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2008 National Healthcare Quality & Disparities Reports

Highlights

2008 State Snapshots
Comparison & Quality Information
Data Query Tool:
NHQRDRnet

For the sixth year in a row, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has produced the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and the National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR). These reports measure trends in effectiveness of care, patient safety, timeliness of care, patient centeredness, and efficiency of care. The reports present, in chart form, the latest available findings on quality of and access to health care.

The National Healthcare Quality Report tracks the health care system through quality measures, such as the percentage of heart attack patients who received recommended care when they reached the hospital or the percentage of children who received recommended vaccinations. The National Healthcare Disparities Report summarizes health care quality and access among various racial, ethnic, and income groups and other priority populations, such as children and older adults.

The Online Data Query System—NHQRDRnet—is available for accessing data from both reports. Go to the 2008 State Snapshots site for State-specific health care quality information and comparisons.

Select for Previous Reports.

National Healthcare Quality Report

Full Report (PDF File, 2.3 MB); Errata (PDF File, 64 KB) Plugin Software Help
Slide Presentation (PowerPoint® File, 690 KB)

Contents

Cover of National Healthcare Quality Report, 2008

National Healthcare Disparities Report

Full Report (PDF File, 4.2 MB); Errata (PDF File, 40 KB) Plugin Software Help
Slide Presentation (PowerPoint® File, 2 MB)

Contents

Cover of National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2008

Acknowledgments
Key Themes and Highlights From the National Healthcare Quality Report
Chapter 1. Introduction and Methods
Chapter 2. Effectiveness
   Cancer
   Diabetes
   End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
   Heart Disease
   HIV and AIDS
   Maternal and Child Health
   Mental Health and Substance Abuse
   Respiratory Diseases
   Nursing Home, Home Health, and Hospice Care
Chapter 3. Patient Safety
Chapter 4. Timeliness
Chapter 5. Patient Centeredness
Chapter 6. Efficiency
List of Core Report Measures

Appendixes
Appendix A. Data Sources
Appendix B. Detailed Methods
Appendix C. Measure Specifications
Appendix D. Data Tables

AHRQ Publication No. 09-0001
Current as of March 2009

 

 

Acknowledgments
Key Themes and Highlights From the National Healthcare Disparities Report
Chapter 1. Introduction and Methods
Chapter 2. Quality of Health Care
   Effectiveness
   Patient Safety
   Timeliness
   Patient Centeredness
   Summary Tables
Chapter 3. Access to Health Care
   Facilitators and Barriers to Health Care
   Health Care Utilization
   Summary Tables
Chapter 4. Priority Populations
   Racial and Ethnic Minorities
   Low-Income Groups
   Women
   Children
   Older Adults
   Residents of Rural Areas
   Individuals With Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs
Core Measures, Data Sources, and Availability for Select Groups

Appendixes
Appendix A. Data Sources
Appendix B. Detailed Methods
Appendix C. Measure Specifications
Appendix D. Data Tables

AHRQ Publication No. 09-0002
Current as of March 2009

 

Related Reports

Also go to Health Care Coverage Analyses of the 2006 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, which presents for the first time data on quality and racial and ethnic disparity measures by payer (PDF File, Plugin Software Help).

Archived Reports

The National Quality and Disparities Reports for 2003-07 have been archived. Select to access NHQR/DRs 2007; NHQR: 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003; NHDR: 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003.

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