System-related interventions to reduce diagnostic errors: a narrative review.

Background: Diagnostic errors (missed, delayed or wrong diagnosis) have recently gained attention and are associated with significant preventable morbidity and mortality. The authors reviewed the recent literature and identified interventions that address system-related factors that contribute directly to diagnostic errors.

Methods: The authors conducted a comprehensive search using multiple search strategies.

Physicians' views on public reporting of hospital quality data.

This article describes physicians' responses to patient questions and physicians' views about public reports on hospital quality. Interviews with 56 office-based physicians in seven states/regions used hypothetical scenarios of patients questioning referrals based on public reports of hospital quality. Responses were analyzed using an iterative coding process to develop categories and themes from data.

Disparities in immunizations among elderly Medicare beneficiaries, 2000 to 2002.

Background: Research reveals that influenza and pneumococcal immunization rates among blacks, Asians, and Hispanics significantly trail those of whites. This 2003 study examines recent trends and disparities for influenza and pneumococcal immunizations among elderly, non-institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods: National samples of approximately 179,000 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries were surveyed by mail and telephone each year from 2000 to 2002.