Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)

See the following -

CHICA, automated system developed by Regenstrief and IU, improves Autism screening rate

Press Release | EurekAlert | November 15, 2013

An automated system developed by researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University to help pediatricians focus on the specific health needs of each patient in the short time allotted for preventive care improves autism screening rates by identifying at-risk children at the 24-month visit. Nationwide children typically are not diagnosed with autism until age 4½ or 5 years. Read More »

Deaths By Medical Mistakes Hit Records

Erin McCann | Healthcare IT News | July 18, 2014

It's a chilling reality – one often overlooked in annual mortality statistics: Preventable medical errors persist as the No. 3 killer in the U.S. – third only to heart disease and cancer – claiming the lives of some 400,000 people each year...

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Enhancing Patient Safety And Quality Of Care By Improving The Usability Of Electronic Health Record Systems: Recommendations From AMIA

Blackford Middleton, Meryl Bloomrosen, Mark A Dente, et. al. | JAMIA | January 25, 2013

In response to mounting evidence that use of electronic medical record systems may cause unintended consequences, and even patient harm, the AMIA Board of Directors convened a Task Force on Usability to examine evidence from the literature and make recommendations. This task force was composed of representatives from both academic settings and vendors of electronic health record (EHR) systems. Read More »

Examining Public Reporting on Quality and Cost

Chris Fleming | Health Affairs Blog | March 8, 2012

Public reporting of providers’ performance has been a key development over the past decade in efforts to improve the quality of health care and lower its cost. It’s been widely assumed that by making this data public, underperforming providers will be motivated to improve, and consumers will use the information to pick the highest-quality providers offering care at the best value. Read More »

HHS Publishes FDASIA Health IT Report

Brian Ahier | Advanced Health Information Exchange Resources | April 3, 2014

HHS released a draft report that includes a proposed strategy and recommendations for a health information technology (health IT) framework, which promotes product innovation while maintaining appropriate patient protections and avoiding regulatory duplication. The congressionally mandated report was developed in consultation with health IT experts and consumer representatives and proposes to clarify oversight of health IT products based on a product’s function and the potential risk to patients who use it.

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Public Health ACTion (PHACT) 2013 Campaign mobilizes support

The 2013 Public Health Action (PHACT) Campaign is well underway. Check out the Public Health ACTion (PHACT) Campaign web site maintained by the American Public Health Association (APHA). It provides 'open' data and information on public health funding impacts on communities in every state in the U.S.   Click on your state to find out where it ranks on public health funding and activities. Read More »