RAND Research Topic: Outpatient Services

Treating Depression and Substance Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jan 1, 2012

To meet the call for more "transportable" interventions, the authors conducted a pilot study to test a group cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression and substance use that was designed for delivery by outpatient substance abuse treatment counselors.

Use of Retail Medical Clinics Rises Tenfold Over Two-Year Period

Nov 22, 2011

Use of retail medical clinics located in pharmacies and other retail settings increased tenfold between 2007 and 2009. The determining factors in choosing one over a physician's office were found to be age, health status, income, and proximity to the clinic.

Policy Implications of the Use of Retail Clinics

Aug 10, 2010

Retail clinics have established a niche in the U.S. health care system based on their convenience and customer service. Levels of patient satisfaction and of the quality and appropriateness of care appear comparable to those of other providers. However, we know little about the effects of clinic use on preventive services, care coordination, and care continuity.

Barriers to the Collaborative Care of Patients with Orofacial Injury

Apr 30, 2010

Collaborative care could integrate the physical and mental health needs of patients after facial surgery, but both patients and physicians report barriers to such care.

Sociodemographic Characteristics of Communities Served By Retail Clinics

Dec 31, 2009

To better understand the potential for retail clinics, the authors describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the communities in which they operate.

Factors Associated with Clinician Intention to Address Diverse Aspects of Pain in Seriously Ill Outpatients

Dec 31, 2009

This study of the factors associated with clinician's intention to treat pain symptoms suggests that useful targets for improving pain management include bolstering clinicians? confidence in their own pain management skills and improving their trust in pain ratings.

Why Do Patients Seek Care at Retail Clinics, and What Alternatives Did They Consider?

Dec 31, 2009

This study found that patients were satisfied with the overall experience and were attracted to retail clinics because of their convenient locations and fixed, transparent pricing.

The Growth of Retail Clinics and the Medical Home: Two Trends in Concert or in Conflict?

Dec 31, 2009

There has been growing interest in the patient-centered medical home as a way to provide coordinated, high-quality primary care.

Nursing Staff, Patient, and Environmental Factors Associated with Accurate Pain Assessment

Dec 31, 2009

Although pain is a common reason for seeking medical care, pain screening at intake is often inaccurate.

Using Health Information Technology-Related Performance Measures and Tools to Improve Chronic Care

Dec 31, 2008

The RAND Corporation conducted an assessment of an American Medical Association's collaborative initiative to explore opportunities for improving the quality of outpatient chronic care.

Off-label Prescribing to Children in the United States Outpatient Setting

Dec 31, 2008

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of off-label prescribing to children at United States outpatient visits and to determine how drug class, patient age, and physician specialty relate to off-label prescribing.

The Search for the Urgent Care Center

Dec 31, 2008

Our quest to provide accurate, scientifically rigorous benchmarking data for urgent care centers began with the decision to conduct a survey.

Urgent Care Centers in the U.S.: Findings from a National Survey

Dec 31, 2008

Urgent care centers are open beyond typical office hours, and their scope of services is broader than that of many primary care offices. While these characteristics are similar to hospital emergency departments, such centers employ significant numbers of family physicians. The payer distribution is similar to that of primary care, and physicians' average salaries are comparable to those for family physicians overall.

The Quality of Care at Urgent Care Centers

Dec 31, 2008

Discusses approaches to assessing quality of care in urgent care centers.

Access to Appointments Based on Insurance Status in Washington, D.C.

Jul 31, 2008

Using a hypothetical emergency patient requiring close follow-up, D.C. providers were queried by phone to evaluate accessibility. The rate of privately insured receiving appointments was 71%, with Medicaid fee-for-service 36.6% and uninsured 13%.

RAND Study Finds Women with Heart Disease and Diabetes Less Likely than Men to Receive Appropriate Outpatient Care

May 14, 2007

May 14, 2007 news release: RAND Study Finds Women with Heart Disease and Diabetes Less Likely than Men to Receive Appropriate Outpatient Care.

RAND Study Shows That Chronically Ill Patients Have Better Outcomes When They Receive Higher Quality Outpatient Medical Care

Jan 31, 2007

January 31, 2007 News Release: RAND Study Shows That Chronically Ill Patients Have Better Outcomes When They Receive Higher Quality Outpatient Medical Care.

RAND Study Finds Medical Safety Net Plays Key Role in Providing Care to Uninsured Children

Mar 6, 2006

RAND news release: RAND Study Finds Medical Safety Net Plays Key Role in Providing Care to Uninsured Children

Marginal Cost of Emergency Department Outpatient Visits: an Update Using California Data.

Dec 31, 2005

The authors' results suggest that the marginal cost of an outpatient ED visit is larger than is commonly believed.

A New Instrument to Measure Appropriateness of Services in Primary Care

Dec 31, 2003

To develop a new instrument for judging the appropriateness of three key services (new prescription, diagnostic test, and referral) as delivered in primary care outpatient visits.