The Public Release of Performance Data: What Do We Expect to Gain? A Review of the Evidence

Article Abstract:

Hospitals are the most common users of performance data on doctors and hospitals. Most performance data contains information on mortality rates for certain diseases or information on what types of services doctors provide. Researchers analyzed the medical literature and found 21 articles that evaluated seven reporting systems: the California Hospitals Outcome Project, Cleveland Health Quality Choice, Health Care Financing Administration's hospital mortality database, the HEDIS database, Missouri Obstetrics, the New York State Cardiac Surgery Reporting System, and the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Hospitals were most likely to use this information. Consumers almost never used it and few doctors did either.

Physicians, Medical professions

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Quality of Care for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Article Abstract:

Many people with rheumatoid arthritis are not receiving adequate care, according to a study of 1,355 patients. A mix of generalist care and specialist care seems to provide the most benefit.

Care and treatment, Rheumatoid arthritis

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Hospital characteristics and quality of care

Article Abstract:

Large urban teaching hospitals may provide better medical care than smaller, rural hospitals. A review of the medical records of 14,008 elderly patients in 297 hospitals in five states was compared to mortality data from the Health Care Financing Administration. Patients in rural hospitals had a slightly greater chance of dying compared to the average mortality for all the hospitals. Patients in large hospitals, hospitals in large cities and those that were teaching hospitals had a slightly smaller chance of dying compared to the average. Rural hospitals may find it hard to recruit doctors, and once there, doctors may find it hard to maintain their skills. Residents of small communities may have access to a larger hospital in a nearby community. Rural hospitals could specialize in services such as long-term care and walk-in clinics.

Quality management, Medical care quality

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