Observed-to-expected ratio for adherence to treatment guidelines as a quality of care indicator for laryngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To examine associations between survival and adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines using an observed-to-expected (O/E) ratio for greater adherence as a risk-adjusted hospital measure of quality care in elderly patients treated for larynx cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with larynx cancer from 2004 to 2007 were evaluated using multivariate regression and survival analysis. A fit logistic regression model was used to calculate an O/E ratio for guideline adherence for each hospital using quality indicators derived from NCCN guidelines for recommended treatment and stratified by hospital volume. RESULTS: Of 1,721 patients treated at 395 hospitals, 43.0% of patients received NCCN guideline-adherent care. Low-volume hospitals (N = 295) treating six or fewer cases treated 765 patients (44.5%), with a mean O/E of 0.96 ± 0.45. Hospitals treating more then six cases with an O/E <1 (N = 32) treated 284 patients (16.5%), with a mean O/E of 0.77 ± 0.18. Hospitals treating more than six cases with an O/E ≥1 (N = 68) treated 672 patients (39.1%), with a mean O/E of 1.17 ± 0.11. Treatment at hospitals with an O/E ≥1 was associated with improved survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.83 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70 to 0.98]) and lower mean incremental treatment-related costs (-$3,009 [-$5,226 to -$791]) compared with hospitals with an O/E <1 (HR = 1.00 [0.80 to 1.24]) and the reference group of low-volume hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: A hospital-specific O/E for NCCN treatment guideline adherence, combined with a minimum case volume criterion, is associated with survival and treatment-related costs in elderly patients with larynx cancer, and may be a feasible measure of larynx cancer quality of care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 130:672-678, 2020.

Trends in centralization of surgical care and compliance with National Cancer Center Network guidelines for resected cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was performed to characterize trends in centralization of care and compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for resected cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and their impact on overall survival (OS). METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) 2004-2015 we identified patients undergoing resection for CCA. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses identified time periods and hospital volume groups for comparison. Propensity score matching provided case-mix adjusted patient cohorts. Cox hazard analysis identified risk factors for OS. RESULTS: Among the 40,338 patients undergoing resection for CCA, the proportion of patients undergoing surgery at high volume hospitals increased over time (25%-44%, p < 0.001), while the proportion of patients undergoing surgery at low volume hospitals decreased (30%-15%, p < 0.001). Using ROC analyses, a hospital volume of 14 operations/year was the most sensitive and specific value associated with mortality. Surgery at high volume hospitals [HR] = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88-0.97, p < 0.001) and receipt of care compliant with NCCN guidelines (HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.83-0.91, p < 0.001) were independently associated with improved OS. CONCLUSIONS: Both centralization of surgery for CCA to high volume hospitals and increased compliance with NCCN guidelines were associated with significant improvements in overall survival.

Association of Hospital Volume With Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate racial-ethnic disparities in guideline-based care in locally advanced cervical cancer and their relationship to hospital case volume. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database, we performed a retrospective cohort study of women diagnosed between 2004 and 2012 with locally advanced squamous or adenocarcinoma of the cervix undergoing definitive primary radiation therapy. The primary outcome was the race-ethnicity-based rates of adherence to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline-based care. The secondary outcome was the effect of guideline-based care on overall survival. Multivariable models and propensity matching were used to compare the hospital risk-adjusted rates of guideline-based adherence and overall survival based on hospital case volume. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 16,195 patients. The rate of guideline-based care was 58.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 57.4-59.4%) for non-Hispanic white, 53% (95% CI 51.4-54.9%) for non-Hispanic black, and 51.5% (95% CI 49.4-53.7%) for Hispanic women (P<.001). From 2004 to 2012, the rate of guideline-based care increased from 49.5% (95% CI 47.1-51.9%) to 59.1% (95% CI 56.9-61.2%) (Ptrend<.001). Based on a propensity score-matched analysis, patients receiving guideline-based care had a lower risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.62-0.68). Compared with low-volume hospitals, the increase in adherence to guideline-based care in high-volume hospitals was 48-63% for non-Hispanic white, 47-53% for non-Hispanic black, and 41-54% for Hispanic women. CONCLUSION: Racial and ethnic disparities in the delivery of guideline-based care are the highest in high-volume hospitals. Guideline-based care in locally advanced cervical cancer is associated with improved survival.

Variation in Diagnoses for Hip Arthroplasty Among New York State Hospitals: Implications for the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model.

BACKGROUND: The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model is designed to minimize costs and improve quality for Medicare patients undergoing joint arthroplasty. The cost of hip arthroplasty (HA) episode varies depending on the preoperative diagnosis and is greater for fracture than for osteoarthritis. Hospitals that perform a higher percentage of HA for OA may therefore have an advantage in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model. The purposes of this study are to (1) determine the variability in underlying diagnosis for HA in New York State hospitals, and (2) determine hospital characteristics, such as volume, associated with this. METHODS: The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was used to identify 127,206 primary HA procedures from 2010 to 2014. The data included underlying diagnoses, age, length of stay, and total charges. Hospitals were categorized by volume and descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: OA was the underlying diagnosis for HA for 74.2% of all patients; this was significantly higher for high-volume (89.30%) and medium-volume (74.9%) hospitals than for low-volume hospitals (58.4%, P < .05). HA for fracture was significantly more common at low-volume hospitals (32.4%) compared to medium-volume (18.0%) and high-volume (4.7%) hospitals (P < .05). Length of stay was significantly greater at low-volume hospitals for all diagnoses. CONCLUSION: High-volume hospitals perform a higher ratio of HA cases for OA compared to fracture, which may lead to advantages in patient outcomes and cost. The variation in underlying diagnosis between hospitals has financial implications and underscores the need for HAs to be risk stratified by preoperative diagnosis.

Observed-to-expected ratio for adherence to treatment guidelines as a quality of care indicator for ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an observed-to-expected ratio (O/E) for adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) ovarian cancer treatment guidelines as a risk-adjusted hospital measure of quality care correlated with disease-specific survival. METHODS: Consecutive patients with stages I-IV epithelial ovarian cancer were identified from the California Cancer Registry (1/1/96-12/31/06). Using a fit logistic regression model, O/E for guideline adherence was calculated for each hospital and distributed into quartiles stratified by hospital annual case volume: lowest O/E quartile or annual hospital case volume <5, middle two O/E quartiles and volume ≥5, and highest O/E quartile and volume ≥5. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to characterize the independent effect of hospital O/E on ovarian cancer-specific survival. RESULTS: Overall, 18,491 patients were treated at 405 hospitals; 37.3% received guideline adherent care. Lowest O/E hospitals (n=285) treated 4661 patients (25.2%), mean O/E=0.77±0.55 and median survival 38.9months (95%CI=36.2-42.0months). Intermediate O/E hospitals (n=85) treated 8715 patients (47.1%), mean O/E=0.87±0.17 and median survival of 50.5months (95% CI=48.4-52.8months). Highest O/E hospitals (n=35) treated 5115 patients (27.7%), mean O/E=1.34±0.14 and median survival of 53.8months (95% CI=50.2-58.2months). After controlling for other variables, treatment at highest O/E hospitals was associated with independent and statistically significant improvement in ovarian cancer-specific survival compared to intermediate O/E (HR=1.06, 95% CI=1.01-1.11) and lowest O/E (1.16, 95% CI=1.10-1.23) hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Calculation of hospital-specific O/E for NCCN treatment guideline adherence, combined with minimum case volume criterion, as a measure of ovarian cancer quality of care is feasible and is an independent predictor of survival.

Impact of National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Centers on ovarian cancer treatment and survival.

BACKGROUND: The regional impact of care at a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI-CCC) on adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) ovarian cancer treatment guidelines and survival is unclear. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective population-based study of consecutive patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2006 in southern California. Patients were stratified according to care at an NCI-CCC (n = 5), non-NCI high-volume hospital (≥ 10 cases/year, HVH, n = 29), or low-volume hospital (<10 cases/year, LVH, n = 158). Multivariable logistic regression and Cox-proportional hazards models were used to examine the effect of NCI-CCC status on treatment guideline adherence and ovarian cancer-specific survival. RESULTS: A total of 9,933 patients were identified (stage I, 22.8%; stage II, 7.9%; stage III, 45.1%; stage IV, 24.2%), and 8.1% of patients were treated at NCI-CCCs. Overall, 35.7% of patients received NCCN guideline adherent care, and NCI-CCC status (odds ratio [OR] 1.00) was an independent predictor of adherence to treatment guidelines compared with HVHs (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.99) and LVHs (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.67). The median ovarian cancer-specific survivals according to hospital type were: NCI-CCC 77.9 (95% CI 61.4 to 92.9) months, HVH 51.9 (95% CI 49.2 to 55.7) months, and LVH 43.4 (95% CI 39.9 to 47.2) months (p < 0.0001). National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center status (hazard ratio [HR] 1.00) was a statistically significant and independent predictor of improved survival compared with HVH (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.33) and LVH (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.47). CONCLUSIONS: National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center status is an independent predictor of adherence to ovarian cancer treatment guidelines and improved ovarian cancer-specific survival. These data validate NCI-CCC status as a structural health care characteristic correlated with superior ovarian cancer quality measure performance. Increased access to NCI-CCCs through regional concentration of care may be a mechanism to improve clinical outcomes.

Blood transfusion in primary total shoulder arthroplasty: incidence, trends, and risk factors in the United States from 2000 to 2009.

BACKGROUND: Total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) may be associated with substantial blood loss, and some patients require perioperative blood transfusion. Possible blood transfusion methods include predonated autologous blood transfusion, perioperative autologous blood transfusion, and allogeneic blood transfusion (ALBT). The purposes of the present study were to assess the incidence and recent trends over time of blood transfusion in TSA and analyze patient and hospital characteristics that affect the risk of ALBT. METHODS: This study used national hospital discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample between 2000 and 2009. The data were used to generate the overall blood transfusion rate, and linear regression was used to assess trends in transfusion patterns over time. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze which patient and hospital characteristics independently influence the likelihood that a given patient undergoes ALBT. RESULTS: The overall blood transfusion rate (ie, the proportion of patients who received at least 1 transfusion of any kind) was 6.7%. This rate increased over time, from 4.9% in 2000 to 7.1% in 2009 (P < .001). Risk factors associated with ALBT included age, gender, race, insurance status, hospital region, and hospital annual caseload. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in overall blood transfusion rate in TSA found in the present study may be related to factors specific to TSA, such as the introduction of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty during the study period. A variety of patient and hospital characteristics contribute to the risk of undergoing ALBT.

Personnel, equipment, and facilities for electrophysiological and catheter ablation procedures in Europe: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association Survey.

Clinical electrophysiology (EP) and catheter ablation of arrhythmias are rapidly evolving in recent years. More than 50 000 catheter ablations are performed every year in Europe. Emerging indications, an increasing number of procedures, and an expected high quality require national and international standards as well as trained specialists. The purpose of this European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey was to assess the practice of requirements for EP personnel, equipment, and facilities in Europe. Responses to the questionnaire were received from 52 members of the EHRA research network. The survey involved high-, medium-, and low-volume EP centres, performing >400, 100-399, and under 100 implants per year, respectively. The following topics were explored: (i) EP personnel issues including balance between female and male operators, responsibilities within the EP department, age profiles, role and training of fellows, and EP nurses, (ii) the equipments available in the EP laboratories, (iii) source of patient referrals, and (iv) techniques used for ablation for different procedures including sedation, and peri-procedural use of anticoagulation and antibiotics. The survey reflects the current EP personnel situation characterized by a high training requirement and specialization. Arrhythmia sections are still most often part of cardiology departments and the head of cardiology is seldom a heart rhythm specialist. Currently, the vast majority of EP physicians are men, although in the subgroup of physicians younger than 40 years, the proportion of women is increasing. Uncertainty exists regarding peri-procedural anticoagulation, antibiotic prophylaxis, and the need for sedation during specific procedures.

Hospital volume is associated with survival but not multimodality therapy in Medicare patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Given the complexity of management of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), this study hypothesized that high hospital volume would be associated with receiving National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline therapy and improved survival in patients with advanced HNSCC. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database was used to identify patients with advanced HNSCC. Treatment modalities and survival were determined using Medicare data. Hospital volume was determined by the number of patients with HNSCC treated at each hospital. RESULTS: There were 1195 patients with advanced HNSCC who met inclusion criteria. In multivariable analyses, high hospital volume was not associated with receiving multimodality therapy per NCCN guidelines (odds ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval = 0.66-1.60), but showed a nearly significant inverse association with survival in a model adjusted for National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center status, age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, marital status, comorbidity, year of diagnosis, tumor site, and tumor stage (hazard ratio = 0.85, 95% confidence interval = 0.69-1.04). CONCLUSIONS: Medicare patients with advanced HNSCC treated at high-volume hospitals were not more likely to receive NCCN guideline therapy, but had nearly statistically significant better survival, when compared with patients treated at low-volume hospitals. These results suggest that features of high-volume hospitals other than delivery of NCCN guideline therapy influence survival. Cancer 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society.

Provision of vascular surgery in England in 2012.

INTRODUCTION: In 2009 the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland reported its recommendations for The Provision of Vascular Services for Patients with Vascular Disease. The objective is to halve the UK elective surgery mortality rate for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm to 3.5% by 2013. From 16th March 2012, statutory approval has been given by Parliament to recognise Vascular Surgery as a Specialty in the UK. This study assesses the provision of vascular surgery in acute trusts across England. METHOD: From the Department of Health, 169 acute trusts were identified in England and each acute trust was emailed under the Freedom of Information Act. RESULTS: There was a 98.8% response rate. There are currently 80 trusts in England providing acute and elective arterial and aortic surgery, with 48 vascular hubs and 32 trusts which either provide a local on call network or are currently under review. Within the 48 vascular hubs there are a mean of 4.8 consultants and 3.75 middle grades. The on call rota was on average a 1 in 6. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that currently 80 trusts in England provide acute and elective arterial and aortic surgery with 48 centralised complex and arterial vascular services. An integrated vascular service will provide the best quality of care, develop the latest techniques and improve clinical standards.

"Lumping" vs "splitting" in oncologic pathology: association with cancer center type and case volume.

CONTEXT: Prior studies reported associations of cancer center facility type and case volume with cancer outcomes (such as survival) and treatment-related processes (such as treatment with chemotherapy, surgery, or radiotherapy). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether facility characteristics are associated with use of broad (lumped) vs narrow (split) diagnoses in cancer pathology. DESIGN: We examined associations of facility characteristics and prevalence of broad diagnoses that might adversely affect treatment decisions (based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network treatment guidelines) in National Cancer Data Base records for patients diagnosed from 2004-2008. Logistic regression was used to determine whether associations of facility type and volume with prevalence of broad diagnoses were independent of patient demographic/socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Among 10 high incidence cancer sites, 5 had a prevalence of broad diagnoses exceeding 6%. For 4 of these, use of broad diagnoses was independently lower in NCI (National Cancer Institute)- designated comprehensive programs than in community programs, with multivariate prevalence ratios (PR) as low as 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35-0.59) for uterine corpus cancers and 0.49 (95% CI 0.44-0.55) for kidney and renal pelvis cancers. Differences between low- and high-volume facilities were observed for 4 of the 5 sites, with multivariate PR as low as 0.67 (95% CI 0.59-0.77) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.63-0.82) for cancers of the uterine corpus and lung, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of broad cancer diagnoses varies independently by cancer site/type, facility type, and facility volume. Broader diagnoses tend to be used most often by community cancer centers and low-volume centers. This association has implications for use of registry data in pathology quality assessment and quality improvement.