New Interactive Tool Provides Social Determinants of Health Data on Internet Access
A new online data visualization tool from AHRQ gives analysts access to social determinants of health (SDOH) data related to people’s access to the internet. Internet access is essential for obtaining home-based telemedicine and is increasingly important for healthcare needs such as making appointments with providers, getting test results and accessing medical records. The new resource, based on data from AHRQ’s SDOH beta database, features a map of the United States showing county-level percentages of households with computers and smartphones and percentages of households with any type of high-speed internet access. The map also shows county-level percentages of individuals in poverty. The SDOH database, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund and AHRQ, is currently in a test phase. AHRQ has also released an environmental scan to identify SDOH data sources at the ZIP code, county and state levels. AHRQ asks users to send suggestions or comments on SDOH data resources to SDOH@ahrq.hhs.gov.

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:

• Effects of nurse-to-patient ratio legislation on nurse staffing and patient mortality, readmissions, and length of stay: a prospective study in a panel of hospitals
• Can patients contribute to enhancing the safety and effectiveness of test-result follow-up? Qualitative outcomes from a health consumer workshop
• Quality of life after maternal near miss: a systematic review
• Safety culture and workforce well-being associations with Positive Leadership WalkRounds

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)

New Research and Evidence From AHRQ

• Systematic review (draft open for comment): Malnutrition in Hospitalized Adults
• Systematic review (draft open for comment): Integrated Pain Management Programs

GAO Report: Military Lodging
DOD Should Provide Congress with More Information on Army’s Privatization and Better Guidance to the Military Services

NIH Report: Study shows how taking short breaks may help our brains learn new skillsIn a study of healthy volunteers, National Institutes of Health researchers have mapped out the brain activity that flows when we learn a new skill, such as playing a new song on the piano, and discovered why taking short breaks from practice is a key to learning. The researchers found that during rest the volunteers’ brains rapidly and repeatedly replayed faster versions of the activity seen while they practiced typing a code. Read more…

NIH Study: Rehab program helps frail older adults with heart failure
Older, frail adults with heart failure who participated in a personalized physical rehab program improved their endurance, strength, balance, and quality of life.

NIH Study: Brain cells that sustain or suppress fearful memories
Researchers identified clusters of brain cells that compete to promote either the persistence or disappearance of fearful memories

NIH Study: How COVID-19 Can Lead to Diabetes
Along with the pneumonia, blood clots, and other serious health concerns caused by SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus, some studies have also identified another troubling connection. Some people can develop diabetes after an acute COVID-19 infection. Read More . .

NIH News: Mindfulness for your Health
The Benefits of Living Moment by Moment: Scientists are looking at how mindfulness can boost your well-being and help you build healthier habits. Read more…

HHS Launches Hotline to Improve Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities
Today, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the launch of a first-of-its-kind national hotline to connect people with disabilities to information and services to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is now available to help people with disabilities find vaccination locations in their communities, assist callers with making vaccination appointments, and connect callers to local services – such as accessible transportation – to overcome barriers to vaccination.

Yorkton News: Trio of artists create murals at local nursing home
The Yorkton and District Nursing Home has a series of new murals decorating doors and walls thanks to the efforts of a trio of local artists; Tonia Vermette, Angelina Kardynal and Stephanie Newsham. Read more