09/15/11

Thursday, September 15, 2011

NIH News Release Update


NIH News Release Update:

You are subscribed to New Releases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This information has recently been updated and is now available at http://www.nih.gov/news/

Healthcare 411 - Headaches


Emergency Room Visits for Headaches

More than 3 million emergency room visits per year are for the treatment of headaches. New data from AHRQ provides information on headaches, broken down by age and gender. For the podcast or transcript, go to: http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/radiocastseg.aspx?id=1215&type=seg.

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) announces the release of the following new databases: 2010


New HCUP Databases Available

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) announces the release of the following new databases: 2010 State Databases (SID, SASD, SEDD).

The HCUP databases are available for purchase through the HCUP Central Distributor. Applications are available at: http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/tech_assist/centdist.jsp

The HCUP family of health care databases and related software tools and products is made possible by a Federal-State-Industry partnership sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Visit the HCUP User Support Web site at: http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov

CDC report details influenza prevention and treatment for children and teens


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Your Online Source for Credible Health Information

 

CDC report details influenza prevention and treatment for children and teens
Although children and teenagers rarely die from flu–related causes, many of the deaths could have been prevented if the children had been vaccinated against the flu, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. >> learn more

Lung cancer rates decline nationwide
Report shows a continuing decline among men, and a promising decline among women
The rates of new lung cancer cases in the United States dropped among men in 35 states and among women in 6 states between 1999 and 2008, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among women, lung cancer incidence decreased nationwide between 2006 and 2008, after increasing steadily for decades. >> learn more

HCUP at AHRQ 2011 Annual Conference


HCUP at AHRQ 2011 Annual Conference

Join the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) at the AHRQ Annual Conference:

  • Date: September 18-21
  • Location:  Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Bethesda, MD

Information on upcoming HCUP events is available at: http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/news/events.jsp

The HCUP family of health care databases and related software tools and products is made possible by a Federal-State-Industry partnership sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).Visit the HCUP User Support Web site at:http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov

Hospital emergency departments treated over 20,000 injuries due to air and paintball guns in 2008.


September 15, 2011, Issue #324

 

AHRQ News and Numbers

 

Hospital emergency departments treated over 20,000 injuries due to air and paintball guns in 2008.  This represents a 20 percent decrease in emergency room visits for injuries caused by air and paintball guns from 2006.  [Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HCUP, Statistical Brief #119: Emergency Department Visits for Injuries Caused by Air and Paintball Guns, 2008.]

Today’s Headlines:

 

  1. Updated report highlights hospitals’ progress in reducing bloodstream infections
  2. AHRQ releases Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2011 Comparative Database Report
  3. AHRQ seeks data submissions for Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture comparative database
  4. AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange focuses on palliative care
  5. AHRQ Annual Conference is September 18-21
  6. AHRQ director helps consumers navigate the health care system in a new advice column on the Web
  7. AHRQ in the professional literature

 

1.  Updated Report Highlights Hospitals’ Progress in Reducing Bloodstream Infections

 

AHRQ released a second report that highlights the progress that has been achieved by hospitals taking part in a national effort to reduce the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) by implementing a Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP).  Eliminating CLABSI: A National Patient Safety Imperative-Second Progress Report on the National On the CUSP: Stop BSI Project provides an update on the impact of the project and the number of State hospital associations, hospitals, and hospital teams that are implementing the clinical and safety culture changes proven to reduce CLABSI.  Adult intensive care units included in this report are drawn from 32 States and territories and more than 75 hospitals.  This is an increase to 10 States and 400 hospitals since November 2010.  These units have reduced their CLABSI rates by an average of 33 percent.  As of November 2010, CLABSI rates had decreased by an average of 35 percent, indicating rates are continuing to decrease but at a marginally slower rate.  Select to access the report.

 

 

2.  AHRQ Releases Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2011 Comparative Database Report

 

AHRQ released the Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2011 Comparative Database Report, which shows that residents are well cared for and safe, according to nursing home staff’s perceptions of their organization’s overall patient safety culture.  It is the first annual report that provides supplemental data that enables users of the Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture, released in 2008, to assess their strengths and area for potential improvement in patient safety culture.  The comparative database report represents data from 16,155 staff within 226 U.S. nursing homes and contains detailed comparative data for various nursing home characteristics (size and ownership) and respondent characteristics (job titles, work areas, direct patient contact, and shift worked).  Select to access the report on the AHRQ Web site.

 

 

3.  AHRQ Seeks Data Submissions for Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database

 

AHRQ’s Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture is a tool for medical offices to use to assess provider and staff opinions about the culture of patient safety in their medical offices.  Medical offices that have administered the AHRQ survey can register and submit their data to the new Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture comparative database between September 15 and October 15.  That database is a central repository for survey data from medical offices, health care systems, or survey vendors that have administered the AHRQ medical office survey instrument.  One of the purposes of the database is to produce comparative results to help medical offices identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in their patient safety culture.  Select for more information on the benefits of participation and database products, participation requirements, and registration/data submission timeline and activities.

 

 

4.  AHRQ’s Health Care Innovations Exchange Focuses on Palliative Care

 

 The latest issue of AHRQ’s Health Care Innovations Exchange features three programs that deliver palliative care in different settings.  The QualityTools also highlighted provide health care professionals with resources and tools to support the development and quality improvement of palliative care programs.  More innovations and tools related to palliative care are available on AHRQ’s Innovations Exchange Web site.  The Spotlight features Post-discharge Care Management Integrates Medical and Psychosocial Care of Low-Income Elderly Patients from the AHRQ Innovations Exchange award-winning video series Frontline Innovators Making a Difference.

 

 

5.  AHRQ Annual Conference Is September 18-21

 

The AHRQ Annual Conference is less than a week away!  AHRQ: Leading Through Innovation & Collaboration will be held September 18-21 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Bethesda.  For those who cannot attend the Conference in person, you will be able to view both plenary sessions via webcast.  The plenary session on Monday, September 19, is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (EDT) and the plenary session on Tuesday, September 20, is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (EDT).  Registration for the webcast.  Select for more information on the plenary sessions, webcast, and the AHRQ Annual Conference.

 

 

6.  AHRQ Director Helps Consumers Navigate the Health Care System in a New Advice Column on the Web

 

AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., offers advice to consumers in brief, easy-to-understand columns.  The columns help consumers better navigate the health care system.  Select to read Dr. Clancy’s advice column about research on women’s health issues to help you make more informed treatment choices.

 

 

7.  AHRQ in the Professional Literature

 

We are providing the following hyperlinks to journal abstracts through PubMed® for your convenience.  Unfortunately, some of you may not be able to access the abstracts because of firewalls or specific settings on your individual computer systems.  If you are having problems, you should ask your technical support staff for possible remedies.

 

Epstein AJ, Polsky D, Yang F, et al.  Coronary revascularization trends in the United States, 2001-2008.  JAMA 2011 May 4; 305(17):1769-76.  Select to access the abstract on PubMed. ®

 

Hoeksema LJ, Bazzy-Asaad A, Lomotan EA, et al.  Accuracy of a computerized clinical decision-support system for asthma assessment and management.  J Am Med Inform Assoc 2011 May 1; 18(3):243-50.  Select to access the abstract on PubMed. ®

 

Haywood C Jr, Lanzkron S, Hughes MT, et alA video intervention to improve clinician attitudes toward patients with sickle cell disease: the results of a randomized experiment. J Gen Intern Med 2011 May; 26(5):518-23.  Select to access the abstract on PubMed. ®

 

Kistler CE, Kirby KA, Lee D, et al.  Long-term outcomes following positive fecal occult blood test results in older adults.  Arch Intern Med 2011 May 9.  Select to access the abstract on PubMed. ®

 

Bertakis KD, Azari R.  Patient-centered care is associated with decreased health care utilization.  J Am Board Fam Med 2011 May-Jun; 24(3):229-39.  Select to access the abstract on PubMed. ®

 

Grossman JM, Boukus ER, Cross DA, et al.  Physician practices, e-prescribing and accessing information to improve prescribing decisions.  Res Brief 2011 May;(20):1-10.  Select to access the abstract on PubMed. ®

 

 

Contact Information

 

Please address comments and questions regarding the AHRQ Electronic Newsletter to Nancy Comfort at Nancy.Comfort@ahrq.hhs.gov or (301) 427-1866.

 

AHRQ Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Database--OPEN FOR REGISTRATION


Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database

Registration is NOW open for data submission to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database.

**Please take a few minutes to view a step-by-step training video to see how to register and submit your medical office data at https://www.sops-database.org/db/Public/TrainingIntro.aspx.**

Medical offices that have administered the AHRQ survey can now voluntarily submit their data to the new Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database, which is open September 15 to October 15, 2011 for registration and data submission. Medical offices, health systems or vendors in the United States or U.S. territories that have already completed administration of the AHRQ Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture and are prepared to submit their data by October 15, 2011 are eligible.

This database is a central repository for survey data from medical offices, systems, or survey vendors that have administered the AHRQ medical office survey instrument. One of the purposes of the database is to produce comparative results to help medical offices identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in their patient safety culture. Comparative results are reported in the aggregate and do not include any information identifying participating medical offices.

To register, please go to  www.sops-database.org/medicaloffice

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns at DatabasesOnSafetyCulture@ahrq.hhs.gov

Thank you,

The Medical Office Database Submission Team