The partnership enables UC clinicians and patients to access AHRQ's free, evidence-based guides that objectively summarize the benefits and risks of different treatment options for common health conditions. Through systematic reviews, researchers synthesize available evidence on:
• Drugs,
• Medical devices,
• Tests,
• Surgeries and
• Ways to deliver health care.
AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program supports patient-centered outcomes research on 14 priority conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, mental health disorders and pregnancy. AHRQ, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the first federal agency to have a legislative mandate to conduct this type of research.
"Patient-centered outcomes research is fundamental to improving the quality, safety, appropriateness and effectiveness of health care and creating a system that truly meets the needs of patients," said Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, AHRQ director. "The ultimate goal is to provide information that clinicians and patients can use in partnership to make the best individual treatment choices."
UC launched its innovation center in October 2010 to promote and advance innovations in clinical care that will improve patient outcomes and quality of care within the UC system and beyond.
"Partnering with AHRQ will allow us to share objective, up-to-date research that can help our clinicians educate patients about their health conditions and treatment options to make informed decisions about care," said Terry Leach, innovation center executive director.
AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program works with a variety of stakeholders to identify priority research topics. Once a topic is chosen, researchers from one of the agency's network of Evidence-based Practice Centers conduct a systematic review of published and unpublished evidence. Unbiased findings are then synthesized into comprehensive reports and related products, including plain-language guides for both clinicians and patients. The program also offers free continuing education modules for a variety of health care professionals and downloadable faculty slide sets for health care educators.
To make the best use of AHRQ's products, clinicians may:
• Review the "Clinical Bottom Line" in clinician guides and learn about the strength of evidence behind research findings. Share the guides with colleagues. See all of the available clinician guides by visiting http://go.usa.gov/k3d.
• Make AHRQ's companion guides for patients available in waiting rooms or encourage patients to access AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program website and find a list of available guides at http://go.usa.gov/k3p.
• Participate in free continuing medical education/continuing education modules (CME/CE) from AHRQ based on patient-centered outcomes research studies. Visit http://go.usa.gov/k3d.
• Sign up for email updates to stay up to date on AHRQ's patient-centered outcomes research. Visit www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov.
Examples of available guide titles include "Treating Cholesterol with Combination Therapy," "Gestational Diabetes" and "Managing Pain from a Broken Hip." To order free printed copies, call the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at (800) 358-9295 and use code C-02.