William Lang, MPH,
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
On April 3, 2009, public testimony on comparative effectiveness
research was given at a meeting of the National Advisory Council
for Healthcare Research and Quality. The testimony represents
the views of the presenter and not necessarily those of the Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Council provides advice and recommendations to the Director,
AHRQ, and to the Secretary, HHS, on priorities for a national
health services research agenda.
April 1, 2009
National Advisory Council on Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD
Dear Council Members:
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
is pleased to provide comments to the National Advisory Council
on Healthcare Research and Quality (NAC) on the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality (AHRQ) comparative effectiveness research
program.
AACP supports federal efforts to increase the evidence-base
upon which healthcare professionals establish their clinical
decisions and organize their practice. We support the creation
of this evidence base through comparative effectiveness research.
Our comment to the NAC consists of the following brief statement:
We need to move comparative effectiveness towards practice pattern
assessment. For example, we know that helping patients manage
their medications is essential for improved outcomes associated
with the use of the medication. To make the most efficient
use of health professionals' knowledge and skills we
need to know which clinicians-working alone or in teams- impact
those outcomes associated with medication management strategies.
If it matters how a service is delivered then educational strategies
to affect and enhance that delivery are essential.
Pharmacy faculty are strong partners with AHRQ. Academic pharmacy
researchers are working to develop a sustainable health services
research effort among faculty with AHRQ grant support. As partners
in the AHRQ Effective Healthcare programs (CERTs, DeCIDE) pharmacy
faculty researchers improve the effectiveness of healthcare services.
Some of this research will take place through the development
of practice-based research networks focused on improving the
medication use process. Researchers have assessed the use and
availability of health information technology and its relationship
to medication errors in critical access hospitals.
Should you require additional information please contact me
at your convenience.
Sincerely,
William Lang, MPH
VP Policy and Advocacy
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
1727 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
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540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 