Practice Improvement

AHRQ develops, tests and shares resources and strategies to assist health systems and clinicians deliver high-quality, safe, high-value healthcare. These evidence-based tools, toolkits, and training resources can help clinicians address challenging changes in medical practice and deliver the best possible patient care. Examples are below.

Improving Quality

Tools	Toolkit	Training
Prevention Task Force Application to help primary care clinicians identify clinical preventive services that are appropriate for their patients. Emergency Severity Index triage tool Emergency department triage algorithm that provides clinically relevant stratification of patients into five groups from most to least urgent on the basis of acuity and resource needs.	EvidenceNow Tools for Change Set of tools and resources for practice facilitators and quality improvement professionals working with primary care practices. Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit Steps practices can take to help patients comprehend health information and access health services. CDS Connect Project that demonstrates how evidence-based care can be rapidly incorporated into clinical practice through interoperable decision support. Implementing Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Primary Care: Tools and Resources List of tools for implementing MAT (PDF, 609 KB).	SHARE Approach Training program for shared decision-making. Six Building Blocks Resource for pain management and safer opioids use in primary care.

Improving Safety

Tools	Toolkit	Training
QuestionBuilder App App to help patients and caregivers prepare for medical appointments and maximize visit time.	CUSP Method that helps clinical teams make care safer by combining improved teamwork, clinical best practices, and the science of safety. On-Time Pressure Ulcer Prevention Tools to assist nursing homes that have electronic medical record systems to prevent adverse events.	TeamSTEPPS Teamwork tools that improve communication and teamwork skills among healthcare professionals.

Improving Value

Tools	Toolkit	Training
	Re-Engineered Discharge Toolkit Activities and materials for improving the discharge process. Communication and Optimal Resolution (CANDOR) Toolkit Process for practitioners to use when unexpected events cause patient harm.	Guide to Patient and Family Engagement Guide to help patients, families, and health professionals work together as partners to promote improvements in care.

Our Patient Safety and Quality Improvement site and our National Center for Excellence for Primary Care Research have additional tools, toolkits, and resources.

Read more about some of AHRQ’s major practice improvement initiatives.

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Practice Improvement

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