Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. As one of 12 agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, AHRQ supports health services research that will improve the quality of health care and promote evidence-based decisionmaking.

AHRQ's Focus and Strategic Goals
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.
Organizational excellence: Use efficient and responsive business processes to maximize the Agency's resources and the effectiveness of its programs.

AHRQ's Customers
Clinicians and other health care providers, such as hospitals.
Consumers and patients.
Health care policymakers at the Federal, State, and local levels.
Purchasers and payers, such as employers and public and private insurers.
Other health officials, such as hospital systems and medical school faculty.

Location:540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD, 20850
Tel: 301-427-1364