The impact of electronic health records on healthcare quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of electronic health record (EHR) on healthcare quality, we hence carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies on this topic. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify studies that investigated the association between the EHR implementation and process or outcome indicators. Two reviewers screened identified citations and extracted data according to the PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model for each indicator. Heterogeneity was quantified using the Cochran Q test and I2 statistics, and publication bias was assessed using the Egger's test. RESULTS: Of the 23 398 citations identified, 47 articles were included in the analysis. Meta-analysis showed an association between EHR use and a reduced documentation time with a difference in mean of -22.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) = -38.8 to -6.0%; P < 0.007]. EHR resulted also associated with a higher guideline adherence with a risk ratio (RR) of 1.33 (95% CI = 1.01 to 1.76; P = 0.049) and a lower number of medication errors with an overall RR of 0.46 (95% CI = 0.38 to 0.55; P < 0.001), and adverse drug effects (ADEs) with an overall RR of 0.66 (95% CI = 0.44 to 0.99; P = 0.045). No association with mortality was evident (P = 0.936). High heterogeneity among the studies was evident. Publication bias was not evident. CONCLUSIONS: EHR system, when properly implemented, can improve the quality of healthcare, increasing time efficiency and guideline adherence and reducing medication errors and ADEs. Strategies for EHR implementation should be therefore recommended and promoted.

[Burden of medical errors in Italy: an analysis of the literature]. / Burden epidemiologico ed economico dell'errore medico: analisi della letteratura nel nostro Paese.

INTRODUCTION: Medical malpractice and litigation have a significant impact on the Italian National Health Service. The aim of this study was to analyze the state of the art of medical errors in Italy, in particular, assessing which specialties are most affected. METHODS: We performed a literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar; institutional websites (Ministry of Health, Higher Institute of Health, National Agency for Regional Health Services, National Institute of Statistics, National Research Council, Court of Auditors), gray literature and specialized magazines. RESULTS: Results show that data regarding the frequency of medical errors and the effectiveness of prevention measures in Italy are scarce. Most papers published on this topic refer to a few specialties, including Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, and Laboratory medicine. Surgery is the specialty most affected. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a growing attention towards patient safety and quality of healthcare, medical errors continue to occur in clinical practice. Most errors are not due to individual incompetence or negligence but they are rooted in system breakdowns. A systematic approach is therefore required, based on: an analysis of critical aspects in the system; the selection and implementation, at different levels of the system, of appropriate and evidence-based risk management interventions involving all stakeholders; a context analysis to identify barriers and facilitators for change; a performance assessment to verify results and identify actions for improvement.

Extracorporeal Photopheresis for Second-Line Treatment of Chronic Graft-versus-Host Diseases: Results from a Health Technology Assessment in Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a comparative, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact analysis of Therakos online extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) compared with the main alternatives used for the treatment of steroid-refractory/resistant chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) in Italy. METHODS: The current therapeutic pathway was identified by searching medical databases and from the results of a survey of practice in Italian clinical reference centers. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of second-line alternatives. Budget impact and cost-effectiveness analyses were performed from the Italian National Health Service perspective over a 7-year time horizon through the adaption of a Markov model. The following health states were considered: complete and partial response, stable disease, and progression. A discount rate of 3% was applied to costs and outcomes. RESULTS: The most common alternatives used in Italy for the management of steroid-refractory/resistant cGvHD were ECP, mycophenolate, pentostatin, and imatinib. The literature review highlighted that complete and partial responses are higher with ECP than with the alternatives while serious adverse events are less common. The economic analysis showed that Therakos online ECP represents the dominating alternative, in that it delivers greater benefit at a lower cost. In fact, according to the alternatives considered, cost saving ranged from €3237.09 to €19,903.51 per patient with 0.04 to 0.21 quality-adjusted life-year gained. CONCLUSIONS: Therakos online ECP should be considered an effective, safe, and cost-effective alternative in steroid-refractory/resistant cGvHD. There is inequality in access, and a dedicated reimbursement tariff, however, should be introduced to overcome these barriers.

Physiological Activity of Spinal Cord in Children: An 18F-FDG PET-CT Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in a pediatric population, F-Fluoro-deoxy-glucose (F-FDG) metabolic activity of normal spinal cord and to assess the correlation with demographic, clinical, and environmental variables. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: F-FDG uptake of normal spinal cord is variable in children. The knowledge of physiological metabolism of spinal cord is essential to distinguish normal from pathological findings by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated F-FDG positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans from a total of 167 pediatric patients (97 males; 3.9-18.9 yr) divided into 4 age groups (0-4.9 yr, 5-9.9 yr, 10-14.9 yr, and 15-18.9 yr), excluding those submitted to previous or recent therapeutic procedures influencing spinal cord metabolism or with central nervous system diseases. Spinal cord was divided into 3 levels (C1-C7; D1-D6; and D7-L1), and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of each cord level was measured. Correlations between SUVmax and spinal cord level, age, body weight, sex, type of disease, and season were statistically assessed. RESULTS: Median SUVmax was similar and significantly (P < 0.01) higher at C1-C7 and D7-L1 levels than at D1-D6 level and it significantly (P < 0.01) increased with age in all spinal cord levels. A positive and significant association between SUVmax and body weight, female sex, and Hodgkin lymphoma was found. No significant association with season was observed. By multivariate analysis, only weight and female sex remained significant. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of physiological F-FDG spinal cord activity in children is essential for a correct interpretation of positron emission tomography-computed tomography, especially in oncologic pediatric patients to avoid potential pitfalls. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Economic impact of adult obesity on health systems: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Obesity represents an important public health issue. An assessment of its costs would be useful to provide recommendations for policy and decision-making strategies. The aims of our study were to carry out a systematic review to assess the economic burden of adult obesity in terms of direct and indirect costs and to perform a quality appraisal of the analysed studies. METHODS: A literature search was carried out on PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library to retrieve cost-of-illness (COI) analyses focused on adult (aged 18 years or more) overweight or obese people and published up to 2013. COI analyses that considered direct and indirect costs were included. Each included manuscript was independently appraised by three groups of researchers on the basis of the British Medical Journal Drummond's checklist. RESULTS: Approximately 2044 articles were initially retrieved, and 17 were included in the current review. The included studies showed a medium-high-quality level. The available studies seemed to be heterogeneous both in terms of methodology and results reporting. However, as many studies have been conducted from the payer perspective, just direct medical costs can be considered exhaustive. As only three studies included considered also indirect costs, there is no strong evidence to give a comprehensive picture of this phenomenon also from the societal perspective. CONCLUSION: The review confirmed that obesity absorbs a huge amount of health-care resources. Further research is therefore needed to better understand the economic impact and to identify and promote public health strategies to tackle obesity.