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´óÏóÊÓƵStats: Total Adult Outpatient Opioid Prescription Fills

There were 68.6 million outpatient prescription opioid fills between 2021 and 2022. Hydrocodone (25.2 million fills), oxycodone (19.2 million fills) and tramadol (14.1 million fills) accounted for most prescriptions. (Source: ´óÏóÊÓƵMedical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #559, .)

Today’s Headlines:

• ´óÏóÊÓƵReleases Toolkit To Prevent MRSA and Hospital Surgical Site Infections.
• Study Finds That Diagnostic Uncertainty Is Common in Pediatric Critical Care.
• New Research and Evidence From AHRQ.
• Webinar Recording Available for Units Interested in Free CLABSI Prevention Program.
• CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database Drives Quality Improvement.
• Register for Upcoming Webinars.
• ´óÏóÊÓƵin the Professional Literature.

´óÏóÊÓƵReleases Toolkit To Prevent MRSA and Hospital Surgical Site Infections 

AHRQ’s new toolkit can help tackle methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) where surgical site infections (SSI) are most common, including cardiac, hip and knee replacement and spinal fusion surgeries. The ´óÏóÊÓƵToolkit for MRSA Prevention: Targeting SSI highlights four key evidence-based strategies to prevent MRSA and SSI: nasal decolonization, preoperative skin antisepsis, antimicrobial prophylaxis and evidence-based prevention strategies. Surgical teams can incorporate concepts from the ´óÏóÊÓƵComprehensive Unit-based Safety Program framework into their current care team to promote patient safety culture and enhance teamwork and communication. Access the toolkit’s extensive resources, including presentations and facilitator guides, plus staff and patient training materials to help your facility get started or supplement your existing MRSA and SSI prevention efforts. 

Study Finds That Diagnostic Uncertainty Is Common in Pediatric Critical Care

Diagnostic uncertainty was relatively common in critically ill children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), an AHRQ-funded study in Critical Care Medicine concluded. Diagnostic uncertainty is the subjective perception of clinicians of their inability to provide an accurate explanation of a patient’s health problem. Researchers aimed to identify the frequency and factors associated with diagnostic uncertainty among critically ill children admitted to PICU. They reviewed the medical records of 882 patients admitted to one of four PICUs. Diagnostic uncertainty at admission was observed in 228 out of 882 patients. They also found a significant association between diagnostic uncertainty and diagnostic error. Researchers highlighted the need for more research and better strategies to address diagnostic uncertainty. Access the .

New Research and Evidence From AHRQ

• Systematic Review (draft open for comment through May 5): .
• Systematic Review (draft open for comment through May 5): .
• Systematic Review (draft open for comment through May 30): .

Webinar Recording Available for Units Interested in Free CLABSI Prevention Program

The ´óÏóÊÓƵSafety Program for Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention is now recruiting adult intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICU hospital units for its central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) prevention cohort. In a webinar on April 21, Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H., co-investigator from Johns Hopkins University, presented the details of the program, which aims to prevent CLABSI while strengthening patient safety culture. She answered several questions about eligibility and the application process and noted that participation in the Safety Program could be beneficial even for hospital units that already have a CLABSI prevention program in place. Visit the  to access the recorded webinar or register for upcoming webinars on May 8 and 14.  for the program by June 30.

CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database Drives Quality Improvement

AHRQ’s Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Health Plan Survey Database offers national patient experience data from Medicaid, Medicare and private health plans that voluntarily submit results. Participating organizations receive customized feedback reports and access to national benchmarks, helping them measure and improve their quality of care. The database includes composite scores on key areas such as access to care and customer service, along with individual question-level data. Healthcare organizations, researchers and policymakers can use these insights to track trends, identify gaps and prioritize patient-centered improvements. Access the CAHPS Health Plan Survey Database.

Register for Upcoming Webinars

• May 7, 1–2:30 p.m. ET: . ´óÏóÊÓƵis conducting a gap analysis to identify opportunities to improve and expand Patient Safety Indicators, including into new care settings and populations. This webinar will share the interim findings of the analysis, featuring initial reactions from Sue Sheridan, M.I.M., M.B.A., and Peter Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D. Feedback is welcome from a broad range of stakeholders.  
• May 8, 11–11:30 a.m. ET, and May 14, 2–2:30 p.m. ET: . Learn how participants in the program will receive expert support to prevent infections and promote safety culture.
• May 13, noon–1 p.m. ET: Implementing CMS’ Patient Safety Structural Measure (PSSM). This webinar from the National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety will include leaders on the front line of PSSM implementation and delve into tools and resources that support implementation of the five domains of the PSSM: Leadership Commitment, Strategic Planning and Organizational Policy, Culture of Safety and Learning Health System, Accountability and Transparency, and Patient and Family Engagement. 

´óÏóÊÓƵin the Professional Literature

Care fragmentation, care continuity, and care coordination-how they differ and why it matters. Kern LM, Bynum JPW, Pincus HA. JAMA Intern Med 2024 Mar;184(3):236-7. Access the  on PubMed®.

Demographic, clinical, psychosocial, and behavioral predictors of continuous glucose monitor use in adults with type 2 diabetes. Morrow EL, Spieker AJ, Greevy RA, et al. J Gen Intern Med 2024 Oct 25. [Epub ahead of print.] Access the  on PubMed®.

Medical care for patients with mental health and/or substance-use disorders: a qualitative investigation of emergency department patient experiences and recommendations. Isbell LM, Le V, Huff NR, et al. Health Serv Res 2025 Mar 26:e14617. [Epub ahead of print]] Access the  on PubMed®.

Comparative effectiveness of on-pump versus off-pump coronary surgical revascularization related to postoperative acute kidney injury. Koshy SKG, Tharakan AK, George LK, et al. Am J Cardiol 2025 Mar 1;238:9-11. Epub 2024 Nov 23. Access the  on PubMed®.

Patient and care team perspectives on an app to support Hospital at Home admission decision making. Kramer J, Kowalkowski M, Reeves K, et al. J Hosp Med 2025 Jan;20(1):42-50. Epub 2024 Jul 29. Access the  on PubMed®.

Rural maternal health interventions: a scoping review and implications for best practices. Gordon RD, Kishi A, Brown JA, et al. J Rural Health 2025 Jan;41(1):e70007. Access the  on PubMed®.

Interhospital variability in cardiac rehabilitation use after cardiac surgery among Medicare beneficiaries. Fliegner MA, Hou H, Bauer TM, et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2025 Mar;169(3):916-23.e5. Epub 2024 Apr 20. Access the  on PubMed®.

Emergency department vestibular rehabilitation therapy for dizziness and vertigo: a nonrandomized clinical trial. Kim HS, Schauer JM, Kan AK, et al. JAMA Netw Open 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2459567. Access the  on PubMed®.