title: Getting the most benefit from the variations research: next steps.
abstract: In this response, I acknowledge the valuable contribution made by John Wennberg and colleagues in describing the variations in use rates. I caution against reaching certain conclusions based on the limitations of the data, and I offer suggested next steps to optimize the benefit to be gained from the study.
authors.affiliation: Cedars-Sinai Health System, Los Angeles, California, USA. tmp@cshs.org
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Priselac
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006302:Health Services Research; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*