUs. After 12 months of measuring product …

Quality Improvement In Small Office Settings: An Examination Of Successful Practices., Daniel Wolfson, Elizabeth Bernabeo, Brian Leas, Shoshanna Sofaer, Gregory Pawlson, Donna Pillittere

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Physicians in small to moderate primary care practices in the United States (U.S.) (<25>physicians) face unique challenges in implementing quality improvement (QI) initiatives, including limited resources, small staffs, and inadequate information technology systems 23,36. This qualitative study sought to identify and understand the characteristics and organizational cultures of physicians working in smaller practices who are actively engaged in measurement and quality improvement initiatives.

METHODS: We undertook a qualitative study, based on semi-structured, open-ended interviews conducted with practices (N = 39) that used performance data to drive quality improvement activities.

RESULTS: Physicians indicated that benefits to performing measurement and …