Health Services Research Commons^™

Health Information Exchange: A Strategy For Improving Access For Rural Veterans In The Maine Flex Rural Veterans Health Access, Karen B. Pearson Mlis, Ma, Amanda Burgess Mppm, John A. Gale Ms, Andrew F. Coburn Phd, Anush Yousefian Hansen Ms, Ma

Access / Insurance

This paper reports on the design and implementation of a first-in-the nation project to expand rural veterans’ access to healthcare by establishing a bi-directional connection between Maine’s statewide health information exchange (HIE) and Veterans Administration facilities and centers. The paper reviews key factors that have contributed to implementation challenges and successes and lessons relevant to efforts to create interoperable health IT systems across multiple, complex organizational settings.

Institutional Silence: Re-Victimization Of Sexual Assault Victims At Bgsu, Kendall Lake

Honors Projects

This study investigates the causes and effects of the lack of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) at the Bowling Green State University (BGSU). The study draws on previous research about sexual assault reporting, deterrents to reporting, national prevalence studies, how psychological re-victimization occurs, and the importance of sexual assault nurse examiners. The data included is previous literature, interviews, and ethnographic research about the town Bowling Green, OH. The primary data for this research comes from interviews with the SANEs at the Wood County Hospital. Seven nurses were interviewed, and findings concluded that residential students at BGSU are not receiving medical …

Super-Utilization: The New Perfect Storm Of Health Reform, Jill Diane Nault

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This three-essay dissertation was focused on geographic variation of super-utilization, or the disproportionately high healthcare utilization and costs attributed to a small sub-set of the inpatient population. For purposes of this research, super-utilization was operationalized as high repeat utilization (HRU) and referred to inpatient utilization and inpatient readmission expenditures attributed to beneficiaries with four or more 30-day readmissions per year. The overall purpose of the research was to identify geographic areas at increased risk for HRU. These areas corresponded to where beneficiaries live and were aligned with the geographically-bound healthcare delivery systems. Each essay employed an observational study design using …

Population Health Improvement Through Coordination Of Care, Trevey Davis

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The objective of this Capstone Project is to work with the Mercy Gap in Care Coordinators (GCCs) to document the value of the care coordination at Mercy Health System. A key element of this project was to develop a workflow diagram alongside the GCC in order to track patient outcomes. Additionally, the team developed a system for documenting patient outcomes that is crucial to measuring the impact of care coordination. From the data collected there are a number of outcomes that can be measured. The number of patients who are contacted for screening is measurement of patient experience. Following initial …

Implementing A Good Catch Program In Nursing Homes, Leigh Raposo

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Rationale and processes for reporting near misses and evidence-based tools were collected by a literature search, seminal works by Sidney Dekker and James Reason, and websites for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Tools, information, and strategies found in this research were evaluated for implementation in Maine nursing homes. The tools provide a communication vehicle for nursing home staff to safely report to management near misses, or mistakes that do not harm residents. To emphasize a positive approach, the project replaces the term …

Women And Healthcare In Appalachia: Impeding Circumstance And The Role Of Technology, Ashley Cano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For decades, healthcare access and quality in central and southern Appalachia have trailed the rest of the country. Entrenched poverty and low educational attainment compound healthcare problems. This study examines the healthcare obstacles women encounter in southern and central Appalachia and analyzes how technology use, such as Internet searching and social media affect women’s healthcare decisions. Data were analyzed from four focus groups conducted with women from the region. Results indicate that seeing a physician or not did not influence women’s propensity to search the Internet for health-related information or to seek support through social media sites. Additionally, women reported …

Juvenile Justice—Translational Research On Interventions For Adolescents In The Legal System (Jj-Trials): A Cluster Randomized Trial Targeting System-Wide Improvement In Substance Use Services, Danica K. Knight, Steven Belenko, Tisha Wiley, Angela A. Robertson, Nancy Arrigona, Michael Dennis, John P. Bartkowski, Larkin S. Mcreynolds, Jennifer E. Becan, Hannah K. Knudsen, Gail A. Wasserman, Eve Rose, Ralph Diclemente, Carl G. Leukefeld, Jj-Trials Cooperative

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Background: The purpose of this paper is to describe the Juvenile Justice—Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System (JJ-TRIALS) study, a cooperative implementation science initiative involving the National Institute on Drug Abuse, six research centers, a coordinating center, and Juvenile Justice Partners representing seven US states. While the pooling of resources across centers enables a robust implementation study design involving 36 juvenile justice agencies and their behavioral health partner agencies, co-producing a study protocol that has potential to advance implementation science, meets the needs of all constituencies (funding agency, researchers, partners, study sites), and can be implemented …

The Story Of Emily, Lori L. Jennings Ms, Barb O'Neil, Kim Bossy, Denise Dodman, Jill Campbell

Patient Experience Journal

This case study describes Bluewater Health’s quest to weave the philosophy and practice of patient and family-centered care from the boardroom to the bedside by introducing Emily. Emily’s image is a composite of photographs of staff, physicians, volunteers, patients and families exemplifying that each has a role in Emily’s care. Emily represents every patient and family of the past, present, and future. Emily’s journey started with the launch of Bluewater Health‘s 2013-2015 strategic plan and moved throughout the organization as patient councils were established and the organization embedded three foundational patient and family-centered RNAO Best Practice Guidelines into daily practice …

Applying Experience-Based Co-Design With Vulnerable Populations: Lessons From A Systematic Review Of Methods To Involve Patients, Families And Service Providers In Child And Youth Mental Health Service Improvement, Alison Mulvale, Ashleigh Miatello, Christina Hackett, Gillian Mulvale

Patient Experience Journal

The objective was to identify methods used to involve patients, family and service providers in child and youth mental health service improvement research. We analyzed the alignment of methods used with Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) methodology, and how power imbalances among participants were addressed. A systematic review of the English-language peer review literature since 2004 was carried out. The EMBASE, Scholar’s Portal, PubMed, Web of Science databases and the Ontario College of Art and Design University libraries were searched electronically for variations of ‘child’, ‘mental health’, ‘experience-based co-design’, ‘participatory research’ and ‘health care services’. Textual data was systematically extracted and analyzed. …

Impact Of Logo Wear On Provider Perception Of Patient, Bill R. Gombeski Jr

Patient Experience Journal

Patient’s appearance affects provider perception of patients and subsequent provider behavior. Based on anecdotal information, it was hypothesized that wearing a health organization’s brand would result in a more positive perception of a patient by providers and subsequently a better patient experience. A study of 121 individuals with patient contact was conducted. Using photos of patients with and without a health care brand on their shirts, study subjects rated the attractiveness and willingness to engage with photos of patients. Patients with a Mayo brand and UK HealthCare brand showed some significant positive attractiveness over the same patient without the brand. …

Developing Approaches To The Collection And Use Of Evidence Of Patient Experience Below The Level Of National Surveys, Elizabeth J. Gibbons, Chris Graham, Jenny King, Kelsey Flott, Crispin Jenkinson Professor, Raymond Fitzpatrick Professor

Patient Experience Journal

National approaches to collecting patient feedback provide trust level information which although can provide a benchmark for trusts often doesn’t provide information about specific services or patients experiences of pathways of care. This more granular level of data could be more informative for local service development and improvement. This research explored the feasibility and usefulness of such approaches. A conceptual model and standard questionnaire of patient experience was developed that might work across a range of services and pathways of care. Seven trusts were recruited as collaborating sites in which the model and survey instrument was tested. These were from …

Impact Of Hospital Diagnosis-Specific Quality Measures On Patients’ Experience Of Hospital Care: Evidence From 14 States, 2009-2011, Emily M. Johnston, Kenton J. Johnston, Jaeyong Bae, Jason M. Hockenberry, Arnold Milstein, Edmund Becker

Patient Experience Journal

In order to assess consistency across quality measures for Untied States hospitals, this paper uses patient responses to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey for three years (2009-2011) from 1,333 acute-care hospitals in fourteen states to analyze patterns in hospital-reported patient experience-of-care scores by diagnosis-specific process and outcome measures for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia. We also evaluate how scores have changed over the three-year period. We find significant differences in patient experience-of-care scores for 195 out of 230 relationships between HCAHPS patient experience-of-care scores and 23 diagnosis-specific process and outcomes measures. We …

Please Tick The Appropriate Box: Perspectives On Patient Reported Experience, Mette Sandager, Morten Freil, Janne Lehmann Knudsen

Patient Experience Journal

Patient experience surveys are increasingly used as a method for evaluating important aspects of quality of care and the results are used politically to support general decision-making. However, there have been limited attempts to summarize the newest and most essential knowledge on how to measure and interpret patient experience data. This paper aims to summarize knowledge on the association between delivered care and patient reported experience and the factors influencing this association, and to outline a conceptual model illustrating the association. The method employed is integrative literature review. Quantitative and qualitative studies as well as theoretical and discussion papers that …

Patient Perceptions Of An Aidet And Hourly Rounding Program In A Community Hospital: Results Of A Qualitative Study, Tosha Allen, Tyne Rieck, Stacie Salsbury

Patient Experience Journal

Quantitative evidence links patient satisfaction scores to the use of communication strategies such as AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, and Thank you) and Hourly Rounding. However, little is known about patient perceptions of these tools in regards to their hospital experience. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 14 adult medical/surgical inpatients in one mid-sized, community hospital, following hospital discharge. The interview data was transcribed and opened coded, utilizing constant comparison to identify common themes. Themes emerged in four topical areas: (a) patient experience of hospitalization, (b) AIDET, (c) Hourly Rounding, and (d) unexpected findings. Patients placed significant …

Evaluating Recall Of Key Safety Messages, And Attitudes And Perceptions Of A Patient Safety Initiative At A Pediatric Hospital, Deepika Sriram, Carol Cooke, Régis Vaillancourt, Gilda Villarreal, Annie Pouliot, Nanette Labelle, Tracy Wrong

Patient Experience Journal

Involving inpatients in their safety and well-being is becoming increasingly common. Interventions have been developed to encourage patients to be active in their own safety, but published evaluations are scarce. The Patient Safety Ambassador (PSA) program was developed to increase patient and parent/guardian engagement and knowledge in patient safety. This study aimed to determine recall ability of key safety messages and explore attitudes and perceptions towards the PSA program, hence obtaining feedback for program improvements. Participants were pediatric inpatients and parents of inpatients. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. Cued and non-cued recall ability was determined using questions with and without …

Does She Think She’S Supported? Maternal Perceptions Of Their Experiences In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Emily A. Lilo, Richard J. Shaw, Julia Corcoran, Amy Storfer-Isser, Sarah M. Horwitz

Patient Experience Journal

Parents’ involvement in the care of their infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is critically important, leading many NICUs to implement policies and practices of family-centered care (FCC). Analyzing narrative interviews, we examined whether mothers of premature infants who participated in an intervention to help reduce anxiety, stress, and depression felt that their NICU experience reflected four key nursing behaviors previously identified as being necessary to achieving FCC. Fifty-six narratives derived from semi-structured interviews with the mothers were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively to examine whether the women experienced emotional support, parent empowerment, welcoming environment, and parent education, as …

A Call To Excellence In Patient Experience, Geoffrey A. Silvera

Patient Experience Journal

In this address, the incoming associate editor describes his early experience with the Patient Experience Journal (PXJ) and issues a call to action to the PXJ community. In the call to action, the PXJ community is asked to build upon our collective history of scholastic and practical excellence. The combination of practical relevance and methodological rigor in our contributions will help to ensure a future in which patient experience is paramount in health service delivery conversations. In addition, gaps in the patient experience literature and emergent opportunities for theoretical and practical contributions are recommended.

Patient Experience: Driving Outcomes At The Heart Of Healthcare, Jason A. Wolf Phd

Patient Experience Journal

There is no longer a question that patient experience matters in healthcare today. It matters for those that are cared for and served and matters to all those working each and every day to provide the best in care at all touch points across the healthcare continuum. With this recognition, there too needs to be a change in mindset about patient experience itself. When addressing the topic of patient experience, the conversation is about something much broader than the “experience of care”, as identified in the triple aim. The idea of experience reflects our biggest opportunity in healthcare, where experience …

Tuberculosis And Local Health Department Expenditures On Tuberculosis Services, Michelle P. Yip, Betty Bekemeier

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: Although tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality have decreased in recent decades, challenges exist regarding disproportionate distributions of TB among specific populations and geographic areas. Inconsistent local health department (LHD) funding for TB programs poses difficulties for LHDs to sustain resources and personnel that predisposes communities to risks of future outbreaks of TB and drug-resistant TB diseases.

Purpose: This study examined relationships between annual TB incidence rates and LHD expenditures on TB-related services to elucidate potential impacts of TB incidence on LHD TB spending.

Methods: This dataset included county-level TB incidence data with comparable, annual (2000–2010) TB-related service expenditures for …

Summary Of Results From The 2016 National Health Security Preparedness Index, Glen P. Mays, Michael T. Childress, Pierre Martin Dominique Zephyr, Anna Goodman Hoover

Health Management and Policy Reports

The National Health Security Preparedness Index tracks the nation’s progress in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and other large-scale emergencies that pose risks to health and well-being in the United States. Because health security is a responsibility shared by many different stakeholders in government and society, the Index combines measures from multiple sources and perspectives to offer a broad view of the health protections in place for nation as a whole and for each U.S. state. The Index identifies strengths as well as gaps in the protections needed to keep people safe and healthy in the face …