Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers: results from the national Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System study.

Objectives: To determine the national and state incidence levels of newly hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (PUs) in Medicare beneficiaries and to describe the clinical and demographic characteristics and outcomes of these individuals.

Design: Retrospective secondary analysis of the national Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System (MPSMS) database.

Setting: Medicare-eligible hospitals across the United States and select territories.

A comprehensive evaluation of a diabetes quality improvement project in privately owned primary care practices that serve minority patients.

The authors conducted a diabetes quality improvement project in 5 privately owned primary care practices serving at least 25% minority patients. Interventions included group-specific and practice-specific training on an electronic patient registry, cultural competency practices and tools, and selected quality improvement strategies. The authors conducted a comprehensive evaluation involving quantitative and qualitative data to assess project impact.

Challenges in recruiting minority-serving private practice primary care physicians to a quality improvement project.

The objectives of this study were the following: (1) describe one organization's experience with recruiting minority-serving private practice primary care physicians to an ambulatory quality improvement (QI) project; (2) compare and contrast physicians who agreed to participate with those who declined; and (3) list incentives and barriers to participation. The authors identified eligible physicians by analyzing Medicare Part B claims data, a publicly available physician database, and office staff responses to telephone inquiries. The recruitment team had difficulty identifying, contacting, and recruiting eligible physicians.

Racial disparities in the frequency of patient safety events: results from the National Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System.

Background: Although there is extensive evidence of racial disparities in processes and outcomes of medical care, there has been limited investigation of disparities in patient safety.

Objective: To determine whether there are racial disparities in the frequency of adverse events studied in the Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System.

Design And Subjects: Abstraction of 102,623 randomly selected charts from hospital discharges of non-Hispanic white and black Medicare patients between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2007 to assess frequency of patient safety events in 4 domains: general (pressure ulcers and falls), selected nosocomial infections, selected procedure-related adverse events, and adverse drug events due to anticoagulants and hypoglycemic agents.

Opportunities to improve colorectal cancer screening in Connecticut through Medicare claims data.

Colorectal cancer represents a serious public-health problem in the United States, with important geographic differences and disparities of care evident in its detection and treatment. While effective screening tests exist, Connecticut lacks current data about rates of colorectal cancer screening. The Connecticut Department of Public Health commissioned Qualidigm, the federally designated Quality Improvement Organization, to conduct an analysis of 2008 fee-for-service Medicare claims data to determine screening rates.

The Equity and Quality (EQual) Health-Care Project: A Connecticut Health Foundation initiative with Qualidigm.

In response to the growing incidence and prevalence of diabetes, quality and disparity of care concerns, and the increasing diversity of the US and Connecticut's populations, the Connecticut Health Foundation funded Qualidigm to implement the Equity and Quality (EQual) Health-Care Project. Now in its second full year, the EQualHealth-CareProject is helping eight primary-care practices in Connecticut improve the equity and quality of diabetes care through technology, education, and quality improvement.

A descriptive study of educational outreach to promote use of quality improvement tools in primary care private practice.

The objective of this study was to describe the experience of a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) providing educational outreach to promote use of quality improvement (QI) tools in primary care private practice. Two QIO outreach workers conducted visits with physicians and targeted staff. Data were analyzed on physician demographics, visits, and use of QI tools using standard quantitative and qualitative methods.

Understanding barriers to participation in mammography by women with disabilities.

Purpose: The study purpose was to identify barriers to mammography screening among women with different disabilities and to suggest interventions to address barriers.

Methods: Forty-two women with self-reported disabilities, ages 40 to 69 years participated. They resided in 24 Connecticut towns, and most had a prior mammogram.

Understanding patterns of change over time to improve mammography rates.

This retrospective cohort study determined trends and patterns of mammography rates during 5 years (1997-2001) among female Medicare beneficiaries ages 50 years and older in Connecticut to better understand changes in rates over time and to plan future interventions. Time series analysis and hierarchical Longitudinal logistic regression were used to assess changes over time. Mammography rates increased significantly during the 5-year period (p < .

Improving the quality of preventive cardiovascular care provided by primary care physicians: insights from a US Quality Improvement Organization.

Background: During 2000-03, Qualidigm, a US Quality Improvement Organization, conducted a project to improve the care received by elderly Medicare patients with coronary artery disease or cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: We recruited primary care physicians in private practice in the state of Connecticut. Then, we identified approximately 30-50 patients per physician from the periods 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000 and 1 November 2001 to 31 October 2002.

Reducing disparities in utilization of mamography: reaching dually eligible women in Connecticut.

This article describes a two-pronged intervention by the health care Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Connecticut to address the disparity in rates of mammography screening between women eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (i.e., "dually eligible") and other Medicare beneficiaries.