Register Now: April 25 Webinar Will Launch HHS Series on National Action Alliance To Advance Patient Safety

AHRQ Stats: Inappropriate Medication Prescribing Among Seniors

In 2019, among adults 65 years and over, females were more likely to receive at least 1 of 33 prescription medications potentially inappropriate for older adults (11.8%) than males (8.0%). (Source: AHRQ 2023 Chartbook on Patient Safety [6 MB].)

Today's Headlines:

• Register Now: April 25 Webinar Will Launch HHS Series on National Action Alliance To Advance Patient Safety.
• Nurse Staffing Gaps Reported in Hospitals With More Vulnerable Maternity Patients, Study Finds.
• Ohio Veterans’ Facility Relied on AHRQ Resource to Develop Diabetes Initiative.
• AHRQ Seeking Nominations to National Advisory Council.
• Resources To Support National Public Health Week Goals.
• Highlights From AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network.
• Register Now for April 27 Webinar on Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ Ambulatory Surgery Center Survey.
• AHRQ in the Professional Literature.

Register Now: April 25 Webinar Will Launch HHS Series on National Action Alliance To Advance Patient Safety

Registration is open for the first in a series of webinars about HHS’ emerging efforts to support healthcare delivery systems’ move toward zero harm. On April 25, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET, AHRQ Director Robert Otto Valdez, Ph.D, M.H.S.A., will highlight activities of the National Action Alliance to Advance Patient Safety. Established by AHRQ on behalf of HHS, the National Action Alliance is a public-private effort to improve both patient and workforce safety across healthcare delivery settings. Partners include health systems, clinicians, patients, families, caregivers, professional societies, workforce safety advocates, health services researchers, payors and others. The upcoming webinar will offer an overview of Safer Together: A National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety, provide an update on responses to AHRQ’s Request for Information on creating the National Action Alliance and allow participants to share their insights.

Nurse Staffing Gaps Reported in Hospitals With More Vulnerable Maternity Patients, Study Finds

Most hospitals adhere to nurse staffing guidelines, but gaps in staffing are reported more frequently at hospitals serving patients who have medical or obstetric complications, a new AHRQ-funded study has found. In the study, published in Nursing Outlook, researchers estimated the relationship between hospital characteristics and adherence with nurse staffing guidelines published by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. They found that nurses reported strong adherence to staffing guidelines in their hospitals; but higher birth volume, having a neonatal ICU, teaching status and higher percentage of births paid by Medicaid were all associated with lower nurse staffing guideline adherence. They concluded that gaps in staffing were reported more frequently at hospitals serving the most vulnerable maternity patients, leaving them at greater risk of injury or death. Access the abstract.

Ohio Veterans’ Facility Relied on AHRQ Resource to Develop Diabetes Initiative

A new AHRQ Impact Case Study describes how the Dayton VA Medical Center adopted AHRQ’s SHARE Approach as part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' effort to help high-risk diabetes patients get care quickly. The SHARE Approach is a curriculum that teaches healthcare professionals how to engage patients in their healthcare decision making. Rebecca Dix, Pharm.D., shown above, is among Dayton VA staff who use the SHARE Approach in its Hypoglycemic Safety Initiative to support discussions between patients, family members and healthcare teams about the possible treatment options that could most benefit the patient. Access AHRQ’s searchable database of Impact Case Studies. 

AHRQ Seeking Nominations to National Advisory Council

AHRQ is seeking nominations for new members to join its National Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC advises AHRQ’s Director and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on activities proposed or undertaken to carry out AHRQ's statutory mission. The Agency seeks diverse representation geographically and across priority and underrepresented populations. NAC members meet three times a year. Applicants should submit a résumé and statement of service before the May 27 deadline. Nominations (including self-nominations) should be forwarded to Jaime Zimmerman, M.P.H., PMP, at NationalAdvisoryCouncil@ahrq.hhs.gov. Access the Federal Register Notice for more information.

Resources To Support National Public Health Week Goals

National Public Health Week is an annual observance sponsored by the American Public Health Association. Celebrated this year from April 3–9, it highlights the goals of promoting lifelong health for all Americans and recognizing underlying causes of poor health and disease risk. This year’s observance highlights topics related to AHRQ’s research areas and commitment to health equity, including social determinants of health and disparities in access to mental health and rural health. For example, a new Notice of Funding Opportunity seeks applications for equity-focused interventions in healthcare delivery systems. AHRQ also offers datasets and tools that researchers and health systems can use to address social determinants of health. For more information about healthcare inequities, including in mental health treatment, access AHRQ’s National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report as well as the Chartbook on Rural Healthcare.

Highlights From AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network

AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network (PSNet) highlights journal articles, books and tools related to patient safety. Articles featured this week include:

• Effect of patient safety education interventions on patient safety culture of health care professionals: systematic review and meta-analysis.
• Anesthesiology patient handoff education interventions: a systematic review.
• The safety and acceptability of using telehealth for follow-up of patients following cancer surgery: a systematic review.

Review additional new publications in PSNet’s current issue or access recent cases and commentaries in AHRQ’s WebM&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web).

Register Now for April 27 Webinar on Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ Ambulatory Surgery Center Survey

Registration is open for a webcast on April 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET on AHRQ’s Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey. Speakers will provide background on the ASC Survey, including a review of the SOPS ASC program, survey administration, database submission and available resources.

AHRQ in the Professional Literature

A review of infectious disease epidemiology in emergency medical service clinicians. Russell A, Jenkins JL, Zhang A, et al. Am J Infect Control 2022 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of print.] Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Accuracy of electronic health record food insecurity, housing instability, and financial strain screening in adult primary care. Harle CA, Wu W, Vest JR. JAMA 2023 Feb 7;329(5):423-4. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Quality of life 1 month after acute pulmonary embolism in emergency department patients. Weekes AJ, Davison J, Lupez K, et al. Acad Emerg Med 2023 Feb 14. [Epub ahead of print.] Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Exploring sacred moments in hospitalized patients: an exploratory qualitative study. Quinn M, Fowler KE, Harrod M, et al. J Gen Intern Med 2023 Jan 17:1-7. [Epub ahead of print.] Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Continuous glucose monitoring and other wearable devices to assess hypoglycemia among older adult outpatients with diabetes mellitus. Weiner M, Adeoye P, Boeh MJ, et al. Appl Clin Inform 2023 Jan;14(1):37-44. Epub 2022 Nov 9. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Follow-up shadow coaching improves primary care provider-patient interactions and maintains improvements when conducted regularly: a spline model analysis. Quigley DD, Elliott MN, Slaughter ME, et al. J Gen Intern Med 2023 Jan;38(1):221-7. Epub 2022 Nov 7. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

The optimization of postoperative radiotherapy in de novo stage IV breast cancer: evidence from real-world data to personalize treatment decisions. Miyashita M, Balogun OB, Olopade OI, et al. Sci Rep 2023 Feb 18;13(1):2880. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Antibiotic indications and appropriateness in the pediatric intensive care unit: a 10-center point prevalence study. Chiotos K, Blumenthal J, Boguniewicz J, et al. Clin Infect Dis 2023 Feb 8;76(3):e1021-e30. Access the abstract on PubMed®.