Background Changes in adverse-event rates among Medicare patients with common medical conditions and conditions requiring surgery remain largely unknown. Methods We used Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System data abstracted from medical records on 21 adverse events in patients hospitalized in the United States between 2005 and 2011 for acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, or conditions requiring surgery. We estimated trends in the rate of occurrence of adverse events for which patients were at risk, the proportion of patients with one or more adverse events, and the number of adverse events per 1000 hospitalizations. Results The study included 61,523 patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (19%), congestive heart failure (25%), pneumonia (30%), and conditions requiring surgery (27%). From 2005 through 2011, among patients with acute myocardial infarction, the rate of occurrence of adverse events declined from 5.0% to 3.7% (difference, 1.3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7 to 1.9), the proportion of patients with one or more adverse events declined from 26.0% to 19.4% (difference, 6.6 percentage points; 95% CI, 3.3 to 10.2), and the number of adverse events per 1000 hospitalizations declined from 401.9 to 262.2 (difference, 139.7; 95% CI, 90.6 to 189.0). Among patients with congestive heart failure, the rate of occurrence of adverse events declined from 3.7% to 2.7% (difference, 1.0 percentage points; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.4), the proportion of patients with one or more adverse events declined from 17.5% to 14.2% (difference, 3.3 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.0 to 5.5), and the number of adverse events per 1000 hospitalizations declined from 235.2 to 166.9 (difference, 68.3; 95% CI, 39.9 to 96.7). Patients with pneumonia and those with conditions requiring surgery had no significant declines in adverse-event rates. Conclusions From 2005 through 2011, adverse-event rates declined substantially among patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure but not among those hospitalized for pneumonia or conditions requiring surgery. (Funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and others.)

Background and Purpose-Stroke is a leading cause of hospital admission among the elderly. Although studies have examined subsequent vascular outcomes, limited data are available regarding the full burden of hospital readmission after stroke. We sought to determine the rates of hospital readmissions and mortality and the reasons for readmission over a 5-year period after stroke. Methods-This retrospective observational cohort study included Medicare beneficiaries aged Ͼ65 years who survived hospitalization for an acute ischemic stroke (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 434 and 436) and who were discharged from Connecticut acute care hospitals in 1995. This population was followed from discharge in 1995 through 2000 using part A Medicare claims and Social Security Administration mortality data. The primary outcome was hospital readmission and mortality and readmission diagnosis. Results-Among 2603 patients discharged alive, more than half had died or been readmitted at least once during the first year after discharge (1388/2603, 53.3%), and Ͻ15% survived admission-free for 5 years (372/2603, 14.3%). The reasons for hospital readmission varied over time, with stroke remaining a leading cause for readmission (3.9 to 6.1% of patients annually). Acute myocardial infarction accounted for a comparable number of readmissions (4.2 to 6.0% of patients annually). The most common diagnostic category associated with readmission, however, was pneumonia or respiratory illnesses, with an annual readmission rate between 8.2% and 9.0% throughout the first 5 years after stroke. Conclusions-Few stroke patients survive for 5 years without a hospital readmission. Between the acute care setting and readmission to the hospital, a window of opportunity may exist for interventions, beyond prevention of recurrent vascular events alone, to reduce the huge public health burden of poststroke morbidity.

Background: The relationship between physicians' cognitive skill and the delivery of evidence-based processes of care is not well characterized.Therefore, we set out to determine associations between general internists' performance on the American Board of Internal Medicine maintenance of certification examination and the receipt of important processes of care by Medicare patients. Methods: Physicians were grouped into quartiles based on their performance on the American Board of Internal Medicine examination. Hierarchical generalized linear models examined associations between examination scores and the receipt of processes of care by Medicare patients. The main outcome measures were the associations between diabetes care, using a composite measure of hemoglobin A 1c , and lipid testing and retinal screening, mammography, and lipid testing in patients with cardiovascular disease and the physician's performance on the American Board of Internal Medicine examination, adjusted for the number of Medicare patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease in a physician's practice panel; frequency of visits; patient comorbidity, age, and ethnicity; and physician training history and type of practice. Results: Physicians scoring in the top quartile were more likely to perform processes of care for diabetes (composite measure odds ratio [OR], 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.27) and mammography screening (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.08-1.21) than physicians in the lowest physician quartile, even after adjustment for multiple factors. There was no significant difference among the groups in lipid testing of patients with cardiovascular disease (OR,

Background and Purpose-Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, yet data are limited about the temporal pattern of mortality among patients with cerebrovascular disease. The objectives of this study were to identify predictors of 6-month mortality and to evaluate 5-year mortality in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Methods-Our population included fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged Ն65 years who were discharged with an acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or carotid stenosis (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 433 to 436) from Connecticut acute care hospitals in 1995. This cohort was followed through 2000 by means of part A Medicare claims and Social Security Administration mortality data. Results-Among 5123 patients, 4781 survived their hospitalization and were followed for an average of 3.4 years; 670 (14.0%) died within 6 months of discharge, and 2517 (52.6%) died within 5 years. Predictors of 6-month mortality included older age, male sex, increasing comorbidity, discharge not to home, and prior admission within a year of the index hospitalization. The annual mortality rates for year 1 after discharge differed depending on the discharge diagnosis of the index hospitalization: carotid stenosis, 10.6%; TIA, 14.8%; and acute ischemic stroke, 26.4%. The 5-year cumulative mortality rates were as follows: carotid stenosis, 38.3%; TIA, 49.6%; and acute ischemic stroke, 60.0%. Conclusions-Mortality