Topics

AHRQ activities focus on developing an effective, feasible approach for using all-payer claims databases to improve healthcare affordability, efficiency, and cost transparency.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs are coordinated programs within a health care setting that promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials, thereby improving patient outcomes, reducing antibiotic resistance, and decreasing the spread of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Behavioral health problems, which include mental health and substance use disorders, are among the most common conditions seen in primary care settings. AHRQ provides data to quantify these challenges, tools and resources for screening and treatment, and funding for behavioral health research.

Care coordination involves deliberately organizing patient care activities and sharing information among all of the participants concerned with a patient's care to achieve safer and more effective care. This means that the patient's needs and preferences are known ahead of time and communicated at the right time to the right people, and that this information is used to provide safe, appropriate, and effective care to the patient.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common types of healthcare-associated infections. Most cases of CAUTI are preventable. Since October 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services no longer reimburses costs associated with hospital-acquired CAUTI. AHRQ tools, research, and resources related to reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), among the most common types of healthcare-associated infections.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), are a type of healthcare-associated infection (HAI), and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and costs. As many as 28,000 patients die from CLABSI annually in U.S. intensive care units. AHRQ has tools and research for healthcare professionals to prevent and reduce CLABSI.

Challenge and prize competitions are one path that Federal agencies take to drive innovation. AHRQ has embarked on challenges that are offered on Challenge.gov.

Healthcare disparities are differences in access to or availability of medical facilities and services and variation in rates of disease occurrence and disabilities between population groups defined by socioeconomic characteristics such as age, ethnicity, economic resources, or gender and populations identified geographically or similar measures. AHRQ has reports and data on disparities in health care related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

Community health workers, also known as "promotores de salud", play a vital role bridging patients, communities, and healthcare providers. These AHRQ resources can help improve gaps and mitigate social determinants of health among priority populations.

AHRQ's resources on emergency departments (EDs) include research studies, data and analytics, and tools designed to improve patient safety and the delivery of care. Topics explored include ED boarding and crowding, infection prevention, and diagnostic safety.