Reporting of research data from the Dartmouth Atlas Project takes several forms. We have produced twenty book-length editions of The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care; several brief reports covering specific topics and/or clinical subject areas; and a number of issue briefs on relevant health policy topics. Atlas investigators also have an extensive bibliography of scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Please use the links on the right to locate our publications.

Recently released: Trends and Regional Variation in Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Replacement, posted April 15, 2010, finds that rates of joint replacement for Medicare patients are growing rapidly, and there is widespread variation in how likely patients are to undergo surgery depending on where they live and their race. The analysis found substantial increases in rates of joint replacement from 2000-2001 to 2005-2006, as well as four to tenfold variations among hospital referral regions. The patterns suggest both overuse and underuse of these procedures; some patients who could benefit from joint replacement may not be offered the procedure, while others may be receiving a procedure that they might choose to forego if they had received balanced information on risks and benefits.

Tracking the Care of Patients with Severe Chronic Illness: The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care 2008
This edition of the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care describes how care for Medicare beneficiaries with serious chronic illness varies across U.S. states, regions and hospitals. The focus is on Medicare beneficiaries who have severe chronic illnesses and are in their last two years of life. The 2008 edition both updates earlier analyses to encompass more recent data and expands the scope to include all sectors of care covered by the Medicare program: acute inpatient hospital care, outpatient services, skilled nursing and long-term hospital care, home health care and hospice.

The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care 2008 also takes another important step - it goes beyond documenting. It proposes new ways of thinking about how to achieve better care coordination and reduce the overuse of acute care hospital services. It also offers concrete recommendations on the ways different stakeholders can use the new Dartmouth Atlas data - from choosing the right provider to reforming the U.S. health care system.

You may purchase a copy; or download the report, Executive Summary, or press release. Hospital and regional performance reports are available on our Downloads page.