EMR improves overall quality of healthcare
Quality of care for patients at VA facilities improved following the introduction of an integrated electronic medical record, performance measurement, and other system changes, according to the findings of a new VA study.
Quality of care for patients at VA facilities improved following the introduction of an integrated electronic medical record, performance measurement, and other system changes, according to the findings of a new VA study.
Researchers investigated the effect of sweeping changes such as the introduction of an EMR on the quality of care (Ann Intern Med 2004;141[12]:938-945). In 2003, the same team of researchers had demonstrated that U.S. adults were receiving recommended care about half of the time.
The team measured quality at 12 VA healthcare systems and 12 community systems between 1997 and 2000 using a chart-based quality instrument consisting of 348 indicators targeting 26 conditions. The VA scored significantly higher than a national sample for adjusted overall quality (67% versus 51%), chronic disease care (72% versus 59%), and preventive care (64% versus 44%).
Considering Breast- and Lesion-Level Assessments with Mammography AI: What New Research Reveals
June 27th 2025While there was a decline of AUC for mammography AI software from breast-level assessments to lesion-level evaluation, the authors of a new study, involving 1,200 women, found that AI offered over a seven percent higher AUC for lesion-level interpretation in comparison to unassisted expert readers.
SNMMI: Botox May Facilitate Relief from Dry Mouth Side Effect of PSMA-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals
June 25th 2025For patients being treated with radiopharmaceutical agents for metastatic prostate cancer, the combination of botulinum toxin and an anti-nausea patch led to a 30 percent reduction in PSMA uptake in the salivary glands, according to preliminary research findings presented at the SNMMI conference.
