Research published in JAMA examines the extent to which patients' health literacy is associated with heart failure outcomes, finding a connection in the case of all-cause mortality, but not with…
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A WSJ article examines the likelihood that the myriad of health care cost control measures embedded in the reform law will actually reduce costs, concluding that it is unlikely they…
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This week's Potpourri features highlights from some of the health companies' which have reported earnings, focusing on earnings call revelations, which are few and far between!
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Hip replacement is one of the most pervasive orthopedic procedures, particularly among older Americans. Research among Medicare beneficiaries reveals trends over 18 years, finding lower mortality, but potential issues on…
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The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality released a Statistical Brief looking at physician visits, finding variance in cost and out-of-pocket expense, depending on the setting.
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The latest Dartmouth Atlas report focuses on trends and variation in end-of-life care, finding fewer people are dying in the hospital, more hospice use is occurring, but intensity of care…
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Two pieces of research discuss an example of extensive off-label use of a drug, finding that costs are being raised with little likelihood of an increase in quality of care.
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Happy Easter and welcome to our latest Potpourri, which will raise you up with information on workplace wellness, hospital pricing, clinical decision support systems, using HIT to save on drug…
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A study of the VHA's care for chronic disease patients finds generally good compliance with treatment recommendations, but not necessarily the best patient outcomes, reflecting the complexity of improving quality.
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The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics issued a report on drug spending and use in 2010 in the United States. Highlights include a very slow overall rate of growth and…
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Researchers examine what can be done to improve the science of performance measurement in a new Health Affairs article, making valuable suggestions to increase the credibility of an increasingly important…
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New research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine finds that doctors prescribe different treatments for patients than they would choose for themselves when one choice involves potentially harmful adverse…
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Happy Easter and welcome to our spring kickoff potpourri, complete with a survey on technology use by consumers; brand drug pricing; how to get individuals to purchase health coverage; views…
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Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Programs provide coverage for a very substantial portion of the nation's children. The GAO issues a report on the adequacy of some aspects of…
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Health Affairs publishes a study suggesting that the systems which have been used to identify patient safety issues in hospitals miss most problems. A new tool does a better job…
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