Evaluation of the Use of AHRQ and Other Quality Indicators

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.

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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