Final Contract Report
To improve its services continuously, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) evaluates its programs to examine the performance of those programs in achieving their objectives. An important part of the HHS evaluation function is communicating the findings and recommendations of the evaluation studies.
This report evaluates a program of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). It was prepared by RAND Health under Contract No. WR-426-HS.
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By Peter S. Hussey, Soeren Mattke, Lindsey Morse, and
M. Susan Ridgely
Contents
Acknowledgments
Summary
The
Market and Uses for AHRQ QIs
Key
Findings
Lessons
Learned for Future Activities
Discussion
List
of Symbols
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1. Background
1.2. Description of the AHRQ Quality Indicators (AHRQ QIs)
1.3. Objectives
1.4. Organization of the Report
Chapter 2. Methods
2.1.
Environmental Scan
2.2. Interviews
2.3. Case Studies
Chapter 3. The Market for Quality Indicators
3.1. Developers
3.2. Vendors
3.3. AHRQ's Position in the Market for Quality Indicators
Chapter 4. Evaluation of the AHRQ QI Program
4.1.
Importance
4.2. Scientific Soundness
4.3. Usability
4.4. Feasibility
Chapter 5. Findings
from the Case Studies
5.1.
Boston
5.2. Dallas-Fort Worth
Chapter 6. "Lessons Learned" for
Future Activities
6.1. Voices Of The Customer: Priorities for Future Development of the QIs
6.2. User Perspectives: The Future Role of AHRQ Compared to Other Players
6.3. User Views: Willingness To Pay for the AHRQ QIs
Chapter 7. Discussion
7.1. Limitations
7.2.
What is AHRQ'S Current Market Position?
7.3. Where are the Growth Opportunities for the AHRQ QI Program?
7.4. How Could Growth Be Financed?
References
Acknowledgments
Prepared for:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850
www.ahrq.gov
AHRQ Contract No. WR-426-HS.
AHRQ Publication No. 08-M012-EF
Prepared by: RAND Health
Authors:
Peter S. Hussey
Soeren Mattke
Lindsey Morse
M. Susan Ridgely
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AHRQ Publication No. 08-M012-EF
Current as of December 2007
Internet Citation:
Evaluation of the Use of AHRQ and Other Quality Indicators.
Program Evaluation: Final Contract Report. AHRQ Publication No. 08-M012-EF,
December 2007. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/about/evaluations/qualityindicators/
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 