scholarly journals Just Because (Most) Hospitals Are Publishing Charges Does Not Mean Prices Are More Transparent

10.2196/14436 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e14436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cody Lendon Mullens ◽  
J Andres Hernandez ◽  
Evan D Anderson ◽  
Lindsay Allen
Keyword(s):  
Educational Materials ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Decision Making ◽  
Patient Decision ◽  
Pennsylvania Hospital ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Machine Readable ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Readable Format ◽  
Machine Readable Format

Background The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently mandated that all hospitals publish their charge description masters (CDMs) online, in a machine-readable format, by January 1, 2019. In addition, CMS recommended that CDM data be made available in a manner that was consumer friendly and accessible to patients. Objective This study aimed to (1) examine all hospitals across the state of Pennsylvania to understand policy compliance and (2) use established metrics to measure accessibility and consumer friendliness of posted CDM data. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted to quantify hospital website compliance with the recent CMS policies requiring hospitals to publish their CDM. Data were collected from all Pennsylvania hospital websites. Consumer friendliness was assessed based on searchability, number of website clicks to data, and supplemental educational materials accompanying CDMs such as videos or text. Results Most hospitals (189/234, 80.1%) were compliant, but significant variation in data presentation was observed. The mean number of website clicks to the CDM was 3.7 (SD 1.3; range: 1-8). A total of 23.1% of compliant hospitals provided no supplemental educational material with their CDM. Conclusions Although disclosure of charges has improved, the data may not be sufficient to meaningfully influence patient decision making.

scholarly journals Just Because (Most) Hospitals Are Publishing Charges Does Not Mean Prices Are More Transparent (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cody Lendon Mullens ◽  
J Andres Hernandez ◽  
Evan D Anderson ◽  
Lindsay Allen
Keyword(s):  
Educational Materials ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Decision Making ◽  
Patient Decision ◽  
Pennsylvania Hospital ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Machine Readable ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Readable Format ◽  
Machine Readable Format

BACKGROUND The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently mandated that all hospitals publish their charge description masters (CDMs) online, in a machine-readable format, by January 1, 2019. In addition, CMS recommended that CDM data be made available in a manner that was consumer friendly and accessible to patients. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to (1) examine all hospitals across the state of Pennsylvania to understand policy compliance and (2) use established metrics to measure accessibility and consumer friendliness of posted CDM data. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis was conducted to quantify hospital website compliance with the recent CMS policies requiring hospitals to publish their CDM. Data were collected from all Pennsylvania hospital websites. Consumer friendliness was assessed based on searchability, number of website clicks to data, and supplemental educational materials accompanying CDMs such as videos or text. RESULTS Most hospitals (189/234, 80.1%) were compliant, but significant variation in data presentation was observed. The mean number of website clicks to the CDM was 3.7 (SD 1.3; range: 1-8). A total of 23.1% of compliant hospitals provided no supplemental educational material with their CDM. CONCLUSIONS Although disclosure of charges has improved, the data may not be sufficient to meaningfully influence patient decision making.

scholarly journals CFTR Lifecycle Map—A Systems Medicine Model of CFTR Maturation to Predict Possible Active Compound Combinations

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7590
Author(s):  
Liza Vinhoven ◽  
Frauke Stanke ◽  
Sylvia Hafkemeyer ◽  
Manuel Manfred Nietert
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Systems Medicine ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Cftr Mutations ◽  
Machine Readable ◽  
High Throughput Screens ◽  
Readable Format ◽  
Machine Readable Format

Different causative therapeutics for CF patients have been developed. There are still no mutation-specific therapeutics for some patients, especially those with rare CFTR mutations. For this purpose, high-throughput screens have been performed which result in various candidate compounds, with mostly unclear modes of action. In order to elucidate the mechanism of action for promising candidate substances and to be able to predict possible synergistic effects of substance combinations, we used a systems biology approach to create a model of the CFTR maturation pathway in cells in a standardized, human- and machine-readable format. It is composed of a core map, manually curated from small-scale experiments in human cells, and a coarse map including interactors identified in large-scale efforts. The manually curated core map includes 170 different molecular entities and 156 reactions from 221 publications. The coarse map encompasses 1384 unique proteins from four publications. The overlap between the two data sources amounts to 46 proteins. The CFTR Lifecycle Map can be used to support the identification of potential targets inside the cell and elucidate the mode of action for candidate substances. It thereby provides a backbone to structure available data as well as a tool to develop hypotheses regarding novel therapeutics.

scholarly journals Disease phenotype analyses of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Canada and Saudi Arabia

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (S1) ◽  
pp. S32-S32
Author(s):  
M Alluqmani ◽  
M Alqermli ◽  
G Blevins ◽  
B Alotibi ◽  
F Giuliani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Similar Disease ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibits a spectrum of clinical findings, especially in relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS). To assess the effects of geographic location and ethnicity on RR-MS phenotype, we investigated RR-MS patients in Canada and Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients receiving active care in MS Clinics was performed in Medina, Saudi Arabia and Edmonton, Alberta. Demographic and clinical data was collected for each patient. Results: 98 patients with treated RR-MS were recruited (n=51, Medina; n=47, Edmonton); 40 patients were Caucasian (Edmonton) while 46 patients were Bedouin (Medina). Although the disease duration was longer in the Edmonton (5.7+2.3 yr) compared to the Medina group (4.4+1.4 yr) (p<0.05), the mean age of RR-MS onset, relapse rate and EDSS change were similar. The female:male ratio was comparable in Edmonton (35:12) and Medina (32:19), as was the risk of optic neuritis. The likelihood of an infratentorial lesion-associated presentation differed (Edmonton, n=23; Medina; n=13) among groups (p<0.05). Spinal cord lesions on MRI were more frequent in Edmonton (n=18) compared to Medina (n=1) patients (p<0.05). Conclusions: Despite differences in location, ethnicity, and a predominance of infratentorial lesion burden the Edmonton group, the RR-MS phenotype displayed similar disease severity and trajectory in these cohorts.

The Initial Return and Its Conditional Return Volatility: Evidence from the Chinese IPO Market

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (04) ◽  
pp. 1450022 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Monica Hussein ◽  
Zhong-Guo Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Linear Functions ◽  
Return Volatility ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Variance Model ◽  
Initial Return ◽  
Traditional Market ◽  
Mean And Variance ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sectional Analysis

This paper investigates the monthly initial return and its conditional return volatility for Chinese IPOs. We find that the mean initial return (IR) and cross-sectional return volatility are highly auto- and cross-correlated, and time-varying. We propose a system of two simultaneous equations: a GARCH-in-mean (GARCH-M) process with an ARMA(1,1) adjustment in the residuals for the IR and an EGARCH process for the conditional return volatility, assuming that the IR and its conditional return volatility are linear functions of the same market, firm- and offer-specific characteristics. We find that the model captures both time-series and cross-sectional correlations at the mean and variance levels. Our findings suggest that the conditional return volatility affects the IR positively and significantly, in addition to the traditional market, firm- and offer-specific characteristics. IPOs with higher conditional return volatility, as a proxy for information asymmetry, tend to be underpriced more. The paper demonstrates the merit of using a conditional variance model, along with time series and cross-sectional analysis to price Chinese IPOs.

Views of Psychologists About Their Role in Hastened Death

2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110451
Author(s):  
Sílvia Marina ◽  
Tony Wainwright ◽  
Miguel Ricou
Keyword(s):  
Terminal Illness ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Decision Making ◽  
Psychological Practice ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Patient Decision ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
Hastened Death ◽  
End Of Life Issues

Hastened death practices are legal in several countries. Psychologists are increasingly taking a more active role in end-of-life issues, but the role of psychologists in requests to hasten death is not established. This study aims to contribute guidance for psychological practice in the context of requests to hasten death. We conducted a cross-sectional and cross-cultural study with Psychologists from Portugal and Luxembourg who answer closed and open questions to provide views about their role in hastened death. Psychological assessment, psychological support to patient and family, the exploration of patient decision-making and reorientation of patients were viewed as roles for psychologists. However, these roles may differ depending whether the patient has a terminal or non-terminal illness.

scholarly journals A Typology of Patients Based on Decision-Making Styles: Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Anne FitzPatrick ◽  
Alexandra Claudia Hess ◽  
Lynn Sudbury-Riley ◽  
Peter Johannes Schulz
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Decision Making ◽  
Health Care Practitioners ◽  
Patient Decision ◽  
Decision Making Styles

BACKGROUND Although previous research shows broad differences in the impact of online health information on patient-practitioner decision making, specific research is required to identify and conceptualize patient decision-making styles related to the use of online health information and to differentiate segments according to the influence of online information on patient decision making and interactions with health professionals. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate patients’ decision making in relation to online health information and interactions with health care practitioners. We also aimed to present a typology of patients based on significant differences in their decision making. METHODS We applied a large-scale cross-sectional research design using a survey. Data, generated using a questionnaire that was administered by companies specializing in providing online panels, were collected from random samples of baby boomers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand. The total sample comprised 996 baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964, who had used the internet in the previous 6 months to search for and share health-related information. Data were analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, as well as one-way analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and paired sample <italic>t</italic> tests. RESULTS Analyses identified 3 key decision-making styles that served as the base for 4 unique and stable segments of patients with distinctive decision-making styles: the Collaborators (229/996, 23.0%), the Autonomous-Collaborators (385/996, 38.7%), the Assertive-Collaborators (111/996, 11.1%), and the Passives (271/996, 27.2%). Profiles were further developed for these segments according to key differences in the online health information behavior, demographics, and interactional behaviors of patients. The typology demonstrates that collaborative decision making is dominant among patients either in its pure form or in combination with autonomous or assertive decision making. In other words, most patients (725/996, 72.8%) show significant collaboration in their decision making with health care professionals. However, at times, patients in the combination Autonomous-Collaborative segment prefer to exercise individual autonomy in their decision making, and those in the combination Assertive-Collaborative segment prefer to be assertive with health professionals. Finally, this study shows that a substantial number of patients adopt a distinctly passive decision-making style (271/996, 27.2%). CONCLUSIONS The patient typology provides a framework for distinguishing practice-relevant and addressable segments with important implications for health care practitioners, including better-targeted communication programs for patients and more successful outcomes for health care services in the long term.

Challenges in communicating with ethnically diverse populations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bejoy C. Thomas ◽  
Rebecca L. Malhi
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Clinical Encounter ◽  
Diverse Populations ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Patient Decision Making ◽  
Limited Health Literacy ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Patient Decision ◽  
Limited Health

Effective cancer communication is crucial for both clinicians and patients, yet is often suboptimal. Health literacy—the ability to access, comprehend, evaluate, and communicate health information—is a latent factor that may contribute to ineffective medical interactions. Limited health literacy has been associated with significant negative health outcomes and higher medical costs. Given the compelling evidence that ethnically diverse populations are particularly vulnerable, we use a narrative case example—a hypothetical clinical meeting between an oncologist and a newly-diagnosed patient—to highlight how patient risk factors for low health literacy (e.g. age, language, distress, etc.) may be amplified by clinician and contextual factors (e.g. using medical jargon, complexity of patient educational materials, etc.). Finally, we re-imagine the same clinical encounter and illustrate how some simple strategies could ameliorate the effects of low health literacy and facilitate communication and patient decision-making.

scholarly journals Linked Data and Metadata

2021 ◽  
pp. 79-90
Author(s):  
Christian Zinke-Wehlmann ◽  
Amit Kirschenbaum ◽  
Raul Palma ◽  
Soumya Brahma ◽  
Karel Charvát ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linked Data ◽  
Machine Readable ◽  
Readable Format ◽  
Machine Readable Format

AbstractData is the basis for creating information and knowledge. Having data in a structured and machine-readable format facilitates the processing and analysis of the data. Moreover, metadata—data about the data, can help discovering data based on features as, e.g., by whom they were created, when, or for which purpose. These associated features make the data more interpretable and assist in turning it into useful information. This chapter briefly introduces the concepts of metadata and Linked Data—highly structured and interlinked data, their standards and their usages, with some elaboration on the role of Linked Data in bioeconomy.

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