2009 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports The National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) is a comprehensive national overview of quality of health care in the United States. It is organized around four dimensions of quality of care: effectiveness, patient safety, timeliness, and patient centeredness. Highlights2009 State SnapshotsComparison & Quality InformationFor the seventh 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. 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 children and older adults.Go to the State Snapshots site for State-specific health care quality information and comparisons.Select for Previous Reports. National Healthcare Quality ReportFull Report (PDF File, 3 MB) Plugin Software Help Contents National Healthcare Disparities ReportFull Report (PDF File, 5.7 MB) Plugin Software Help Contents AcknowledgmentsKey Themes and Highlights From the National Healthcare Quality ReportChapter 1. Introduction and MethodsChapter 2. Effectiveness Cancer Diabetes End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Heart Disease HIV and AIDS Maternal and Child Health Mental Health and Substance Abuse Respiratory Diseases Lifestyle Modification Functional Status Preservation and Rehabilitation Supportive and Palliative CareChapter 3. Patient SafetyChapter 4. TimelinessChapter 5. Patient CenterednessChapter 6. EfficiencyAppendixesAHRQ Publication No. 10-0003Current as of March 2010AcknowledgmentsKey Themes and Highlights From the National Healthcare Disparities ReportChapter 1. Introduction and MethodsChapter 2. Quality of Health Care Effectiveness Patient Safety Timeliness Patient Centeredness Summary TablesChapter 3. Access to Health Care Facilitators and Barriers to Health Care Health Care Utilization Summary TablesChapter 4. Priority Populations Racial and Ethnic Minorities Low-Income Groups Women Children Older Adults Residents of Rural Areas Individuals With Disabilities or Special Health Care NeedsCore Measures, Data Sources, and Availability for Select GroupsAppendixesAHRQ Publication No. 10-0004Current as of March 20102009 State SnapshotsState-specific health care quality information Current as of March 2010 Internet Citation: 2009 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. March 2010. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqrdr09/qrdr09.html