Quality of Care
In the United States, a large gap exists between the care people should receive and the care they do receive. Since the 1960s, RAND Health has conducted research designed to measure, assess, and improve health care quality and to provide reliable decision support information on quality to patients, providers, and purchasers. Our research has expanded to include other countries, with their own quality concerns, as well. Current projects are briefly described below.
Profiles of Current Research
Highlights of Recent Studies
Improving the Quality of Care for Dementia
Results of a pilot program in RAND Health’s Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders-2 project indicate that quality indicators for dementia care are improved when primary care practices are coupled with links to local Alzheimer’s Association chapters.
Electronic Health Records Are Associated with Higher Quality in Primary Care Practices
Demonstrating a link between use of electronic health records in community-based primary care practices and higher-quality care, this study encourages prioritization of such technologies and their advanced functionalities.
Prescription Drug Cost Sharing: A Powerful Policy Lever to Use with Care
Cost sharing has powerful effects on drug spending, compliance with drug therapy, patient health, and overall health care costs. A nuanced approach will recognize the link between the design of drug benefits and population health.
Assessing Parolees’ Health Care Needs and Potential Access to Health Care Services in California
California parolees’ health care, mental health care, and drug- and alcohol-treatment needs, as well as where parolees go when they return to counties, place significant demands on counties’ safety-net resources and on their ability to meet those needs.
Improving Mental Health Care for Returning Veterans
Identifies barriers to mental health care access for military servicemembers and veterans in community settings and finds gaps in the quality of care.
Related Websites
Working with Congress
RAND’s Office of Congressional Relations (OCR) furthers RAND’s mission to provide objective analysis and effective solutions by disseminating research results to Congress and federal agencies. OCR publishes a monthly electronic newsletter featuring current work on health policy. The RAND Health Congressional Newsletter is found at www.rand.org/congress/newsletters.html. Contact: Winfield Boerckel (winfield_boerckel@rand.org).
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