Avoiding the unintended consequences of growth in medical care: how might more be worse?

A state-level analysis of macro-level factors associated with hospital readmissions

Investigation of the factors that contribute to hospital readmissions has focused largely on individual level factors. We extend the knowledge base by exploring macrolevel factors that may contribute to readmissions. We point to environmental, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors that are emerging as correlates to readmissions. Data were taken from publicly available reports provided by multiple agencies. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the association between economic stability and environmental factors on opioid use which was in turn tested for a direct association with hospital readmissions. We also tested whether hospital access as measured by the proportion of people per hospital moderates the relationship between opioid use and hospital readmissions. We found significant associations between Negative Economic Factors and Opioid Use, between Environmental Factors and Opioid Use, and between Opioid Use and Hospital Readmissions. We found that Hospital Access positively moderates the relationship between Opioid Use and Readmissions. A priori assumptions about factors that influence hospital readmissions must extend beyond just individualistic factors and must incorporate a holistic approach that also considers the impact of macrolevel environmental factors.

Effect of high-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation after extubation on successful extubation in obese patients: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database

BACKGROUND

The pathophysiological characteristics of the respiratory system of obese patients differ from those of non-obese patients. Few studies have evaluated the effects of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) on the prognosis of obese patients. We here compared the effects of these two techniques on the prevention of reintubation after extubation for obese patients.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database. Patients who underwent HFNC or NIV treatment after extubation were assigned to the HFNC or NIV group, respectively. The reintubation risk within 96 hours postextubation was compared between the two groups using a doubly robust estimation method. Propensity score matching was performed for both groups.

RESULTS

This study included 757 patients (HFNC group: n=282; NIV group: n=475). There was no significant difference in the risk of reintubation within 96 hours after extubation for the HFNC group compared with the NIV group (OR 1.50, p=0.127). Among patients with body mass index ≥40 kg/m2, the HFNC group had a significantly lower risk of reintubation within 96 hours after extubation (OR 0.06, p=0.016). No significant differences were found in reintubation rates within 48 hours (15.6% vs 11.0%, p=0.314) and 72 hours (16.9% vs 13.0%, p=0.424), as well as in hospital mortality (3.2% vs 5.2%, p=0.571) and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality (1.3% vs 5.2%, p=0.108) between the two groups. However, the HFNC group had significantly longer hospital stays (14 days vs 9 days, p=0.005) and ICU (7 days vs 5 days, p=0.001) stays.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that HFNC therapy is not inferior to NIV in preventing reintubation in obese patients and appears to be advantageous in severely obese patients. However, HFNC is associated with significantly longer hospital stays and ICU stays.

Association of a State Prescribing Limits Policy with Opioid Prescribing and Long-term Use: an Interrupted Time Series Analysis

BACKGROUND

Prescription opioids were a major initial driver of the opioid crisis. States have attempted to reduce overprescribing by enacting policies that limit opioid prescriptions, but the impacts of such policies on new prescribing and subsequent transitions to long-term use are not fully understood.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of implementation of a state prescribing limits policy with opioid prescribing and transitions to long-term opioid use.

DESIGN

Interrupted time series analyses assessing trends in new opioid prescriptions and long-term use before and after policy implementation.

PATIENTS

A total of 130,591 New Jersey Medicaid enrollees ages 18-64 who received an initial opioid prescription from January 2014 to December 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

New Jersey's opioid prescribing limit policy implemented in March 2017.

MAIN MEASURES

Total new opioid prescriptions, percentage of new prescriptions with >5 days' supply, and transition to long-term opioid use, defined as having opioid supply on day 90 after the initial prescription.

KEY RESULTS

Policy implementation was associated with a significant monthly increase in new opioid prescriptions of 0.86 per 10,000 enrollees, halving the pre-policy decline in the prescribing rate. Among new opioid prescriptions, the percentage with >5 days' supply decreased by about 1 percentage point (-0.76 percentage points, 95% CI -0.89, -0.62) following policy implementation. However, policy implementation was associated with a significant monthly increase in the rate of initial prescriptions with supply on day 90 (9.95 per 10,000 new prescriptions, 95% CI 4.80, 15.11) that reversed the downward pre-implementation trend.

CONCLUSIONS

The New Jersey policy was associated with a reduction in initial prescriptions with >5 days' supply, but not with an overall decline in new opioid prescriptions or in the rate at which initial prescriptions led to long-term use. Given their only modest benefits, policymakers and clinicians should carefully weigh potential unintended consequences of strict prescribing limits.

Anaesthesia and environment: impact of a green anaesthesia on economics

The excessive growth of the health sector has created an industry that, while promoting health, is now itself responsible for a significant part of global environmental pollution. The health crisis caused by climate change urges us to transform healthcare into a sustainable industry. This review aims to raise awareness about this issue and to provide practical and evidence-based recommendations for anaesthesiologists.

The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care – bringing health care analyses to health systems, policymakers, and the public

In 1996, the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care pioneered the dissemination of policy-relevant population-based measurement and analysis that revealed both weaknesses and opportunities in the United States health care system by focusing on regional and hospital variation in utilization, quality, and costs. Built on a growing foundation of peer-reviewed research, the Atlas produced more than 40 reports over the next 25 years addressing a wide range of pressing health care problems. The project’s publications and website also provided regional and hospital-specific data to health systems, governmental jurisdictions, health care stakeholders, and the public. The Atlas’ methods and its conceptual framework have been widely disseminated in North America and the United Kingdom, and, more recently, in Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceania. This paper discusses the origins of the Atlas from Dr. John Wennberg’s early studies, the scaling up of data, methods, and policy-relevant findings, and its incorporation into the more general fields of health services research, policy development, and clinical improvement.

The impact of zero markup drug policy on patients' healthcare utilization and expense: An interrupted time series study

Objective

To curb the unreasonable growth of pharmaceutical expenditures, Beijing implemented the zero markup drug policy (ZMDP) in public hospitals in 2017, which focused on separating drug sales from hospital revenue. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impacts of ZMDP on healthcare expenditures and utilization for inpatients.

Methods

The Beijing claims data of inpatients diagnosed with ischemic heart disease (IHD), chronic renal failure (CRF), and lung cancer (LC) was extracted from the China Health Insurance Research Association (CHIRA) database. The study employed an interrupted time series to evaluate the impacts of ZMDP on healthcare expenditures and utilization.

Results

The changes in total hospitalization expenses, health insurance expenses, and out-of-pocket expenses were not statistically significant neither in level change nor in trend change for inpatients diagnosed with IHD, CRF, or LC after implementing ZMDP (all P > 0.05). The Western medicine expenses for the treatment of inpatients diagnosed with IHD significantly decreased by 1,923.38 CNY after the reform (P < 0.05). The Chinese medicine expenses of inpatients diagnosed with CRF instantaneously increased by 1,344.89 CNY (P < 0.05). The service expenses of inpatients diagnosed with IHD and LC instantaneously increased by 756.52 CNY (p > 0.05) and 2,629.19 CNY (p < 0.05), respectively. However, there were no significant changes (P > 0.05) in out-of-pocket expenses, medical consumables, imaging, and laboratory test expenses of inpatients diagnosed with IHD, CRF, or LC. The initiation of the intervention immediately increased the number of inpatient admissions with LC by 2.293 per month (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The ZMDP was effective in reducing drug costs, and the effects on healthcare utilization varied across diseases type. However, the increase in medical service and Chinese medicine expenses diminished the effect of containing healthcare expenses and relieving the financial burdens of patients. Policymakers are advised to take multiple and long-lasting measures, such as provider payment methods reform, volume-based drug procurement, and drug price negotiation to improve the affordability of patients thoroughly.

Cost-effectiveness of a rule-out algorithm of acute myocardial infarction in low-risk patients: emergency primary care versus hospital setting

Aims

Hospital admissions of patients with chest pain considered as low risk for acute coronary syndrome contribute to increased costs and crowding in the emergency departments. This study aims to estimate the cost-effectiveness of assessing these patients in a primary care emergency setting, using the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 0/1-h algorithm for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, compared to routine hospital management.

Methods

A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted. For the primary care estimates, costs and health care expenditure from the observational OUT-ACS (One-hoUr Troponin in a low-prevalence population of Acute Coronary Syndrome) study were compared with anonymous extracted administrative data on low-risk patients at a large general hospital in Norway. Patients discharged home after the hs-cTnT assessment were defined as low risk in the primary care cohort. In the hospital setting, the low-risk group comprised patients discharged with a non-specific chest pain diagnosis (ICD-10 codes R07.4 and Z03.5). Loss of health related to a potential increase in acute myocardial infarctions the following 30-days was estimated. The primary outcome measure was the costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) of applying the ESC 0/1-h algorithm in primary care. The secondary outcomes were health care costs and length of stay in the two settings.

Results

Differences in costs comprise personnel and laboratory costs of applying the algorithm at primary care level (€192) and expenses related to ambulance transports and complete hospital costs for low-risk patients admitted to hospital (€1986). Additional diagnostic procedures were performed in 31.9% (181/567) of the low-risk hospital cohort. The estimated reduction in health care cost when using the 0/1-h algorithm outside of hospital was €1794 per low-risk patient, with a mean decrease in length of stay of 18.9 h. These numbers result in an average per-person QALY gain of 0.0005. Increased QALY and decreased costs indicate that the primary care approach is clearly cost-effective.

Conclusion

Using the ESC 0/1-h algorithm in low-risk patients in emergency primary care appears to be cost-effective compared to standard hospital management, with an extensive reduction in costs and length of stay per patient.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-08697-6.

Short- and medium-term cost effects of non-indicated thyroid diagnostics: empirical evidence from German claims data

This paper contributes to the discussion of whether non-indicated ultrasound examinations of the thyroid gland contribute to overtreatment and excess health care expenditures. Using two sources of claims data from Germany, we analyzed data from patients who underwent a TSH blood test which is the initial diagnostic measure to check for possible presence of thyroid dysfunction. In a matching analysis, we compared health costs of two groups of patients. One consisted of patients who underwent an early thyroid ultrasound that according to medical guidelines-at this point-was probably not indicated. The other group consisted of patients, who underwent no ultrasound examination at all or later in the course of the disease, making probable a correct indication. Both groups were made comparable by the means of a matching procedure. Average thyroid-specific health costs were substantially higher for the first group in the quarter in which the ultrasound examination took place. Some deviation in these specific costs persisted over a substantial period of time, with drug expenditures exhibiting the biggest difference. If, however, total health costs were considered, difference in costs was only found in the initial quarter. We conclude that non-indicated ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland may have some moderate effects on thyroid-specific costs. Yet the data do not suggest that long-lasting overtreatment and excess health expenditures are initiated by non-indicated ultrasound in Germany.

A comprehensive model for measuring real-life cost-effectiveness in eyecare: automation in care and evaluation of system (aces-rwm™)

This paper describes a holistic, yet simple and comprehensible, ecosystem model to deal with multiple and complex challenges in eyecare. It aims at producing the best possible wellbeing and eyesight with the available resources. When targeting to improve the real-world cost-effectiveness, what gets done in everyday practice needs be measured routinely, efficiently and unselectively. Collection of all real-world data of all patients will enable evaluation and comparison of eyecare systems and departments between themselves nationally and internationally. The concept advocates a strategy to optimize real-life effectiveness, sustainability and outcomes of the service delivery in ophthalmology. The model consists of three components: (1) resource-governing principles (i.e., to deal with increasing demand and limited resources), (2) real-world monitoring (i.e., to collect structured real-world data utilizing automation and visualization of clinical parameters, health-related quality of life and costs), and (3) digital innovation strategy (i.e., to evaluate and benchmark real-world outcomes and cost-effectiveness). The core value and strength of the model lies in the consensus and collaboration of all Finnish university eye clinics to collect and evaluate the uniformly structured real-world outcomes data. In addition to ophthalmology, the approach is adaptable to any medical discipline to efficiently generate real-world insights and resilience in health systems.

Deming’s tampering revisited: definition and future research agenda

Purpose

How do organisations know which problems are worthy of their attention? Despite good intentions, many attempts to solve problems fail. One reason for this failure might be because of attempts to solve non-problems or to solve problems with insufficient means, a concept proposed by Deming as tampering. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a definition of tampering, outline what is currently known about possible practical implications of tampering and to suggest how to extend this knowledge by proposing an agenda for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

To fulfil the purpose, a narrative literature review was conducted.

Findings

Through this review, common aspects of what constitutes tampering are identified and the following definition is proposed: Tampering is a response to a perceived problem in the form of an action that is not directed at the fundamental cause of the problem, which leads to a deterioration of the process or the process output. In addition, recommendations are generated regarding how tampering manifests itself in practice and why tampering occurs. These recommendations could be studied in future research.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that suggests a revitalisation of tampering. The results presented in this paper form the basis for continued studies on how tampering in organisations can be understood, managed and prevented.

Visualizing the Invisible: Invisible Waste in Diagnostic Imaging

There is extensive waste in diagnostic imaging, at the same time as there are long waiting lists. While the problem of waste in diagnostics has been known for a long time, the problem persists. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to investigate various types of waste in imaging and why they are so pervasive and persistent in today's health services. After a short overview of different conceptions and types of waste in diagnostic imaging (in radiology), we identify two reasons why these types of waste are so difficult to address: (1) they are invisible in the healthcare system and (2) wasteful imaging is driven by strong external forces and internal drivers. Lastly, we present specific measures to address wasteful imaging. Visualizing and identifying the waste in diagnostic imaging and its ingrained drivers is one important way to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare services.

What can we learn from the SARS-COV-2 pandemic about the value of specific radiological examinations?

BACKGROUND

The SARS-COV-2 pandemic provides a natural intervention to assess practical priority setting and internal evaluation of specific health services, such as radiological services. Norway makes an excellent case as it had a very low infection rate and very few cases of COVID-19. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to use the changes in performed outpatient radiological examinations during the first stages of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic to assess the practical evaluation of specific radiological examinations in Norway.

METHODS

Data was collected retrospectively from the Norwegian Health Economics Administration (HELFO) in the years 2015-2020. Data included the number of performed outpatient imaging examinations at public hospitals and private imaging centers in Norway and was divided in to three periods based on the level of restrictions on elective health services. Results were analyzed with descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

In the first period there was a 45% reduction in outpatient radiology compared to the same time period in 2015-2019 while in period 2 and 3 there was a 25 and 6% reduction respectively. The study identified a list of specific potential low-value radiological examinations. While some of these are covered by the Choosing Wisely campaign, others are not.

CONCLUSION

By studying the priority setting practice during the initial phases of the pandemic this study identifies a set of potential low value radiological examinations during the initial phases of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. These examinations are candidates for closer assessments for health services quality improvement.

Choosing Wisely For Critical Care: The Next Five

OBJECTIVES

To formulate new "Choosing Wisely" for Critical Care recommendations that identify best practices to avoid waste and promote value while providing critical care.

DATA SOURCES

Semistructured narrative literature review and quantitative survey assessments.

STUDY SELECTION

English language publications that examined critical care practices in relation to reducing cost or waste.

DATA EXTRACTION

Practices assessed to add no value to critical care were grouped by category. Taskforce assessment, modified Delphi consensus building, and quantitative survey analysis identified eight novel recommendations to avoid wasteful critical care practices. These were submitted to the Society of Critical Care Medicine membership for evaluation and ranking.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Results from the quantitative Society of Critical Care Medicine membership survey identified the top scoring five of eight recommendations. These five highest ranked recommendations established Society of Critical Care Medicine's Next Five "Choosing" Wisely for Critical Care practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Five new recommendations to reduce waste and enhance value in the practice of critical care address invasive devices, proactive liberation from mechanical ventilation, antibiotic stewardship, early mobilization, and providing goal-concordant care. These recommendations supplement the initial critical care recommendations from the "Choosing Wisely" campaign.

'Your spine is so worn out' - the influence of clinical diagnosis on beliefs in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain - a qualitative study'

BACKGROUND

Patients' beliefs have an important influence on the clinical management of low back pain and healthcare professionals should be prepared to address these beliefs. There is still a gap in the literature about the influence of patients' perceptions of their clinical diagnosis on the severity of their pain experience and disability.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the perceptions of patients with chronic non-specific low back pain regarding the influence of their clinical diagnosis on pain, beliefs, and daily life activities.

METHODS

Qualitative study of 70 individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain. A semi structured interview was conducted about patients' beliefs and perceptions regarding the influence of clinical diagnosis on their daily activities and pain intensity.

RESULTS

Most participants believed that higher number of different clinical diagnoses for the same individual may be associated with high pain intensity and disability for daily activities and that pain and injury are directly related. Patients beliefs were grouped into four main themes: (1) pain has multifactorial explanation in physical dimension; (2) improvement expectation is extremely low in patients with chronic pain; (3) clinical diagnosis influences pain and disability levels; (4) clinical diagnosis is extremely valued by patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients believe that there is a strong relationship between structural changes in the lower back, pain, and daily life activities; thus, providing evidence of a strong influence of the biomedical model on their beliefs.

Has the development of cancer biomarkers to guide treatment improved health outcomes?

During the last decade, testing the patient's biomarker status prior to the administration of corresponding co-dependent therapies has been emerging in clinical practice. These biomarker-guided therapies have promoted the promise of more personalized medicine, with the prescription of the right treatment to the right patient, while avoiding expensive ineffective drugs and adverse drug reactions. Cancer treatments have especially taken advantage of this technology. We assess how the introduction of biomarker tests guiding cancer therapy have affected the premature mortality and survival of cancer patients in Norway. Our findings suggest that, in general, cancer patients have benefited from both biomarker testing and more cancer drugs. Furthermore, we find that the total effect of biomarker testing on 3-year survival decreases as the number of drugs available increases, suggesting that the matching of patients with the appropriate treatment is better when fewer drugs are available.

Efficiency over thoroughness in laboratory testing decision making in primary care: findings from a realist review

Background

Existing research demonstrates significant variation in test-ordering practice, and growth in the use of laboratory tests in primary care. Reviews of interventions designed to change test-ordering practice report heterogeneity in design and effectiveness. Improving understanding of clinicians’ decision making in relation to laboratory testing is an important means of understanding practice patterns and developing theory-informed interventions.

Aim

To develop explanations for the underlying causes of patterns of variation and increasing use of laboratory tests in primary care, and make recommendations for future research and intervention design.

Design & setting

Realist review of secondary data from primary care.

Method

Diverse evidence, including data from qualitative and quantitative studies, was gathered via systematic and iterative searching processes. Data were synthesised according to realist principles to develop explanations accounting for clinicians’ decision making in relation to laboratory tests.

Results

A total of 145 documents contributed data to the synthesis. Laboratory test ordering can fulfil many roles in primary care. Decisions about tests are incorporated into practice heuristics and tests are deployed as a tool to manage patient interactions. Ordering tests may be easier than not ordering tests in existing systems. Alongside high workloads and limited time to devote to decision making, there is a common perception that laboratory tests are relatively inconsequential interventions. Clinicians prioritise efficiency over thoroughness in decision making about laboratory tests.

Conclusion

Interventions to change test-ordering practice can be understood as aiming to preserve efficiency or encourage thoroughness in decision making. Intervention designs and evaluations should consider how testing decisions are made in real-world clinical practice.

Promoting Value Through Patient-Centered Communication: A Multisite Validity Study of Third-Year Medical Students

PURPOSE

To examine validity evidence for a standardized patient scenario assessing medical students' ability to promote value using patient-centered communication (in response to a patient requesting an unnecessary test) and to explore the potential effect of various implementation and curricular factors on student scores.

METHOD

Third-year medical students (N = 516) from 5 U.S. MD-granting medical schools completed the communication scenario between 2014 and 2017 as part of a larger objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Centralized raters assessed performance using an 11-item checklist. The authors collected multiple sources of validity evidence.

RESULTS

The mean checklist score was 0.85 (standard deviation 0.09). Interrater reliability for checklist scores was excellent (0.87, 95% confidence interval = 0.78-0.93). Generalizability and Phi-coefficients were, respectively, 0.65 and 0.57. Scores decreased as the number of OSCE stations increased (r = -0.15, P = .001) and increased when they were used for summative purposes (r = 0.26, P < .001). Scores were not associated with curricular time devoted to high-value care (r = 0.02, P = .67) and decreased when more clerkships were completed before the assessment (r = -0.12, P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS

This multisite study provides validity evidence supporting the use of scenario scores to assess the ability of medical students to promote value in clinical encounters using patient-centered communication. Findings illuminate the potential effect of OSCE structure and purpose on student performance and suggest clerkship learning experiences may not reinforce what students are taught in the formal curriculum regarding high-value care. Devoting more time to the topic appears insufficient to counteract this erosion.

Federal Employees' Compensation Act and Mandating the Use of X-ray for Chiropractic Management of Federal Employees: An Exploration of Concerns and a Call to Action

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to explore concerns regarding sections of the federal workers' compensation law that apply to the treatment and management of work-related injuries of federal employees by chiropractors, and to offer a call to action for change.

DISCUSSION

A 1974 amendment to the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) stipulates that chiropractic services rendered to injured federal workers are reimbursable. However, the only reimbursable chiropractic treatment is "manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation as demonstrated by X-ray to exist." This means the chiropractor must take radiographs in order to be reimbursed. As with other health care professions, chiropractors are expected to practice according to best practices guided by studies in the scientific literature. Yet in the federal workers' compensation arena, this law requires chiropractors to practice in a manner that is fiscally wasteful, contradicts current radiology standards, and may expose patients to unnecessary X-ray radiation. Presently, there is discord between what the law mandates, chiropractic training and scope, and what professional guidelines recommend. In this article we discuss how FECA creates problems in the following 7 categories: direct harm, indirect harm, contradiction of best practices, ethical dilemma, barriers to conservative treatment, fiscal waste, and discrimination.

CONCLUSION

The 1974 FECA provision requiring chiropractors to take radiographs regardless of presenting medical necessity should be updated to reflect current chiropractic education, training, and best practice. To resolve this discrepancy, we suggest that the radiographic requirement and the limitations placed on chiropractic physicians should be removed.

Increased trend of unnecessary use of radiological diagnostic modalities in Pakistan: radiologists perspective

BACKGROUND

Over the past few years, a significant overuse of radiological investigations influenced the quality and cost of healthcare of the country as it may lead to non-compliance of the patient due to non-affordability and also may harm the patient in terms of radiation hazards. Pakistan, being a low-income, resource-constraint country, is facing financial impact on families as well as health system due to multiple reasons.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of study is to identify reasons of unnecessary use of radiological diagnostic modalities in Pakistani hospitals as perceived by radiologists.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of all 105 radiologists, having at least 1 year experience of working in radiology, working in five tertiary care hospitals in Lahore. A self-constructed, self-administered, pretested 5-point Likert scale opinion-based questionnaire was administered after taking informed consent. It includes questions about excessive radiological use that may be attributed to the physicians, investigations, patients and other non-categorized causes. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 23.

RESULTS

Since the assessment forms were handed over and collected from the radiologists in person, the response rate was 100%. Of a total of 105 respondents, 78 (74.28%) respondentsagreed that there is an actual increase, 25 (23.80%) respondents disagreed and 2 (1.90%) respondents were unsure. Most important reasons for increased usage of radiological investigations are 'need of accuracy of diagnosis' (P = 0.009), 'trend of physicians to repeat tests in order to confirm preset diagnoses' (P-value = 0.03), 'lack of knowledge about proper usage of radiological advances' (P-value = 0.005) and 'lack of proper clinical examination' (P-value = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Unnecessary use of radiological investigations is actually there as perceived by radiologists, which is attributed to inadequate knowledge, attitude and training of physicians to refer patients to radiological resources. This research can be a stepping stone for future researchers as it can be used for elaborating these causes individually and finding ways as to how each of these causes can be controlled and minimized to bring about a decline in excessive usage of these modalities for the betterment of the patients.

Conceptualizing and Counting Discretionary Utilization in the Final 100 Days of Life: A Scoping Review

CONTEXT

There has been surprisingly little attention to conceptual and methodological issues that influence the measurement of discretionary utilization at the end of life (DIAL), an indicator of quality care.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study were to examine how DIALs have been operationally defined and identify areas where evidence is biased or inadequate to inform practice.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of the English language literature published from 1/1/04 to 6/30/17. Articles were eligible if they reported data on ≥2 DIALs within 100 days of the deaths of adults aged ≥18 years. We explored the influence of research design on how researchers measure DIALs and whether they examine demographic correlates of DIALs. Other potential biases and influences were explored.

RESULTS

We extracted data from 254 articles published in 79 journals covering research conducted in 29 countries, mostly focused on cancer care (69.1%). More than 100 DIALs have been examined. Relatively crude, simple variables (e.g., intensive care unit admissions [56.9% of studies], chemotherapy [50.8%], palliative care [40.0%]) have been studied more frequently than complex variables (e.g., burdensome transitions; 7.3%). We found considerable variation in the assessment of DIALs, illustrating the role of research design, professional norms and disciplinary habit. Variables are typically chosen with little input from the public (including patients or caregivers) and clinicians. Fewer than half of the studies examined age (44.6%), gender (37.3%), race (26.5%), or socioeconomic (18.5%) correlates of DIALs.

CONCLUSION

Unwarranted variation in DIAL assessments raises difficult questions concerning how DIALs are defined, by whom, and why. We recommend several strategies for improving DIAL assessments. Improved metrics could be used by the public, patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, hospitals, health systems, payers, governments, and others to evaluate and improve end-of-life care.

Significance of the Association between Disc Degeneration Changes on Imaging and Low Back Pain: A Review Article

Low back pain (LBP) is a major health issue resulting in a huge economic burden on the community. It not only increases the medical costs directly, but also raises the disability and loss of productivity in the general population. Symptoms include local pain over the spinal area, pain radiating to the lower leg, stiffness, and muscle tension. LBP is strongly linked with intervertebral disc degeneration that is further associated with the disruption of the complex anatomy of nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and adjacent supporting structures of the spine. Change in the shape and intensity of nucleus pulposus, decreased disc height, disc herniation, vertebral endplate changes, presence of osteophyte, and posterior high intensity zones are degenerative changes found in imaging studies. Every feature is considered while grading the severity score. Modic changes, DEBIT (disc extension beyond interspace) score, and Pfirrmann criteria are some of the scoring criteria used for evaluating disc degeneration severity. Moreover, the total number and contiguous pattern of affected discs play a crucial role in symptom generation of back pain. Many studies have reported asymptomatic patients. Thus, the correlation between degeneration severity found in imaging study and symptom severity of LBP remain unclear. This review discusses and summarizes the available literature on the significance of the association between the severity of degenerative changes found in imaging study with the presence and intensity of LBP.

A new instrument to measure high value, cost-conscious care attitudes among healthcare stakeholders: development of the MHAQ

BACKGROUND

Residents have to learn to provide high value, cost-conscious care (HVCCC) to counter the trend of excessive healthcare costs. Their learning is impacted by individuals from different stakeholder groups within the workplace environment. These individuals' attitudes toward HVCCC may influence how and what residents learn. This study was carried out to develop an instrument to reliably measure HVCCC attitudes among residents, staff physicians, administrators, and patients. The instrument can be used to assess the residency-training environment.

METHOD

The Maastricht HVCCC Attitude Questionnaire (MHAQ) was developed in four phases. First, we conducted exploratory factor analyses using original data from a previously published survey. Next, we added nine items to strengthen subscales and tested the new questionnaire among the four stakeholder groups. We used exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's alphas to define subscales, after which the final version of the MHAQ was constructed. Finally, we used generalizability theory to determine the number of respondents (residents or staff physicians) needed to reliably measure a specialty attitude score.

RESULTS

Initial factor analysis identified three subscales. Thereafter, 301 residents, 297 staff physicians, 53 administrators and 792 patients completed the new questionnaire between June 2017 and July 2018. The best fitting subscale composition was a three-factor model. Subscales were defined as high-value care, cost incorporation, and perceived drawbacks. Cronbach's alphas were between 0.61 and 0.82 for all stakeholders on all subscales. Sufficient reliability for assessing national specialty attitude (G-coefficient > 0.6) could be achieved from 14 respondents.

CONCLUSIONS

The MHAQ reliably measures individual attitudes toward HVCCC in different stakeholders in health care contexts. It addresses key dimensions of HVCCC, providing content validity evidence. The MHAQ can be used to identify frontrunners of HVCCC, pinpoint aspects of residency training that need improvement, and benchmark and compare across specialties, hospitals and regions.

Biases distorting priority setting

Modern health care faces an ever widening gap between technological possibilities and available resources. To handle this challenge we have constructed elaborate systems for health policy making and priority setting. Despite such systems many health care systems provide a wide range of documented low-value care while being unable to afford emerging high-value care. Accordingly, this article sets out asking why priority setting in health care has so poor outcomes while relevant systems are well developed and readily available. It starts to identify some rational and structural explanations for the discrepancy between theoretical efforts and practical outcomes in priority setting. However, even if these issues are addressed, practical priority setting may still not obtain its goals. This is because a wide range of irrational effects is hampering priority setting: biases. By using examples from the literature the article identifies and analyses a wide range of biases indicating how they can distort priority setting processes. Overuse, underuse, and overinvestment, as well as hampered disinvestment and undermined priority setting principles are but some of the identified implications. Moreover, while some biases are operating mainly on one level, many are active on the micro, meso and on the macro level. Identifying and analyzing biases affecting priority setting is the first, but crucial, step towards improving health policy making and priority setting in health care.

Concept Analysis of Unintended Consequences

The concept of unintended consequences is widely discussed in the realms of politics or economics, but not as frequently as related to health care. Nursing professionals act with the intent to improve health outcomes for patients; however, with every action, there are risks and consequences that may or may not be anticipated. This article utilizes a modified version of Walker and Avant's framework for concept analysis (2011) to identify the characteristics, defining attributes, and antecedents of the concept of unintended consequences, present a model case and empirical referents, and provide a practical and theoretical application to nursing. Opportunities for future research related to the concept of unintended consequences include a closer study of nurses' choices that may affect their well-being or productivity, as well as educational opportunities to better inform nurses of the impact unintended consequences may have on them and the care they provide.

Physician and Patient Characteristics Associated With More Intensive End-of-Life Care

CONTEXT

Although patient and physician characteristics are thought to be predictive of discretionary interventions at the end of life (EoL), few studies have data on both parties.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that patient preferences and physician attitudes are both independently associated with discretionary interventions at the EoL.

METHODS

We report secondary analyses of data collected prospectively from physicians (n = 38) and patients with advanced cancer (n = 265) in the Values and Options in Cancer Care study. Predictor variables were patient attitudes toward EoL care and physician-reported comfort with medical paternalism, assessed indirectly using a modified version of the Control Preference Scale. We explored whether the magnitude of the physician variable was influenced by the inclusion of particular patient treatment-preference variables (i.e., effect modification). Outcomes were a chemotherapy use score (≤14 days before death [scored 2], 15-31 days before death [scored 1], and >31 days [scored 0]) and an emergency department visit/inpatient admission score (two or more admissions in the last 31 days [scored 2], one admission [1], and 0 admissions [0]) in the last month of life.

RESULTS

Chemotherapy scores were nearly 0.25 points higher if patients expressed a preference for experimental treatments with unknown benefit at study entry (0.238 points, 95% CI = 0.047-0.429) or reported an unfavorable attitude toward palliative care (0.247 points, 95% CI = 0.047-0.450). A two-standard deviation difference in physician comfort with medical paternalism corresponded to standardized effects of 0.35 (95% CI = 0.03-0.66) for chemotherapy and 0.33 (95% CI = 0.04-0.61) for emergency department visits/inpatient admissions. There was no evidence of effect modification.

CONCLUSION

Patient treatment preferences and physician attitudes are independently associated with higher levels of treatment intensity before death. Greater research, clinical, and policy attention to patient treatment preferences and physician comfort with medical paternalism might lead to improvements in care of patients with advanced disease.

Publicly insured caesarean sections in private hospitals: a repeated cross-sectional analysis in Chile

OBJECTIVE

To measure the likelihood of delivery by caesarean section (C-section) for publicly insured births as compared with privately insured births, across all hospitals and within private hospitals.

DESIGN

Repeated cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING

The universe of hospital births in 15 regions of Chile.

PARTICIPANTS

2 405 082 singleton births between 2001 and 2014.

OUTCOME MEASURES

C-section rates by type of hospital and type of insurance; contribution to overall C-section rates of subgroups by type of insurance and type of hospital; adjusted OR of privately insured births delivered by C-section compared with publicly insured births, across all hospitals and within private hospitals; percentage of discharges related to maternal morbidity and mortality across groups; length of stay after delivery.

RESULTS

An increasing percentage of publicly insured births occur in private facilities each year. Approximately three out of four publicly insured births in private hospitals are delivered by C-section. The adjusted odd of C-section delivery in a private maternity unit is lower for those privately insured than for those with public insurance: OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.64. There is no evidence that these women would have been more likely to have a C-section out of medical necessity.

CONCLUSIONS

We find an association between high C-section rates and publicly insured women delivering at private institutions in Chile, and show that this group is driving the overall high and growing rates. There is a need for a more informed surveillance on the part of the public insurance system of its private providers' C-section practices.

An Empirical Investigation of "Physician Congestion" in U.S. University Hospitals

We add a new angle to the debate on whether greater healthcare spending is associated with better outcomes, by focusing on the link between the size of the physician workforce at the ward level and healthcare results. Drawing on standard organization theories, we proposed that due to organizational limitations, the relationship between physician workforce size and medical performance is hump-shaped. Using a sample of 150 U.S. university departments across three specialties that record measures of clinical scores, as well as a rich set of covariates, we found that the relationship was indeed hump-shaped. At the two extremes, departments with an insufficient (excessive) number of physicians may gain a substantial increase in healthcare quality by the addition (dismissal) of a single physician. The marginal elasticity of healthcare quality with respect to the number of physicians, although positive and significant, was much smaller than the marginal contribution of other factors. Moreover, research quality conducted at the ward level was shown to be an important moderator. Our results suggest that studying the relationship between the number of physicians per bed and the quality of healthcare at an aggregate level may lead to bias. Framing the problem at the ward-level may facilitate a better allocation of physicians.

Dilemmas of medical overuse in general practice - A focus group study

OBJECTIVE

To obtain first-hand in-depth accounts of overtesting amongst GPs in Norway, as well as the GPs' perspectives on drivers of overtesting and strategies that can prevent overtesting.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Four focus groups with GPs were conducted. All participants were asked to share examples of unnecessary testing from their everyday general practice, to identify the driving forces involved in these examples and discuss any measures that might prevent excessive testing. All authors collaborated on the analysis, conducted as systematic text condensation, using critical incident technique.

RESULTS

This study reveals two main positions regarding overtesting in general practice. In the categorical position there is no such thing as overtesting and GPs are obliged to perform extensive investigations on the suspicion that any person can carry a fatal disease, no matter how minor or absent their symptoms are. In contrast, in the dilemmatic position, the GPs acknowledge that investigations can cause significant harm, but still feel pressured to discover disease at the earliest opportunity and to meet patients' demands. The GPs' strategies for resolving this dilemma are often demanding and not always successful, but sharing uncertainty and fallibility with patients and colleagues appears to be the most promising strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that GPs in Norway experience a strong pressure to discover any instance of disease and to meet patients' demands for investigations. One way of preventing the harm that accrues from overtesting is openly sharing uncertainty and fallibility with patients and colleagues.

Expanding disease and undermining the ethos of medicine

The expansion of the concept of disease poses problems for epidemiology. Certainly, new diseases are discovered and more people are treated earlier and better. However, the historically unprecedented expansion is criticised for going too far. Overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and medicalization are some of the challenges heatedly debated in medicine, media, and in health policy making. How are we to analyse and handle the vast expansion of disease? Where can we draw the line between warranted and unwarranted expansion? To address this issue, which has wide implications for epidemiology, we need to understand how disease is expanded. This article identifies six ways that our conception of disease is expanded: by increased knowledge (epistemic), making more phenomena count as disease (ontological), doing more (pragmatic), defining more (conceptual), and by encompassing the bad (ethic) and the ugly (aesthetic). Expanding the subject matter of medicine extends its realm and power, but also its responsibility. It makes medicine accountable for ever more of human potential dis-eases. At the same time it blurs the borders and undermines the demarcation of medicine. Six specific advices can guide our action clarifying the subject matter of medicine in general and epidemiology in particular. To avoid unlimited responsibility and to keep medicine on par with its end, we need to direct the expansion of disease to what effectively identifies or reduces human suffering. Otherwise we will deplete medicine and undermine the greatest asset in health care: trust.

Current evidence for spinal X-ray use in the chiropractic profession: a narrative review

The use of routine spinal X-rays within chiropractic has a contentious history. Elements of the profession advocate for the need for routine spinal X-rays to improve patient management, whereas other chiropractors advocate using spinal X-rays only when endorsed by current imaging guidelines. This review aims to summarise the current evidence for the use of spinal X-ray in chiropractic practice, with consideration of the related risks and benefits. Current evidence supports the use of spinal X-rays only in the diagnosis of trauma and spondyloarthropathy, and in the assessment of progressive spinal structural deformities such as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. MRI is indicated to diagnose serious pathology such as cancer or infection, and to assess the need for surgical management in radiculopathy and spinal stenosis. Strong evidence demonstrates risks of imaging such as excessive radiation exposure, overdiagnosis, subsequent low-value investigation and treatment procedures, and increased costs. In most cases the potential benefits from routine imaging, including spinal X-rays, do not outweigh the potential harms. The use of spinal X-rays should not be routinely performed in chiropractic practice, and should be guided by clinical guidelines and clinician judgement.

Explaining variations in test ordering in primary care: protocol for a realist review

INTRODUCTION

Studies have demonstrated the existence of significant variation in test-ordering patterns in both primary and secondary care, for a wide variety of tests and across many health systems. Inconsistent practice could be explained by differing degrees of underuse and overuse of tests for diagnosis or monitoring. Underuse of appropriate tests may result in delayed or missed diagnoses; overuse may be an early step that can trigger a cascade of unnecessary intervention, as well as being a source of harm in itself.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This realist review will seek to improve our understanding of how and why variation in laboratory test ordering comes about. A realist review is a theory-driven systematic review informed by a realist philosophy of science, seeking to produce useful theory that explains observed outcomes, in terms of relationships between important contexts and generative mechanisms.An initial explanatory theory will be developed in consultation with a stakeholder group and this 'programme theory' will be tested and refined against available secondary evidence, gathered via an iterative and purposive search process. This data will be analysed and synthesised according to realist principles, to produce a refined 'programme theory', explaining the contexts in which primary care doctors fail to order 'necessary' tests and/or order 'unnecessary' tests, and the mechanisms underlying these decisions.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this review. A complete and transparent report will be produced in line with the RAMESES standards. The theory developed will be used to inform recommendations for the development of interventions designed to minimise 'inappropriate' testing. Our dissemination strategy will be informed by our stakeholders. A variety of outputs will be tailored to ensure relevance to policy-makers, primary care and pathology practitioners, and patients.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018091986.

Health seeking behavior as a predictor of healthcare utilization in a population of patients with spinal pain

BACKGROUND

The global burden of low back pain is growing rapidly, accompanied by increasing rates of associated healthcare utilization. Health seeking behavior (HSB) has been suggested as a mediator of healthcare utilization. The aims of this study were to: 1) develop a proxy HSB measure based on healthcare consumption patterns prior to initial consultation for spinal pain, and 2) examine associations between the proxy HSB measure and future healthcare utilization in a population of patients with spine disorders.

METHODS

A cohort of 1,691 patients seeking care for spinal pain at a single military hospital were included. Cluster analyses were performed for the identification of a proxy HSB measure. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictive capacity of HSB on eight different general and spine-related high healthcare utilization (upper 25%) outcomes variables.

RESULTS

The strongest proxy measure of HSB was prior primary care provider visits. In unadjusted models, HSB predicted healthcare utilization across all eight general and spine-related outcome variables. After adjusting for covariates, HSB still predicted general and spine-related healthcare utilization for most variables including total medical visits (OR = 2.48, 95%CI 1.09,3.11), total medical costs (OR = 2.72, 95%CI 2.16,3.41), and low back pain-specific costs (OR = 1.31, 95%CI 1.00,1.70).

CONCLUSION

Health seeking behavior prior to initial consultation for spine pain was related to healthcare utilization after consultation for spine pain. HSB may be an important variable to consider when developing an individualized care plan and considering the prognosis of a patient.

Implementing risk-aligned bladder cancer surveillance care

Implementation science is a rapidly developing field dedicated to the scientific investigation of strategies to facilitate improvements in healthcare delivery. These strategies have been shown in several settings to lead to more complete and sustained change. In this essay, we discuss how refined surveillance recommendations for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, which involve a complex interplay between providers, healthcare facilities, and patients, could benefit from use of implementation strategies derived from the growing literature of implementation science. These surveillance recommendations are based on international consensus and indicate that the frequency of surveillance cystoscopy should be aligned with each patient's risk for recurrence and progression of disease. Risk-aligned surveillance entails cystoscopy at 3 and 12 months followed by annual surveillance for low-risk cancers, with surveillance every 3 months reserved for high-risk cancers. However, risk-aligned care is not the norm. Implementing risk-aligned surveillance could curtail overuse among low-risk patients, while curbing underuse among high-risk patients. Despite clear direction from respected and readily available clinical guidelines, there are multiple challenges to implementing risk-aligned surveillance in a busy clinical setting. Here, we describe how implementation science methods can be systematically used to understand determinants of care and to develop strategies to improve care. We discuss how the tailored implementation for chronic diseases framework can facilitate systematic assessment and how intervention mapping can be used to develop implementation strategies to improve care. Taken together, these implementation science methods can help facilitate practice transformation to improve risk-aligned surveillance for bladder cancer.

Association of Clinician Denial of Patient Requests With Patient Satisfaction

IMPORTANCE

Prior studies suggesting clinician fulfillment or denial of requests affects patient satisfaction included limited adjustment for patient confounders. The studies also did not examine distinct request types, yet patient expectations and clinician fulfillment or denial might vary among request types.

OBJECTIVE

To examine how patient satisfaction with the clinician is associated with clinician denial of distinct types of patient requests, adjusting for patient characteristics.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Cross-sectional observational study of 1319 outpatient visits to family physicians (n = 56) by 1141 adults at one Northern California academic health center.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

We used 6 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group Adult Visit Survey items to measure patient satisfaction with the visit physician. Standardized items were averaged to form the satisfaction score (Cronbach α = 0.80), which was then percentile-transformed. Seven separate linear mixed-effects models examined the adjusted mean differences in patient satisfaction percentile associated with denial of each of the following requests (if present)-referral, pain medication, antibiotic, other new medication, laboratory test, radiology test, or other test-compared with fulfillment of the respective requests. The models adjusted for patient sociodemographics, weight, health status, personality, worry over health, prior visit with clinician, and the other 6 request categories and their dispositions.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) age of the 1141 patients was 45.6 (16.1) years, and 902 (68.4%) were female. Among 1319 visits, 897 (68.0%) included at least 1 request; 1441 (85.2%) were fulfilled. Requests by category were referral, 294 (21.1%); pain medication, 271 (20.5%); antibiotic, 107 (8.1%); other new medication, 271 (20.5%); laboratory test, 448 (34.0%); radiology test, 153 (11.6%); and other tests, 147 (11.1%). Compared with fulfillment of the respective request type, clinician denials of requests for referral, pain medication, other new medication, and laboratory test were associated with worse satisfaction (adjusted mean percentile differences, -19.75 [95% CI, -30.75 to -8.74], -10.72 [95% CI, -19.66 to -1.78], -20.36 [95% CI, -29.54 to -11.18], and -9.19 [95% CI, -17.50 to -0.87]), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Clinician denial of some types of requests was associated with worse patient satisfaction with the clinician, but not for others, when compared with fulfillment of the requests. In an era of patient satisfaction-driven compensation, the findings suggest the need to train clinicians to deal effectively with requests, potentially enhancing patient and clinician experiences.

Role Modeling and Regional Health Care Intensity: U.S. Medical Student Attitudes Toward and Experiences With Cost-Conscious Care

PURPOSE

To examine medical student attitudes toward cost-conscious care and whether regional health care intensity is associated with reported exposure to physician role-modeling behaviors related to cost-conscious care.

METHOD

Students at 10 U.S. medical schools were surveyed in 2015. Thirty-five items assessed attitudes toward, perceived barriers to and consequences of, and observed physician role-modeling behaviors related to cost-conscious care (using scales for cost-conscious and potentially wasteful behaviors; Cronbach alphas of 0.82 and 0.81, respectively). Regional health care intensity was measured using Dartmouth Atlas End-of-Life Chronic Illness Care data: ratio of physician visits per decedent compared with the U.S. average, ratio of specialty to primary care physician visits per decedent, and hospital care intensity index.

RESULTS

Of 5,992 students invited, 3,395 (57%) responded. Ninety percent (2,640/2,932) agreed physicians have a responsibility to contain costs. However, 48% (1,1416/2,960) thought ordering a test is easier than explaining why it is unnecessary, and 58% (1,685/2,928) agreed ordering fewer tests will increase the risk of malpractice litigation. In adjusted linear regression analyses, students in higher-health-care-intensity regions reported observing significantly fewer cost-conscious role-modeling behaviors: For each one-unit increase in the three health care intensity measures, scores on the 21-point cost-conscious role-modeling scale decreased by 4.4 (SE 0.7), 3.2 (0.6), and 3.9 (0.6) points, respectively (all P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Medical students endorse barriers to cost-conscious care and encounter conflicting role-modeling behaviors, which are related to regional health care intensity. Enhancing role modeling in the learning environment may help prepare future physicians to address health care costs.

Use of Pathology Data to Improve High-Value Treatment of Cervical Neoplasia

We investigated the influence of pathology data to improve patient outcomes in the treatment of high-grade cervical neoplasia in a joint pathology and gynecology collaboration. Two of us (B.S.D. and M.D.) reviewed all cytology, colposcopy and surgical pathology results, patient history, and pregnancy outcomes from all patients with loop electrosurgical excision procedure specimens for a 33-month period (January 2011-September 2013). We used this to determine compliance to 2006 consensus guidelines for the performance of loop electrosurgical excision procedure and shared this information in 2 interprofessional and interdisciplinary educational interventions with Obstetrics/Gynecology and Pathology faculty at the end of September 2013. We simultaneously emphasized the new 2013 guidelines. During the postintervention period, we continued to provide follow-up using the parameters previously collected. Our postintervention data include 90 cases from a 27-month period (October 2013-December 2015). Our preintervention data include 331 cases in 33 months (average 10.0 per month) with 76% adherence to guidelines. Postintervention, there were 90 cases in 27 months (average 3.4 per month) and 96% adherence to the 2013 (more conservative) guidelines (P < .0001, χ² test). Preintervention, the rate of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in loop electrosurgical excision procedures was 44%, whereas postintervention, there was a 60% high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion rate on loop electrosurgical excision procedure (P < .0087 by 2-tailed Fisher exact test). The duration between diagnosis of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and loop electrosurgical excision procedure also increased significantly from a median 25.5 months preintervention to 54 months postintervention (P < .0073; Wilcoxon Kruskal-Wallis test). Postintervention, there was a marked decrease of loop electrosurgical excision procedure cases as well as better patient outcomes. We infer improved patient safety, and higher value can be achieved by providing performance-based pathologic data.

Right services to right patients at right time in right setting in Tays Eye Centre

PURPOSE

The report describes the concepts behind procedures implemented in Tays Eye Centre to enable improved access to care and improved productivity.

METHODS

The strategy was developed in 2009 after hospital district decided to construct a new eye hospital which was opened in 2012. The following principles were implemented: (i) identification of high-volume patient groups: the 'big four' eye diseases accounting for 70% of patient visits and costs: age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, retinal diseases and cataract; (ii) stratification and prioritization of patient care based on risk of permanent visual disability; (iii) standardization of services for low-risk patients; (iv) maximization of productivity; and (v) shared care. The impact of the new strategy on access to care and productivity is reported for years 2011-2015.

RESULTS

In 2011-2015, the total number of services provided increased 46% while the work contribution increased 15%. The number of referrals increased 76% and the number of outpatient appointments increased 2.5-fold. Simultaneously, the number of delayed follow-up visits decreased to zero. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) injections increased 1.8-fold. However, after 50% yearly increase in Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) injections, a plateau was reached in 2014 with a 3% decline in 2014-2015 with no changes in treatment indications. In the beginning of 2016, the number of injections has started to increase again (+9% compared to 2015).  The total number of surgical procedures increased 98%. The annual number of cataract surgeries increased 64% and bilateral surgeries from 11% to 39%.

CONCLUSION

Revised operational concepts and new facilities together with a 15% increase in work contribution led to a 46% increase in overall productivity, improved access to care and the clearance of delayed services. Efforts continue to further refine cost-effective care and to define the appropriate levels of services.

Safety Issues in the Interaction of Conventional, Complementary, and Alternative Health Care

This article reviews issues of safety in health care, applied particularly to the interface between conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine. These issues include errors in treatment and medical management, adverse effects of pharmaceuticals, and defining risk for patients. For complementary and alternative medicine, especially dietary supplements, problems of quality control, licensing, regulation, and misrepresentation are discussed. An important issue is the interface between conventional and complementary therapies, in terms of drug/herb interactions, laboratory diagnosis, and lack of communication between clinicians about patients. Improvements in safety and quality will come from a commitment to better education and understanding between both types of care.

The Fate of Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules: Clinical Management and Radiation Exposure Associated

Background

The appropriate management of the large number of lung nodules detected during the course of routine medical care presents a challenge. We aimed to evaluate the usual clinical practice in solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) management and associated radiation exposure.

Methods

We examined 893 radiology reports of consecutive patients undergoing chest computed tomography (CT) and radiography at two public hospitals in Spain. Information on diagnostic procedures from SPN detection and lung cancer diagnosis was collected prospectively for 18 months.

Results

More than 20% of patients with SPN detected on either chest radiograph (19.8%) or CT (26.1%) underwent no additional interventions and none developed lung cancer (100% negative predictive value). 346 (72.0%) patients with SPN detected on chest radiograph and 254 (61.5%) patients with SPN detected on CT had additional diagnostic tests and were not diagnosed with lung cancer. In patients undergoing follow-up imaging for SPNs detected on CT median number of additional imaging tests was 3.5 and the mean cumulative effective dose was 24.4 mSv; for those detected on chest radiograph the median number of additional imaging tests was 2.8 and the mean cumulative effective dose was 10.3 mSv.

Conclusions

Patients who did not have additional interventions were not diagnosed of lung cancer. There was an excessive amount of interventions in a high percentage of patients presenting SPN, which was associated with an excess of radiation exposure.

Myths and Memes about Single-Payer Health Insurance in the United States: A Rebuttal to Conservative Claims

Recent years have seen the rapid growth of private think tanks within the neoconservative movement that conduct “policy research” biased to their own agenda. This article provides an evidence-based rebuttal to a 2002 report by one such think tank, the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), which was intended to discredit 20 alleged myths about single-payer national health insurance as a policy option for the United States. Eleven “myths” are rebutted under eight categories: access, cost containment, quality, efficiency, single-payer as solution, control of drug prices, ability to compete abroad (the “business case”), and public support for a single-payer system. Six memes (self-replicating ideas that are promulgated without regard to their merits) are identified in the NCPA report. Myths and memes should have no place in the national debate now underway over the future of a failing health care system, and need to be recognized as such and countered by experience and unbiased evidence.

The inverted U curve and emergency medicine: Overdiagnosis and the law of unintended consequences

We all think and assume that more is better, but unintended consequences can arise in a complex system. However, in our complex world, everything of consequence follows an inverted U curve. The inverted U curve helps us challenge our natural assumption that more is better. This leads us to the issue of overdiagnosis and the harms that result. Journals are now publishing lists of studies where more medical care caused harm. Changing diagnostic thresholds together with the fear of uncertainty by both patients and doctors has a synergistic and costly effect on the health system. The over-reliance on technology tends to supplant clinical judgement. This intervention bias promotes the overutilisation of diagnostic testing. What patients actually value is thinking doctors who talk to them. Promoting clinical judgement reinforces the mantra that less is more, resulting in positively intended consequences. This essay aims to be a thought-provoking commentary of our practice.

The rise of technology in diabetes care. Not all that is new is necessarily better

Health-care technologies have brought many benefits to the medical profession and to patients. The introduction of the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pump and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices offers patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) the opportunity to optimize their blood glucose control and are increasingly being championed as a routine treatment approach for young people. However, the current evidence base does not convincingly support arguments for the generalized application of CSII and CGM into routine clinical practice. The 'patient-medical device interface' is clearly a complex paradigm, and central to its success is the degree of adherence, understanding, and engagement demonstrated by the patient with the technology. The introduction CSII/CGM technologies into the daily routine care of the patient imposes both psychological and 'time-effort' burdens that many patients and families with T1D will find demanding. The current application of these devices cannot therefore be considered a panacea for the self-management of T1D, and raises a number of challenging problems, including those of a practical, health-economic, and ethical nature that need to be fully resolved before it and other emerging technologies can be considered to have achieved this status.