A comparison of quality outcome measures in patients having a hysterectomy for benign disease: robotic vs. non-robotic approaches.

Study Objective: To measure procedure-related hospital readmissions within 30 days after discharge for patients who have a hysterectomy for benign disease. Secondary outcome quality measures evaluated were cost, estimated blood loss, length of stay and sum of costs associated with readmissions.

Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Patient mix in outpatient surgery settings and implications for Medicare payment policy.

In 2008, Medicare implemented a new payment policy for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), which aligns the ASC payment system with that used for hospital outpatient departments and reimburses ASCs approximately 65% of what hospitals receive for the same outpatient surgery. The authors assess patient selection across ASCs and hospital outpatient departments for four common surgeries (colonoscopy, hernia repair, knee arthroscopy, cataract repair), using data on procedures performed in Florida from 2004 to 2008. The authors construct measures of patient illness severity and cost risk and find that ASCs benefit from positive selection.

Efficacy of vitamin D3 supplementation in preventing fractures in elderly women: a meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of vitamin D(3) in preventing fractures and falls has been explored in a number of clinical trials. However, recent evidence revealed new questions about the adequate doses of vitamin D(3) supplementation and its efficacy in fracture prevention independent of calcium supplements for various types of fractures.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis to estimate the effectiveness of 800 IU daily vitamin D(3) supplementation for increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and preventing fractures in postmenopausal women.

Pulmonary function testing in the emergency department and medications prescribed at discharge: results of the Multinational Acute asthma Management, Burden, and Outcomes (MAMBO) study.

Aims: To evaluate asthma care in the emergency department (ED), including use of pulmonary function testing (PFT) and how patients are treated when discharged.

Methods: Internet-based surveys were completed by 298 healthcare practitioners in seven countries on 1078 patients 15-70 years old with an acute asthma exacerbation.

Results: Less than 60% of patients received guideline-recommended therapy with a bronchodilator, corticosteroid, and supplemental oxygen.