Search

ObjectiveRegionalization directs patients to high-volume hospitals for specialized care. We investigated regionalization trends and outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery.Data sources/study settingStatewide inpatient data from eleven states between 2000 and 2012.Study designMortality, length of stay (LOS), and cost were assessed using multivariable hierarchical regression with state and year fixed effects. Primary predictor was hospital case-volume, categorized into low-, medium-, and high-volume tertiles.Data collection/extraction methodsWe used Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 (RACHS-1) to select pediatric cardiac surgery discharges.Principal findingsIn total, 2841 (8.5 percent), 8348 (25.1 percent), and 22 099 (66.4 percent) patients underwent heart surgeries in low-, medium-, and high-volume hospitals. Mortality decreased over time, but remained higher in low- and medium-volume hospitals. High-volume hospitals had lower odds of mortality and cost than low-volume hospitals (odds ratio [OR] 0.59, P < 0.01, and relative risk [RR] 0.91, P < 0.01, respectively). LOS was longer for high- and medium-volume hospitals, compared to low-volume hospitals (high-volume: RR 1.18, P < 0.01; medium-volume: RR 1.05, P < 0.01).ConclusionsRegionalization reduced mortality and cost, indicating fewer complications, but paradoxically increased LOS. Further research is needed to explore the full impact on health care utilization.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of previous local treatment on survival in men with newly diagnosed metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.MethodsWe carried out a retrospective study of patients newly diagnosed with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in the year 2000 or later from eight Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Patients were categorized based on prior local therapy (none, prostatectomy ± radiation or radiation alone). Overall and cancer-specific survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to test the association between prior local treatment and survival.ResultsOf 729 patients, 284 (39%) underwent no local treatment, 176 (24%) underwent radical prostatectomy ± radiation and 269 (37%) underwent radiation alone. On multivariable analysis, men with prior prostatectomy had improved overall (hazard ratio 0.71, P = 0.005) and cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio 0.55, P < 0.001) compared with men with no prior local therapy. This improvement in overall (hazard ratio 0.89, P = 0.219) and cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio 0.87, P = 0.170) was not seen in men with prior radiation alone. After further adjusting for comorbidity with the Charlson Comorbidity Index, patients with prior prostatectomy still had improved overall survival (hazard ratio 0.70, P = 0.003), whereas this was not seen in patients who received prior radiation alone (hazard ratio 0.88, P = 0.185).ConclusionsIndependent of patient- and disease-related factors, men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had undergone prior radical prostatectomy have improved overall and cancer-specific survival compared with those with no prior local therapy.

IntroductionCalifornia has been a global leader in regionalization efforts for time-critical medical conditions. A total of 33 local emergency medical service agencies (LEMSAs) exist, providing an organized EMS framework across the state for almost 40 years. We sought to develop a survey tool to quantify the degree and duration of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) regionalization over the last decade in California.MethodsThe project started with the development of an 8-question survey tool via a multi-disciplinary expert consensus process. Next, the survey tool was distributed at the annual meeting of administrators and medical directors of California LEMSAs to get responses valid through December, 2014. The first scoring approach was the Total Regionalization Score (TRS) and used answers from all 8 questions. The second approach was called the Core Score, and it focused on only 4 survey questions by assuming that the designation of STEMI Receiving Centers must have occurred at the beginning of any LEMSA's regionalization effort. Scores were ranked and grouped into tertiles.ResultsAll 33 LEMSAs in California participated in this survey. The TRS ranged from 15 to 162. The Core Score range was much narrower, from 2 to 30. In comparing TRS and Core Score rankings, the top-tertiles were quite similar. More rank variation occurred between mid- and low-tertiles.ConclusionThis study evaluated the degree and duration of STEMI network regionalization from 2004 to 2014 in California, and ranked 33 LEMSAs into tertiles based upon their TRS and their Core Score. Successful application of the 8-item survey and ranking strategies across California suggests that this approach can be used to assess regionalization in other states or countries around the world.

IntroductionCalifornia has been a global leader in regionalization efforts for time-critical medical conditions. A total of 33 local emergency medical service agencies (LEMSAs) exist, providing an organized EMS framework across the state for almost 40 years. We sought to develop a survey tool to quantify the degree and duration of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) regionalization over the last decade in California.MethodsThe project started with the development of an 8-question survey tool via a multi-disciplinary expert consensus process. Next, the survey tool was distributed at the annual meeting of administrators and medical directors of California LEMSAs to get responses valid through December, 2014. The first scoring approach was the Total Regionalization Score (TRS) and used answers from all 8 questions. The second approach was called the Core Score, and it focused on only 4 survey questions by assuming that the designation of STEMI Receiving Centers must have occurred at the beginning of any LEMSA's regionalization effort. Scores were ranked and grouped into tertiles.ResultsAll 33 LEMSAs in California participated in this survey. The TRS ranged from 15 to 162. The Core Score range was much narrower, from 2 to 30. In comparing TRS and Core Score rankings, the top-tertiles were quite similar. More rank variation occurred between mid- and low-tertiles.ConclusionThis study evaluated the degree and duration of STEMI network regionalization from 2004 to 2014 in California, and ranked 33 LEMSAs into tertiles based upon their TRS and their Core Score. Successful application of the 8-item survey and ranking strategies across California suggests that this approach can be used to assess regionalization in other states or countries around the world.

Quarterly newsletter for the Central Utah Public Health Department.

Quarterly newsletter for the Central Utah Public Health Department.

BackgroundIt is not known whether there are differences in the quality and recommendations between evidence-based (EB) and consensus-based (CB) guidelines. We used breast cancer guidelines as a case study to assess for these differences.MethodsFive different instruments to evaluate the quality of guidelines were identified by a literature search. We also searched MEDLINE and the Internet to locate 8 breast cancer guidelines. These guidelines were classified in three categories: evidence based, consensus based and consensus based with no explicit consideration of evidence (CB-EB). Each guideline was evaluated by three of the authors using each of the instruments. For each guideline we assessed the agreement among 14 decision points which were selected from the NCCN (National Cancer Comprehensive Network) guidelines algorithm. For each decision point we recorded the level of the quality of the information used to support it. A regression analysis was performed to assess if the percentage of high quality evidence used in the guidelines development was related to the overall quality of the guidelines.ResultsThree guidelines were classified as EB, three as CB-EB and two as CB. The EB guidelines scored better than CB, with the CB-EB scoring in the middle among all instruments for guidelines quality assessment. No major disagreement in recommendations was detected among the guidelines regardless of the method used for development, but the EB guidelines had a better agreement with the benchmark guideline for any decision point. When the source of evidence used to support decision were of high quality, we found a higher level of full agreement among the guidelines' recommendations. Up to 94% of variation in the quality score among guidelines could be explained by the quality of evidence used for guidelines development.ConclusionEB guidelines have a better quality than CB guidelines and CB-EB guidelines. Explicit use of high quality evidence can lead to a better agreement amo

BackgroundIt is not known whether there are differences in the quality and recommendations between evidence-based (EB) and consensus-based (CB) guidelines. We used breast cancer guidelines as a case study to assess for these differences.MethodsFive different instruments to evaluate the quality of guidelines were identified by a literature search. We also searched MEDLINE and the Internet to locate 8 breast cancer guidelines. These guidelines were classified in three categories: evidence based, consensus based and consensus based with no explicit consideration of evidence (CB-EB). Each guideline was evaluated by three of the authors using each of the instruments. For each guideline we assessed the agreement among 14 decision points which were selected from the NCCN (National Cancer Comprehensive Network) guidelines algorithm. For each decision point we recorded the level of the quality of the information used to support it. A regression analysis was performed to assess if the percentage of high quality evidence used in the guidelines development was related to the overall quality of the guidelines.ResultsThree guidelines were classified as EB, three as CB-EB and two as CB. The EB guidelines scored better than CB, with the CB-EB scoring in the middle among all instruments for guidelines quality assessment. No major disagreement in recommendations was detected among the guidelines regardless of the method used for development, but the EB guidelines had a better agreement with the benchmark guideline for any decision point. When the source of evidence used to support decision were of high quality, we found a higher level of full agreement among the guidelines' recommendations. Up to 94% of variation in the quality score among guidelines could be explained by the quality of evidence used for guidelines development.ConclusionEB guidelines have a better quality than CB guidelines and CB-EB guidelines. Explicit use of high quality evidence can lead to a better agreement amo

The purpose of this limited scope audit by the County Assessor was to review the cash receipting and depositing, and fixed and controlled assets for each location in the Salt Lake City/County Health Department.

The purpose of this limited scope audit by the County Assessor was to review the cash receipting and depositing, and fixed and controlled assets for each location in the Salt Lake City/County Health Department.

A preliminary model for manpower and budget resource allocation in a Navy Regional Medical Center is formulated. Oakland Naval Hospital is used to illustrate the concept. A functional budget structure is proposed for management use in resource allocation decisions. Submodels of important supporting elements in the functional structure are developed. The problem of suitable definitions for patient category inputs is addressed. The model is suitable for use in analysis of many different types of health facilities with modification as discussed in the paper. (Author)

This series consists of correspondence and minutes of New York City Regional Interdepartmental Rehabilitation Committee (NYCRIRC); the New York City rehabilitation center administrators during and immediately after the committee's existence; and minutes of the meetings of the six regional coordinators with state Department of Health rehabilitation bureau chiefs and division directors. Records discuss grant administration, program scope, projects, service delivery problems, designation of hospitals as state primary and secondary rehabilitation centers; contracts, and personnel changes.

The series contains correspondence files of New York City Regional Interdepartmental Rehabilitation Committee (NYCRIRC) coordinator, Florence Stattel; minutes of meetings of the NYCRIRC; minutes of meetings of the New York City rehabilitation center administrators during and immediately after the committee's existence; and minutes of the meetings of the six regional coordinators with state Department of Health rehabilitation bureau chiefs and division directors. Records discuss grants administration, program scope, projects, service delivery problems, designation of hospitals as state primary and secondary rehabilitation centers, contracts, and personnel changes.

These records document review and planning of rehabilitation services within the State Department of Health. They contain the initial plans for state designation and support of comprehensive rehabilitation centers in teaching medical centers across the state and for regional coordination of rehabilitation services. Reports by bureau heads summarizing programs and service delivery problems comprise the bulk of the series. Also included are minutes, memoranda, and a final report of the statewide coordination and service development plan.

The series contains correspondence files of New York City Regional Interdepartmental Rehabilitation Committee (NYCRIRC) coordinator, Florence Stattel; minutes of meetings of the NYCRIRC; minutes of meetings of the New York City rehabilitation center administrators during and immediately after the committee's existence; and minutes of the meetings of the six regional coordinators with state Department of Health rehabilitation bureau chiefs and division directors. Records discuss grants administration, program scope, projects, service delivery problems, designation of hospitals as state primary and secondary rehabilitation centers, contracts, and personnel changes.

These records document review and planning of rehabilitation services within the State Department of Health. They contain the initial plans for state designation and support of comprehensive rehabilitation centers in teaching medical centers across the state and for regional coordination of rehabilitation services. Reports by bureau heads summarizing programs and service delivery problems comprise the bulk of the series. Also included are minutes, memorandums, and a final report of the statewide coordination and service development plan.