Simultaneous detection of genotype and phenotype enables rapid and accurate antibiotic susceptibility determination.

Multidrug resistant organisms are a serious threat to human health. Fast, accurate antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) is a critical need in addressing escalating antibiotic resistance, since delays in identifying multidrug resistant organisms increase mortality and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, further selecting for resistant organisms. Yet current growth-based AST assays, such as broth microdilution, require several days before informing key clinical decisions.

Follow-Up Care After Emergency Department Visits for Mental and Substance Use Disorders Among Medicaid Beneficiaries.

Objective: This study examined whether characteristics of Medicaid beneficiaries were associated with receipt of follow-up care after discharge from the emergency department (ED) following a visit for mental or substance use disorders.

Methods: Medicaid fee-for-service claims from 15 states and the District of Columbia in 2008 were used to calculate whether adults received follow-up (seven and 30 days) after being discharged from the ED following a visit for mental disorders (N=31,952 discharges) or substance use disorders (N=13,337 discharges). Random-effects logistic regression was used to model the odds of receiving follow-up as a function of beneficiary characteristics.

The Current State of Behavioral Health Quality Measures: Where Are the Gaps?

Objective: This review examined the extent to which existing behavioral health quality measures address the priority areas of the National Behavioral Health Quality Framework (NBHQF) as well as the extent to which the measures have received National Quality Forum endorsement and are used in major reporting programs.

Methods: This review identified behavioral health quality measures in widely used measure inventories, including the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse, National Quality Forum, and the Center for Quality Assessment in Mental Health. Additional measures were identified through outreach to federal agencies.

Simultaneous generation of many RNA-seq libraries in a single reaction.

Although RNA-seq is a powerful tool, the considerable time and cost associated with library construction has limited its utilization for various applications. RNAtag-Seq, an approach to generate multiple RNA-seq libraries in a single reaction, lowers time and cost per sample, and it produces data on prokaryotic and eukaryotic samples that are comparable to those generated by traditional strand-specific RNA-seq approaches.

Progress of health plans toward meeting the million hearts clinical target for high blood pressure control - United States, 2010-2012.

High blood pressure is a major cardiovascular disease risk factor and contributed to >362,895 deaths in the United States during 2010. Approximately 67 million persons in the United States have high blood pressure, and only half of those have their condition under control. An estimated 46,000 deaths could be avoided annually if 70% of patients with high blood pressure were treated according to published guidelines.

Clinical consensus statement: appropriate use of computed tomography for paranasal sinus disease.

Objective: To develop a consensus statement on the appropriate use of computed tomography (CT) for paranasal sinus disease.

Subjects And Methods: A modified Delphi method was used to refine expert opinion and reach consensus by the panel.

Results: After 3 full Delphi rounds, 33 items reached consensus and 16 statements were dropped because of not reaching consensus or redundancy.

Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children.

Objective: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States, with more than 530,000 procedures performed annually in children younger than 15 years. Tonsillectomy is defined as a surgical procedure performed with or without adenoidectomy that completely removes the tonsil including its capsule by dissecting the peritonsillar space between the tonsil capsule and the muscular wall. Depending on the context in which it is used, it may indicate tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy, especially in relation to sleep-disordered breathing.

Meaningful use of electronic health records in otolaryngology: recommendations from the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Medical Informatics Committee.

Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, passed as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the US Congress implemented new regulations to encourage the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs). The federal government will expend up to $27 billion in incentive payments to physicians and hospitals to increase adoption and implement "meaningful use" of EHRs. Otolaryngologists may receive as much as $44,000 under Medicare or $63,750 under Medicaid as part of this law.

Studying Life Effects & Effectiveness of Palatopharyngoplasty (SLEEP) study: subjective outcomes of isolated uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) improves sleep apnea-related quality of life (measured on the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire [FOSQ]) at 3-month follow-up. Secondary objectives were to test (1) the stability of the outcomes at 6 months, (2) the effect on global sleep apnea quality-of-life change, and (3) the effect on sleep apnea symptoms.

Study Design: Multicenter, prospective, longitudinal case series.

Wrong-site sinus surgery in otolaryngology.

Objective: To determine the scope of wrong-site sinus surgery.

Study Design: Electronic mail survey.

Setting: E-mailed via the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's weekly newsletter.

Clinical practice guideline: hoarseness (dysphonia).

Objective: This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on managing hoarseness (dysphonia), defined as a disorder characterized by altered vocal quality, pitch, loudness, or vocal effort that impairs communication or reduces voice-related quality of life (QOL). Hoarseness affects nearly one-third of the population at some point in their lives. This guideline applies to all age groups evaluated in a setting where hoarseness would be identified or managed.

Assessment of acute otitis externa and otitis media with effusion performance measures in otolaryngology practices.

Objective: To evaluate the acute otitis externa and otitis media with effusion performance measure sets in a clinical setting and provide preliminary data on measure compliance.

Study Design And Setting: Quality improvement study.

Subjects And Methods: Convenience sampling (N = 84) was performed at five sites of ENT and Allergy Associates, LLC.