usa_flag  Rockville, USA

 

History and Structure

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), through its Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs), sponsors the development of various reports to assist public- and private-sector organizations in their efforts to improve the quality of health care in the United States. These reports provide comprehensive, science-based information on common, costly medical conditions and new health care technologies and strategies. The EPCs review all relevant scientific literature on a wide spectrum of clinical and health services topics. EPCs also produce technical reports on methodological topics and other types of evidence synthesis-related reports.

Mission

The AHRQ EPC Program mission is to transform healthcare by increasing the quality, availability, and use of evidence via scientifically rigorous and unbiased analysis of evidence

How the AHRQ EPC Program Works

Under the Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) Program of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 5-year contracts are awarded to institutions in the United States to serve as EPCs. The EPCs review all relevant scientific literature on a wide spectrum of clinical and health services topics to produce various types of evidence reports. These reports may be used for informing and developing coverage decisions, quality measures, educational materials and tools, clinical practice guidelines, and research agendas. The EPCs also conduct research on methodology of evidence synthesis.

Resources:

Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews:

https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/cer-methods-guide/presentations

Methods Guide for Medical Test Reviews:

https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/methods-guidance-tests/slides

Resources for Getting Involved with the EPC Program:

https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/get-involved

Agency Information

AHRQ

Country: USA
Description of population served:  Americans
Ongoing TA projects: fluctuates

Contact information

Division Director: Craig A. Umscheid, MD, MS
Division Deputy Director: Christine S. Chang, MD, MPH

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857 USA

For More Information:
Find evidence reports: https://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov
Sign up for listserv: https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/email-updates/
Contact us: EPC@ahrq.hhs.gov