Site-specific factors for cancer of the corpus uteri from SEER registries: collaborative stage data collection system, version 1 and version 2.

BACKGROUND: Uterine cancer is the fourth leading cancer among US women. Changes in uterine cancer staging were made from the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 6th to 7th edition staging manuals, and 8 site-specific factors (SSFs) and 3 histologic schemas were introduced. Carcinomas account for 95% of cases and are the focus of this report. METHODS: Distributions of SSF values were examined for 11,601 cases of malignant cancer of the corpus uteri and uterus, NOS (not otherwise specified) diagnosed in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program registries during 2010. AJCC 6th and 7th edition staging distributions were compared for 11,176 cases using data in both staging systems. AJCC 6th edition staging distributions during 2004-2010 were examined. AJCC 7th edition SSFs required by SEER were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (SSF1), peritoneal cytology (SSF2), number of positive pelvic lymph nodes (SSF3), number of pelvic lymph nodes examined (SSF4), number of positive para-aortic lymph nodes (SSF5), and number of para-aortic lymph nodes examined (SSF6). RESULTS: For SSFs related to lymph nodes, a third of cases were classified as "not applicable," reflecting that lymph node dissection is not indicated for cases with stage1A and stage 4 diagnoses. AJCC 7th edition criteria assigned more cases to stage I (72.9%) than AJCC 6th edition criteria (68.7%). Annual counts significantly increased during 2004-2010, as did counts for AJCC 6th edition stages INOS, IA, IB, IC, IIIA, IIIB, IIIC, and IVB. The proportion of cases diagnosed with stage I cancer was stable, whereas stages II and IV decreased and stage III increased. CONCLUSIONS: Five SSFs were suitable for analysis: peritoneal cytology results (SSF2), numbers of positive pelvic lymph nodes (SSF3), pelvic lymph nodes examined (SSF4), positive para-aortic lymph nodes (SSF5), and para-aortic lymph nodes examined (SSF6).

Value-Based Pay-for-Performance Gaps in the Care Delivery Framework for a Large-Scale Health System.

Many health systems are engaging in pay-for-performance agreements with payers that focus primarily on improving ambulatory preventive screenings. These also are referred to as gaps in care. Gaps in care are typically measured by the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set measures of health care quality. To address gaps in care effectively, the physician-led Gaps in Care program at Northwell Health works to improve processes related to measurement, data attribution, patient outreach, and patient engagement. Following a structured framework to address patient gaps in care is a successful strategy for accomplishing complex value-based care delivery.

Bundled HIV and Hepatitis C Testing in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: An estimated 25% of the 1.2 million individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the U.S. are co-infected with hepatitis C (HCV). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HCV testing for high-risk groups. Our goal was to measure the impact of bundled HIV and HCV testing vs. HIV testing alone on test acceptance and identification of HCV and HIV. Methods: We conducted a two-armed, randomized controlled trial on a convenience sample of 478 adult patients in the Jacobi Medical Center emergency department from December 2012 to May 2013. Participants were randomized to receive either an offer of bundled HIV/HCV testing or HIV testing alone. We compared the primary outcome, HIV test acceptance, between the two groups. Secondary outcomes included HIV and HCV prevalence, and HCV test acceptance, refusal, risk, and knowledge. Results: We found no significant difference in HIV test acceptance between the bundled HCV/HIV (91.8%) and HIV-only (90.6%) groups (p=0.642). There were also no significant differences in test acceptance based on gender, race, or ethnicity. A majority of participants (76.6%) reported at least one HCV risk factor. No participants tested positive for HIV, and one (0.5%) tested positive for HCV. Conclusion: Integrating bundled, rapid HCV/HIV testing into an established HIV testing program did not significantly impact HIV test acceptance. Future screening efforts for HCV could be integrated into current HIV testing models to target high-risk cohorts.