Publication guidelines for quality improvement studies in health care: evolution of the SQUIRE project.

In 2005 we published draft guidelines for reporting studies of quality improvement, as the initial step in a consensus process for development of a more definitive version. The current article contains the revised version, which we refer to as standards for quality improvement reporting excellence (SQUIRE). This narrative progress report summarises the special features of improvement that are reflected in SQUIRE, and describes major differences between SQUIRE and the initial draft guidelines.

Development of the SQUIRE Publication Guidelines: evolution of the SQUIRE project.

These guidelines address the development and testing of interventions to improve the quality and safety of health care.

Publication guidelines for improvement studies in health care: evolution of the SQUIRE Project.

In 2005, draft guidelines were published for reporting studies of quality improvement as the initial step in a consensus process for development of a more definitive version. The current article contains the revised version, which we refer to as Standards for QUality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE). This narrative progress report summarizes the special features of improvement that are reflected in SQUIRE and describes major differences between SQUIRE and the initial draft guidelines.

Publication guidelines for quality improvement studies in health care: evolution of the SQUIRE project.

In 2005 we published draft guidelines for reporting studies of quality improvement interventions as the initial step in a consensus process for development of a more definitive version. The current article contains the revised version, which we refer to as SQUIRE (Standards for QUality Improvement Reporting Excellence). We describe the consensus process, which included informal feedback, formal written commentaries, input from publication guideline developers, review of the literature on the epistemology of improvement and on methods for evaluating complex social programs, and a meeting of stakeholders for critical review of the guidelines' content and wording, followed by commentary on sequential versions from an expert consultant group.

Group prenatal care: an analysis of cost.

Introduction: Group prenatal care may have benefits over traditional care; however, the economic performance of this model is largely unexplored. We sought to understand the finances of group prenatal care at a small, rural, critical access hospital.

Methods: Volume, cost, and revenue estimates were obtained and an economic model was created.

Where do women veterans get their inpatient care?

Purpose: In this study we explore women veterans' use of Veterans Administration (VA) and private sector inpatient services.

Methods: Using a comprehensive dataset of VA and private hospital admissions, we identified 1,409 female patients who were enrolled in the VA system and had an inpatient admission between 1998 and 2000 in either the VA or the private sector. For Major Diagnostic Categories (MDCs) with >20 admits in each sector, we compared care provided in the private sector with care provided in the VA with respect to patient characteristics and resource utilization.

Improving emergency caesarean delivery response times at a rural community hospital.

Introduction: According to national organisations, obstetric services should be able to initiate a caesarean delivery within 30 minutes of the decision to operate. This is uniquely challenging in a small, rural hospital. In 2001, the authors' hospital was unable to meet this guideline reliably.

The effects of amnioinfused solutions for meconium-stained amniotic fluid on neonatal plasma electrolyte concentrations and pH.

Objective: To determine if amnioinfused normal saline or lactated Ringer's solution in cases of meconium-stained amniotic fluid is associated with significant changes on neonatal plasma electrolyte concentrations or pH.

Study Design: This was a prospective randomized study using normal saline or lactated Ringer's solution for amnioinfusion in women with thick meconium in the amniotic fluid. The control group was composed of women with clear amniotic fluid not receiving amnioinfusion.