Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.

As 1 of 12 agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, AHRQ supports research that helps people make more informed decisions and improves the quality of health care services. AHRQ was formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

The AHRQ is committed to improving care safety and quality by developing successful partnerships and generating the knowledge and tools required for long-term improvement. The goal of our research is measurable improvements in health care in America, gauged in terms of improved quality of life and patient outcomes, lives saved, and value gained for what we spend.

To achieve its goals, the Agency is committed to organizational excellence, the use of efficient and responsive business processes to maximize the Agency's resources and the effectiveness of its programs. Our overall focus is:

• Safety and quality: Reduce the risk of harm by promoting delivery of the best possible health care.
• Effectiveness: Improve health care outcomes by encouraging the use of evidence to make informed health care decisions.
• Efficiency: Transform research into practice to facilitate wider access to effective health care services and reduce unnecessary costs.