The number of sepsis-related inpatient stays at non-federal acute care hospitals in the United States increased from 1.8 million in 2016 to 2.5 million in 2021, with a faster rate of increase following the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020, according to an AHRQ report to Congress. From 2016 to 2021, the aggregate hospital cost for inpatient stays due to sepsis at non-Federal acute-care hospitals in the United States increased from $31.2 billion to $52.1 billion, according to the report. Sepsis is a dysregulated systemic inflammatory response to infection that results in tissue damage and organ failure and can lead to death. AHRQ’s comprehensive federal analysis, based on data from the agency’s Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), includes detailed information on national trends in hospital utilization, morbidity, and in-hospital mortality; trends for key patient populations; disparities in hospital utilization for sepsis and associated outcomes; and state variations in hospital utilization and associated costs, and in-hospital mortality rates. Access the news release and additional AHRQ resources on sepsis.

AHRQ’s support for World Patient Safety Day 2024, including this year’s theme of “Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety,” is highlighted in a new AHRQ Views blog post. Up to 795,000 Americans die or are permanently disabled each year due to misdiagnosis, according to some estimates. AHRQ’s development of toolkits, issue briefs, and a training curriculum, as well as the establishment of 10 Diagnostic Safety Centers of Excellence, underscore the agency’s commitment to safe and timely diagnosis. The blog also highlights the ongoing work of the National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety, an initiative led by AHRQ on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services. Access the blog post by AHRQ Director Robert Otto Valdez, Ph.D., M.H.S.A., and Craig A. Umscheid, M.D., M.S., director of AHRQ’s Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. To receive all blog posts, submit your email address.

Registration is open for a pre-application technical assistance webinar for organizations seeking to become one of AHRQ’s Healthcare Extension Cooperatives, a central part of AHRQ's emerging Healthcare Extension Service: State-Based Solutions to Healthcare Improvement. A recent Notice of Funding Opportunity announced AHRQ’s plan to award up to 15 grants to establish and support Healthcare Extension Cooperatives over 5 years. The Healthcare Extension Service will accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered outcomes research evidence into healthcare delivery. The webinar on Sept. 27 from 1 to 2 p.m. ET is optional for applicants. Attendees must complete a registration form, and logon information will be sent to participants about three days before the webinar. Presentation slides will be posted on the AHRQ website after the webinar. Questions may be submitted to AHRQ_HES@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Registration is open through November for virtual and limited in-person training in AHRQ’s TeamSTEPPS® for Diagnosis Improvement Course. TeamSTEPPS training has supported thousands of healthcare teams in their efforts to improve patient safety by enhancing communication and teamwork in hospitals, primary care practices, and other healthcare settings. Learn more about the TeamSTEPPS Diagnosis Improvement Course, which shows how healthcare teams can achieve safer, more accurate, and more timely diagnosis in all healthcare settings. The curriculum emphasizes patient engagement and includes discussions, videos, case-based scenarios, and other content. The training is free; continuing education credits will be available for a fee.