Estimate of the incidence of PANDAS and PANS in 3 primary care populations.

Objective: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) are presumed autoimmune complications of infection or other instigating events. To determine the incidence of these disorders, we performed a retrospective review for the years 2017-2019 at three academic medical centers.

Methods: We identified the population of children receiving well-child care at each institution.

Telemedicine Use across Medical Specialties and Diagnoses.

Background: The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic rapidly expanded telemedicine scale and scope. As telemedicine becomes routine, understanding how specialty and diagnosis combine with demographics to impact telemedicine use will aid in addressing its current limitations.

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between medical specialty, diagnosis, and telemedicine use, and their interplay with patient demographics in determining telemedicine usage patterns.

Disparities in Telemedicine Access: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Newly Established Infrastructure during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to dramatic increases in telemedicine use to provide outpatient care without in-person contact risks. Telemedicine increases options for health care access, but a "digital divide" of disparate access may prevent certain populations from realizing the benefits of telemedicine.

Objectives: The study aimed to understand telemedicine utilization patterns after a widespread deployment to identify potential disparities exacerbated by expanded telemedicine usage.

Medicare Shared Savings Programs: Higher Cost Accountable Care Organizations are More Likely to Achieve Savings.

In the United States, Medicare's flagship Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program, the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), is under close scrutiny to improve health care quality and decrease costs. First year measures, released in November 2014, reveal a wide range of financial and quality performance across MSSP participants. In this observational study we used 2013 results for 220 participating ACOs to assess key characteristics associated with generating savings.

Predictors of colorectal cancer screening variation among primary-care providers and clinics.

Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is underutilized. To effect change, we must understand reasons for underuse at multiple levels of the health-care system. We evaluated patient, provider, and clinic factors that predict variation in CRC screening among primary-care clinics and primary-care providers (PCPs).

Effect of patient selection method on provider group performance estimates.

Background: Performance measurement at the provider group level is increasingly advocated, but different methods for selecting patients when calculating provider group performance have received little evaluation.

Objective: We compared 2 currently used methods according to characteristics of the patients selected and impact on performance estimates.

Research Design, Subjects, And Measures: We analyzed Medicare claims data for fee-for-service beneficiaries with diabetes ever seen at an academic multispeciality physician group in 2003 to 2004.

Minority status and diabetes screening in an ambulatory population.

Objective: Ethnicity has been identified as a risk factor not only for having type 2 diabetes but for increased morbidity and mortality with the disease. Current American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines advocate screening high-risk minorities for diabetes. This study investigates the effect of minority status on diabetes screening practices in an ambulatory, insured population presenting for yearly health care.

Analysis of guidelines for screening diabetes mellitus in an ambulatory population.

Objectives: To compare the case-finding ability of current national guidelines for screening diabetes mellitus and characterize factors that affect testing practices in an ambulatory population.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we reviewed a database of 46,991 nondiabetic patients aged 20 years and older who were seen at a large Midwestern academic physician practice from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2007. Patients were included in the sample if they were currently being treated by the physician group according to Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality criteria.