2011 National Healthcare Disparities Report

For the ninth year in a row, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has produced the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and the National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR). These reports measure trends in effectiveness of care, patient safety, timeliness of care, patient centeredness, and efficiency of care. New this year are chapters on care coordination, health system infrastructure. The reports present, in chart form, the latest available findings on quality of and access to health care.

The National Healthcare Quality Report tracks the health care system through quality measures, such as the percentage of heart attack patients who received recommended care when they reached the hospital or the percentage of children who received recommended vaccinations. The National Healthcare Disparities Report summarizes health care quality and access among various racial, ethnic, and income groups and other priority populations, such as residents of rural areas and people with disabilities.

Print versions of the reports are available from AHRQ's Publications Clearinghouse, which provides ordering information online. 

Acknowledgments
Highlights From the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report 
Chapter 1. Introduction and Methods 
Chapter 2. Effectiveness 
   Cancer
   Cardiovascular Disease
   Chronic Kidney Disease
   Diabetes
   HIV and AIDS
   Maternal and Child Health
   Mental Health and Substance Abuse
   Musculoskeletal Diseases
   Respiratory Diseases
   Lifestyle Modification
   Functional Status Preservation and Rehabilitation
   Supportive and Palliative Care
Chapter 3. Patient Safety 
Chapter 4. Timeliness 
Chapter 5. Patient Centeredness 
Chapter 6. Care Coordination 
Chapter 7. Efficiency 
Chapter 8. Health Systems Infrastructure 
Chapter 9. Access to Health Care 
Chapter 10. Priority Populations 
   Racial and Ethnic Minorities
   Low-Income Groups
   Residents of Rural Areas
   Individuals With Disabilities or Special Health Care Needs
   Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations

Appendixes

Detailed Methods

 

2011 State Snapshots
State-specific health care quality information