Publications by authors named "Jan Simpkins"
Background: As part of recertification, the American Board of Internal Medicine requires its diplomats to complete at least 1 practice improvement module (PIM). We assessed whether completing an asthma-specific PIM resulted in improved patient outcomes.
Methods: Practices were the unit of randomization in this cluster randomized trial.
Purpose: To determine whether group academic detailing with performance feedback increases recommended laboratory monitoring among outpatients dispensed medications.
Methods: Thirty-eight primary care practices in 3 states were randomized to group academic detailing with physician-level performance feedback (intervention) or a control group. Adjusted differences in creatinine and potassium testing between intervention and control group patients with a new or continuing dispensing for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics, or digoxin were evaluated using generalized estimating equation approaches.
Background: After potentially curative cancer treatment, patients may receive procedures for routine monitoring for recurrence or for evaluation of symptoms or signs.
Objective: We sought to characterize surveillance care guideline-recommended and other procedures performed in cancer survivors according to routine versus diagnostic indications.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of paper and electronic medical records between 1990 and 2000 from a large midwestern U.
Background: Although medication safety research has tended to focus on inpatients, the safety of drug use among outpatients is also a concern.
Objective: We estimate the frequency of potentially interacting concomitant medication dispensing among outpatients.
Research Design: We report the number and percent of patients annually dispensed an object drug of interest (ie, warfarin, digoxin, cyclosporine, or lovastatin/simvastatin) with a potentially interacting drug among a random sample of insured adults receiving care from 10 integrated delivery systems.
Background: Many consensus guidelines recommend routine surveillance to detect recurrent disease among cancer survivors. We compare surveillance care receipt to guideline recommendations.
Methods: Cohorts of patients aged 30 years or older diagnosed with breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, or prostate cancer between 1990 and 1995 and treated with curative intent were identified (n = 100 per site).