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1 | INTRODUCTION Decades of definitions of Health Services Research are broadly consistent with the definition articulated a quarter of a century ago by the National Academy of Sciences, wherein [...]

Objectives. To document the numbers and types of interorganizational partnerships within the national patient safety domain, changes over time in these networks, and their potential for disseminating patient safety knowledge and practices. Data Sources. Self-reported information gathered from representatives of national-level organizations active in promoting patient safety. Study Design. Social network analysis was used to examine the structure and composition of partnership networks and changes between 2004 and 2006. Data Collection. Two rounds of structured telephone interviews (n = 35 organizations in 2004 and 55 in 2006). Principal Findings. Patient safety partnerships expanded between 2004 and 2006. The average number of partnerships per interviewed organization increased 40 percent and activities per reported partnership increased over 50 percent. Partnerships increased in all activity domains, particularly dissemination and tools development. Fragmentation of the overall partnership network decreased and potential for information flow increased. Yet network centralization increased, suggesting vulnerability to partnership failure if key participants disengage. Conclusions. Growth in partnerships signifies growing strength in the capacity to disseminate and implement patient safety advancements in the U.S. health care system. The centrality of AHRQ in these networks of partnerships bodes well for its leadership role in disseminating information, tools, and practices generated by patient safety research projects. Key Words. Patient safety, partnership, collaboration, dissemination, network analysis, BACKGROUND Since the publication of the Institute of Medicine's landmark report, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System (Institute of Medicine 2000), national and local efforts have been [...]

The prospective future of the post-earthquake Kobe, a western Japanese city, is evaluated. As Kobe slowly rebuilt its battered infrastructure, the concentration of major drug makers and universities in the region helps the city transform itself into a center for advanced medical research.

In 2002, the makeup and cosmetics industry in the United States generated nearly $30 billion of revenue. (1) Sales of mascara, a product that is used to lengthen, darken or [...]

Baltimore -- Findings from a series of preclinical studies show that digoxin (Lanoxin) can affect tumor biology and interfere with tumor growth and may provide a basis for conducting clinical [...]

Arizona is becoming a place of clinical research, as many pharmaceutical companies are being multisided national and international clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of drugs in 2005. Arizona is moving forward in the biosciences in many areas including clinical research and Arizona scientists are leading edge of clinical research and drug development.

Immunization coverage in 2006 for children aged 19-35 months held steady for most recommended vaccines and grew for several types, but more recent recommendations in coverage for adolescents aged 13-17 [...]