EPC-Related Articles, October 17, 2014

Health Affairs
Nayak RK, Pearson SD. The ethics of 'fail first': guidelines and practical scenarios for step therapy coverage policies. Health Aff 2014 Oct; 33(10):1779-85. [Cites AHRQ comparative effectiveness reviews (CER), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Effectiveness of Treatment in At-Risk Preschoolers: Long-Term Effectiveness in All Ages, and Variability in Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment, 2011, and Combination Therapy Versus Intensification of Statin Monotherapy: A Update, 2014; also cites summary of AHRQ CER on drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults by Singh and Cameron (J Manag Care Pharm, 2012).]  Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Pediatrics
Flaherman VJ, Fuentes-Afflick E. Social and public health perspectives of promotion of breastfeeding. JAMA Pediatr 2014 Oct; 168(10):877-8. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007.]

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
West P, Neily J, Warner L, Mills P, Mazzia L, Paull D, Hemphill R. Surgical programs in the Veterans Health Administration maintain briefing and debriefing following medical team training. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2014 May; 40(5):235-9. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer II: An Updated Critical Analysis of the Evidence for Patient Safety Practices, 2013.] Select to access the abstract.

Wang TI, Arias MM, Williams JA, Kun HM, Muñoz AA, Slininger J, Fischer J, Belman MJ. Patient safety first... a California partnership for health. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2014 May; 40(5):205-11. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer II: An Updated Critical Analysis of the Evidence for Patient Safety Practices, 2013.]Select to access the abstract.

Joynt KE, Sarma N, Epstein AM, Jha AK, Weissman JS. Challenges in reducing readmissions: lessons from leadership and frontline personnel at eight minority-serving hospitals. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2014 Oct; 40(10):435-43. [Cites AHRQ technical report, Closing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement, Volume 1: Series Overview and Methodology, 2004.]

Abramson EL, Silver M, Kaushal R, HITEC Investigators. Meaningful use status and participation in health information exchange among New York state hospitals: a longitudinal assessment. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2014 Oct; 40(10):452-60. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on impact of health information technology on quality, safety, efficiency, and costs of medical care, performed by the Southern California EPC.]