Improving the quality of healthcare: a cross-sectional study of the features of successful clinical networks.

Objectives: Networks of clinical experts are being established internationally to help embed evidence based care in health systems. There is emerging evidence that these clinical networks can drive quality improvement programs, but the features that distinguish successful networks are largely unknown. We examined the factors that make clinical networks effective at improving quality of care and facilitating system-wide changes.

Prostate cancer detection in men with an initial diagnosis of atypical small acinar proliferation.

Objective: To determine the subsequent prostatic adenocarcinoma detection rate amongst men with an initial diagnosis of atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP).

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the Illawarra Prostate Pathology Database over a 10-year period (January 1994 to January 2004) for specimens diagnosed as ASAP. These specimens were re-reviewed and clinical data obtained.