Physical therapists' experience using focus on therapeutic outcome in outpatient clinics: A qualitative study.

While patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) are used in many practice settings as a standardized system of outcome measures, various factors may impact the meaningful use of PROMs by clinicians operating in various settings. Very limited research exists that focused on examining the use of FOTO® in outpatient rehabilitation settings. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators in achieving FOTO® treatment completion rates and patient functional outcomes among physical therapists.

Emergency preparedness: Interviews with senior leadership in Nebraska hospitals.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of senior leadership in hospitals on the motivations, cost, benefits, barriers, and facilitators of investment in emergency preparedness.

Study Design: This is a qualitative study which used a grounded theory approach to develop a theory of hospital emergency preparedness.

Setting And Study Participants: A purposive sample of hospital leaders (n = 11) in the US state of Nebraska were interviewed.

From silos to coalitions: The evolution of the US Hospital Preparedness Program.

Objective: The objective of this article is to trace the hospital emergency preparedness movement in the United States, strengthen the case for hospital investments in emergency preparedness, and make recommendations to ensure sustainability of the program. Design/Approach: This article is a narrative review. Main themes from the literature about the US Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) are discussed, beginning with the trends in funding levels of the HPP, the rise of regional healthcare coalitions, preparedness performance measures, and the challenges faced over the past 15 years of HPP activities.

Rurality, Quality Improvement Maturity, and Accreditation Readiness: A Comparison Study of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska Local Health Departments.

Objective: To compare local health department (LHD) accreditation readiness (AR) and quality improvement (QI) maturity in 3 states, between LHDs with varying levels of rurality, and across an LHD staffing-level continuum.

Design: This was a cross-sectional comparative study that included an online survey administered to LHD directors in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. The survey included 10 questions assessed on a 5-point Likert scale covering 3 QI domains and 13 questions covering 5 AR domains.

Promoting colorectal cancer screening through a new model of delivering rural primary care in the USA: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Despite the known benefits of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, rural areas have consistently reported lower screening rates than their urban counterparts. Alternative healthcare delivery models, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), have the potential to increase CRC rates through collaboration among healthcare providers with the aim of improving quality and decreasing cost. However, researchers have not sufficiently explored how this innovative model could influence the promotion of cancer screening.

Measuring the Cost and Value of Quality Improvement Initiatives for Local Health Departments.

Objective: To demonstrate an approach to measuring the cost and value of quality improvement (QI) implementation in local health departments (LHDs).

Design: We conducted cost estimation for 4 LHD QI projects and return-on-investment (ROI) analysis for 2 selected LHD QI projects.

Setting And Participants: Four Nebraska LHDs varying in rurality and jurisdiction size.

Relationship between quality improvement implementation and accreditation seeking in local health departments.

Objectives: We examined the relationship between quality improvement (QI) maturity and accreditation attributes of US local health departments (LHDs), specifically those in Nebraska.

Methods: Using 2011 Nebraska LHD QI survey data, we conducted Spearman correlation analyses between QI maturity domains and accreditation attributes. Using the 2010 National Association of County and City Health Officials' National Profile of LHDs, we conducted logistic regression analyses to examine the relationships between specific QI strategies and attitude toward seeking accreditation.