AHRQ


 * [[image:ahrq_banner.gif]]

Term:** Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) which is now known as Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the Federal agency which provides health care information through extensive research. Their primary concern is to address healthcare issues by conducting research to improve quality of care, safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of the health care system in the United States. The site is used by the consumer, health care industry, insurance industry and pharmaceutical companies and well as other professionals and laymen. In addition to research, AHRQ assists other programs through financial support and research grants.
 * Description:**

AHRQ work along side with academic institutions, hospitals, clinics, and other offices within healthcare. One of their major customers is company called QualityTools.gov which is a service business that provides tools to properly asses, measure, promote and improve quality of care.
 * Customers/Clients:**

AHRQ is also supporting a research task force called Practice Based Research Network (PBRN) which are clinicians networking together to solve problems in health care and to meet not only the majority needs, but also the needs of different cultural groups through evidence-based culture and quality improvement activities.

When regarding patients, AHRQ makes sure the patient plays an active role in health care. AHRQ, has developed five ways to get safer health care, including tips on medicines, lab tests, and surgery.
 * Patients:**

AHRQ has done evidence based research on cervical cancer between caucasian women and african-american women.
 * Evidence based research:**
 * cervical cancer effect's African-American women twice as much than Caucasian women.

Research on Diabetes Care
 * The government can save up to $472 million by screening type 2 diabetics under the age of 65 for eye disease.
 * African-American diabetics are 7 times more likely to have amputations and develop kidney failure than white diabetics

(The results of this research can promote more awareness, prevent complications and conduct proper procedures in healthcare.)

Patient A can check his/her diagnoses after an exam if they didn't understand everything the Dr. discussed during the exam.
 * Application:**

Web Resource: [|http://www.ahrq.gov] http://pbrn.ahrq.gov/portal/server.pt

Agency for Health care Research and Quality web site
 * Citation/Reference:**