A RAND Corporation study found that nearly one-third of local health departments connected callers to a public health professional within 30 minutes, while nearly 40% had cases where no one reached a trained professional. The study highlights the importance of having live operators at all times to meet federal guidelines.
The Kauffman-RAND Institute report provides an overview of how regulation affects small business, highlighting both positive and negative effects. Research finds that some regulations have unintended consequences, such as increasing health insurance costs for small businesses.
The RAND Corporation study provides a framework for developing cost-effective plans to secure passenger-rail systems. The report identifies 17 security improvement options, including canine teams and vehicle surveillance systems, which can effectively address the threat of explosive devices and other forms of attacks.
A RAND Corporation study analyzed research on disease management programs for six chronic conditions, finding consistent evidence that these programs improve healthcare quality and patient-reported quality of life. However, the study found little to no evidence of cost savings, highlighting the need for further research.
Most states have implemented NCLB test-based accountability requirements, with three-quarters of schools making adequate yearly progress in 2003-04. However, performance varies significantly across states, with high-poverty and minority schools more likely to be identified for improvement.
Research from RAND Corporation reveals California's preschool system is not maximizing child development and school readiness benefits. High-quality preschool programs serving disadvantaged groups can improve academic performance, but the state's current system has low standards and little incentive for providers.
A RAND Corporation study finds that advanced diesel technology outperforms hybrid technology, which in turn beats gasoline-powered cars. Diesel vehicles provide larger savings for consumers and society, while hybrids offer moderate-to-small benefits.
A RAND Corporation study found that many schools in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas struggled to provide ongoing mental health support to students displaced by the hurricanes. Despite initial efforts, schools often returned to academics-only focus within six months, citing barriers such as lack of resources and staff training.
A RAND Corporation study finds that the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) improves private insurance markets, saves taxpayers money, and enhances protection for businesses. The study suggests expanding TRIA to include coverage for nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological attacks.
A RAND Corporation study suggests that unofficial diplomatic discussions, known as Track Two diplomacy, can have a positive effect on shaping attitudes in the Middle East and South Asia. These long-term strategies focus on socialization and generating new ideas, rather than immediate policy change.
The article suggests several policy options to address immigrants' limited access to health care, including expanding health insurance programs and improving language barriers. Researchers emphasize the importance of addressing these vulnerabilities to ensure better health outcomes for this growing segment of the U.S. population.
A RAND Corporation study found that many seniors quit taking crucial medications for chronic illnesses when they reach their annual spending limits. The study suggests that drug caps may have unintended consequences, including increased hospitalizations and adverse health effects.
Most patients with depression treated by primary care physicians don't receive consistent care with quality standards, a new study finds. However, patients who received better-quality care reported fewer symptoms up to two years after treatment began.
A RAND Corporation study reveals a sharp decline in undiagnosed diabetes cases among American men over the past 25 years, with ethnic disparities largely eliminated. The study also found that education levels play a significant role in diabetes diagnosis, with those having less education being less likely to receive accurate diagnoses.
A RAND Corporation study found that improved access to federal and employer-provided time off improves parents' ability to care for their chronically ill children. The study revealed that many parents struggle to balance work and caregiving responsibilities due to inadequate leave policies.
A recent RAND Corporation study reveals significant disparities in the quality of care received by women with heart disease and diabetes compared to men. Women were less likely to receive essential treatments for cholesterol management, chronic heart failure, and after a heart attack, despite having similar insurance coverage.
A RAND Corporation report found mixed results from laboratory tests of Save the World Air's ZEFS device, suggesting its effectiveness in reducing tailpipe pollutants and increasing fuel efficiency is uncertain. Further testing is needed to confirm or refute the technology's performance.
Children exposed to higher levels of alcohol advertising are more likely to drink and intend to drink in the future, according to a RAND Corporation study. Parents can influence their children's behavior by discussing alcohol marketing techniques and encouraging critical thinking about ads.
A RAND Corporation study finds that women-owned small businesses are underrepresented in more than half of industry categories when measured by total contract awards. However, their representation is not significant when measured by dollar value of contracts awarded.
A RAND study found that girls living near locked schools tended to be heavier and neighborhoods with locked schools were disproportionately poor and had larger minority populations. Public schools had more active amenities, including baseball fields and paved playing surfaces.
A RAND Corporation study reveals the proportion of severely obese Americans increased by 50% from 2000 to 2005, while moderate obesity grew at twice the rate. This challenges the notion that bariatric surgery can significantly impact morbid obesity trends.
The RAND Corporation's expert panel identifies key components of public health emergency preparedness, including a coordinated rapid-response capability, adequate public health worker and volunteer numbers, and regular testing. The report emphasizes the importance of community engagement and clear definitions to ensure readiness.
A RAND Corporation study reveals that people with stronger religious ties are less likely to spread HIV. The study found that moral beliefs and faith community membership may play a crucial role in reducing high-risk behaviors.
A RAND Corporation study found that participants in Allegheny County Mental Health Court received more mental health services, spent fewer days in jail, and had sustained declines in jail time over two years. The study confirmed that mental health courts make fiscal sense by reducing government costs.
A RAND Corporation study found that neighborhoods with more four-way intersections and diverse businesses encourage walking. However, the impact of these factors on walking is not particularly strong, especially when housing density is low. The study suggests that urban design recommendations can help create walkable communities.
A recent study by RAND Corporation found that only 28% of HIV-positive unmarried parents have made legal arrangements for who will care for their children if they die. This lack of planning can lead to emotional and behavioral problems in children, making guardianship plans essential.
The RAND Corporation's study found that privately managed schools in Philadelphia showed comparable academic gains to the rest of the district, while restructured schools demonstrated significant improvements in math and reading. The findings suggest challenges in implementing private management on a large scale.
A RAND Corporation study found that better outpatient medical care leads to improved health and quality of life for non-elderly patients with chronic illnesses. The study, which evaluated 963 adults over a 30-month period, showed that those receiving higher-quality care experienced less decline in health and function.
The RAND Corporation is conducting a $12 million study to improve understanding of the factors that influence children's educational and social development in Los Angeles County. The study, which has already yielded insights into neighborhood influences on children, aims to enroll 1,000 additional families across 60 neighborhoods.
Adolescents who use substances alone are more likely to have health and behavioral problems as young adults than their peers who consume substances in social settings. Solitary users tend to report poorer physical health by age 23, lower grades, and less engagement with school.
A RAND Corporation study found that adolescent Asian immigrants improved their preventive health behaviors, such as physical activity and nutrition, across generations. In contrast, Latino teens showed poorer or worsening habits over time, particularly in nutrition, which may contribute to high obesity rates among the Latino community.
A RAND Corporation study suggests the US should focus on undermining support for Islamic terrorism within Muslim nations to defeat the global jihadist movement. The report emphasizes the importance of attacking the ideology's core principles and severing links between terrorist groups.
A RAND Corporation study found that nursing homes with high staff and resident vaccination rates are less likely to experience flu outbreaks. Vaccination rates of over 55% for staff and 89% for residents were associated with a 60% reduction in influenza-like illness cases.
A new RAND Corporation study found that a small fraction of America's health care spending is used to provide publicly supported care to the nation's undocumented immigrants. The study estimates that $1.1 billion in federal, state and local government funds are spent annually on health care for undocumented immigrants aged 18 to 64.
Researchers found that obstructive lung disease patients received only about half of the recommended medical care, with significant variations between asthma and COPD patients. The study estimates that improving care could save lives, such as by increasing oxygen treatment for COPD patients and steroid treatment for asthmatic patients.
Renewable sources currently provide about 6 percent of all the energy used in the United States. Meeting the 25 percent renewable energy target for electricity and motor fuels together could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion by 15% and displace 2.5 million barrels of oil consumption.
A RAND Corporation report reveals that comprehensive school reform models are unlikely to improve student achievement without substantial support. Despite adopting curriculum changes, teachers often received inadequate training, hindering the adoption of instructional practices and parental involvement strategies.