2022
The Effect of Primary Care Visits on Total Patient Care Cost: Evidence From the Veterans Health Administration
Gao J, Moran E, Grimm R, Toporek A, Ruser C. The Effect of Primary Care Visits on Total Patient Care Cost: Evidence From the Veterans Health Administration. Journal Of Primary Care & Community Health 2022, 13: 21501319221141792. PMID: 36564889, PMCID: PMC9793026, DOI: 10.1177/21501319221141792.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHealth Care CostsHumansPatient CarePrimary Health CareRetrospective StudiesVeteransVeterans HealthConceptsTotal patient care costsPatient care costsVeterans Health AdministrationPrimary care visitsPC visitsCare costsPrimary careCare visitsHealth AdministrationOverall health care costsHigh-risk patientsSeverity of illnessHealth care costsPatient care outcomesClinical outcomesPC providersRetrospective studyComplex patientsPerson visitsPreventive servicesPatient riskComprehensive careMAIN OUTCOMECare outcomesPatients
2020
A Model for Rapid Transition to Virtual Care, VA Connecticut Primary Care Response to COVID-19
Spelman JF, Brienza R, Walsh RF, Drost P, Schwartz AR, Kravetz JD, Pitkin P, Ruser C. A Model for Rapid Transition to Virtual Care, VA Connecticut Primary Care Response to COVID-19. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2020, 35: 3073-3076. PMID: 32705471, PMCID: PMC7377306, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-06041-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUrgent care clinicVirtual careVA Connecticut Health Care SystemCare clinicsPerson visitsValuable health care resourcesPrimary care responseStandardized note templatesFuture pandemic responsesVirtual care modelsHealth care resourcesCOVID-19 pandemicHealth care deliveryHealth care systemVideo visitsTelephone encountersCare modelCare responseCare resourcesPatient exposureCare deliveryNote templateVirtual visitsMedical staffCare systemCase-mix for assessing primary care value (CPCV)
Gao J, Moran E, Schwartz A, Ruser C. Case-mix for assessing primary care value (CPCV). Health Services Management Research 2020, 33: 200-206. PMID: 32552065, DOI: 10.1177/0951484820931063.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary careU.S. Veterans Affairs healthcare systemVeterans Affairs Healthcare SystemPrescription drug classesPrimary care performanceHigh-cost patientsPatient classification systemPC visitsPatient comorbiditiesDrug classesRisk scoreProvider workloadRisk algorithmHealth systemCare performanceHealthcare systemCare valuePatientsStaffing levelsPayment ratesCareHigh needClassification systemComorbidities
2019
Sequelae of an Evidence-based Approach to Management for Access to Care in the Veterans Health Administration
Kaboli PJ, Miake-Lye IM, Ruser C, Yano EM, Orshansky G, Rubenstein L, Curtis I, Kirsh S, Hempel S. Sequelae of an Evidence-based Approach to Management for Access to Care in the Veterans Health Administration. Medical Care 2019, 57: s213-s220. PMID: 31517790, PMCID: PMC6750154, DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001177.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHealth Services AccessibilityHumansPrimary Health CareQuality ImprovementUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans HealthConceptsEvidence-based approachVeterans AffairsPrimary care managementVeterans Health AdministrationHigh-quality careHealth care systemResearch evidenceVA initiativesPrimary careCare managementEvidence reportHealth AdministrationPeer-reviewed manuscriptsQuality careCare systemPanel meetingHealth careCareProgram reportsPractice managersKey conferencesReportStakeholder panelPractice implicationsUnanswered questions
2017
A brief screening measure for binge eating in primary care
Dorflinger LM, Ruser CB, Masheb RM. A brief screening measure for binge eating in primary care. Eating Behaviors 2017, 26: 163-166. PMID: 28402901, DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2017.03.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary carePredictive valueSingle-item screening measureMental health comorbiditiesScreening measureWeight management programWeight Patterns-RevisedPrevalence of BEDQuestionnaire of EatingFrequency of bingeNegative predictive valuePositive predictive valueHealth comorbiditiesAverage BMIMean ageBrief screening measureDepressive symptomsPsychiatric issuesSignificant associationBingeCareSingle-item measureQEWPAssessment toolDisordersModifying the Primary Care Exception Rule to Require Competency-Based Assessment
Tobin DG, Doolittle BR, Ellman MS, Ruser CB, Brienza RS, Genao I. Modifying the Primary Care Exception Rule to Require Competency-Based Assessment. Academic Medicine 2017, 92: 331-334. PMID: 27355783, DOI: 10.1097/acm.0000000000001293.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsPrimary care practicesResident competenceClinical competenceGraduate Medical EducationResidents' clinical competenceMonths of trainingAmbulatory careCare practicesMedicaid ServicesExamination roomCarePhysiciansBilling requirementsTraining programMilestones frameworkBilling rulesResidents' readinessResidentsTeaching residents
2014
Integrating Interdisciplinary Pain Management into Primary Care: Development and Implementation of a Novel Clinical Program
Dorflinger LM, Ruser C, Sellinger J, Edens EL, Kerns RD, Becker WC. Integrating Interdisciplinary Pain Management into Primary Care: Development and Implementation of a Novel Clinical Program. Pain Medicine 2014, 15: 2046-2054. PMID: 25234837, DOI: 10.1111/pme.12554.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmbulatory Care FacilitiesDelivery of Health CareHumansPain ManagementPatient SatisfactionPrimary Health CareConceptsPrimary careRapid Process Improvement WorkshopCare servicesCommunity-based outpatient clinicsInterdisciplinary pain programPain management resourcesSystems-level gapsInterdisciplinary pain managementVeterans Health AdministrationLarge healthcare systemSystems-based interventionsEvidence of safetyInterprofessional groupStudy-Act approachPain clinicPain managementPain programOutpatient clinicImproved outcomesInterdisciplinary clinicMedical CenterProvider satisfactionHealth AdministrationPDSA cyclesMisuse problems
2005
BRIEF REPORT: Identification and Management of Overweight and Obesity by Internal Medicine Residents
Ruser CB, Sanders L, Brescia GR, Talbot M, Hartman K, Vivieros K, Bravata DM. BRIEF REPORT: Identification and Management of Overweight and Obesity by Internal Medicine Residents. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2005, 20: 1139-1141. PMID: 16423105, PMCID: PMC1490269, DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0263.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsClinical CompetenceCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInternal MedicineInternship and ResidencyMaleMiddle AgedObesityOverweightPrimary Health CareConceptsManagement of overweightBody mass indexInternal medicine residentsOverweight patientsObese patientsExcess weightMedicine residentsCross-sectional medical record reviewObese primary care patientsHigher body mass indexInternal medicine resident clinicCo-morbid illnessMedical record reviewPrimary care patientsIdentification of overweightPatient characteristicsPatient demographicsCare patientsMass indexRecord reviewResident clinicOverweightObesityPatientsResident physicians