Federal Register: October 22, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 204)
DOCID: FR Doc 01-26476
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Request for public comments.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Public Comment on AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Program
DATES: To be considered for incorporation in the planned RFP, comments must be received by Friday, November 9, 2001. Comments should be sent to Jacqueline Besteman via email (preferred) jbstema@ahrq.gov; or fax number: 3015944027.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
AHRQ will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in December 2001, to continue its Evidencebased Practice Centers Program (EPC Program). Prior to release of the RFP, AHRQ invites comments from interested parties about the EPC Program with respect to: (a) What has worked well; (b) What has not worked well; (c) What changes and improvements could be made.
AHRQ also is interested in suggestions about new opportunities. For example, what steps might AHRQ take to encourage more healthcare organizations and other relevant groups to translate EPC evidence reports into clinical practice guidelines? What steps might AHRQ take to expand the number of performance measures, educational curricula, and other quality enhancement tools derived from EPC evidence reports? How might AHRQ better track implementation of the evidencebased tools and measures derived from EPC evidence reports, that impact on patient outcomes and quality of care? Are there information technology systems that AHRQ might utilize to broaden clinician access to and use of EPC products?
SUMMARY:
Evidence-based Practice Centers Program; comment request,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
AHRQ is the lead Federal agency for enhancing the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of healthcare services and access to such services. In carrying out this mission, AHRQ conducts and funds research that develops and presents evidencebased information on healthcare outcomes, quality, cost, use and access. Included in AHRQ's legislative mandate is support of syntheses and widespread dissemination of scientific evidence, including dissemination of methods or systems for rating the strength of scientific evidence. These research findings and syntheses assist providers, clinicians, payers, patients, and policymakers in making evidencebased decisions regarding the quality and effectiveness of health care.
In June 1997, AHRQ established the Evidencebased Practice Center
Program (EPC Program) to better respond to significant changes within
the health care industry. AHRQ became a science partner with private
and publicsector organizations in their efforts to improve the
quality, effectiveness and appropriateness of clinical practice. AHRQ
awarded 5year contracts to 12 institutions and designated them as
Evidencebased Practice Centers (EPCs). Since 1997, the EPCs have
conducted more than 80 systematic reviews and analyses of scientific literature on a wide spectrum of topics, incorporating
[[Page 53420]]
the results and conclusions into evidence reports and technology
assessments (visit AHRQ's website www.ahrq.gov for Summaries of EPC reports).
EPC evidence reports and technology assessments have been used by systems of care, professional societies, health plans, public and private purchasers, States, and other entities, as a scientific foundation for development and implementation of their own clinical practice guidelines, clinical pathways, review criteria, performance measures, and other clinical quality improvement tools, as well as for formulation of evidencebased policies related to specific health care technologies.
The objectives of the upcoming second competition for the EPC Program (EPC II) are: (1) Continuation of the methodologically rigorous systematic reviews and analyses of scientific literature on clinical, organizational, and financing systems topics; (2) updating or prior EPC reports; (3) supporting EPC methodologies assistance to professional organizations and others, to facilitate translation of the evidence reports into quality improvement tools, educational programs, etc.; and (4) expanded EPC methods and implementation research.
The EPC Program in an essential component of AHRQ's resources for
evidencebased systematic reviews, analyses, and research. AHRQ intends
that evidence reports, technology assessments, and research, flowing
from EPC II will be more useful to a broader array of stakeholders
consumers, providers, employers, policymakersand be more rapidly
available. AHRQ invites your comments and suggestions on how to achieve these EPC Program goals.
Dated: October 15, 2001.
John M. Eisenberg,
Director.
[FR Doc. 0126476 Filed 101901; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 416090M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Jacqueline Besteman, J.D., M.A., Director, EPC Program, Center for Practice and Technology Assessment, AHRQ, 6010 Executive Blvd., Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852; Phone: (301) 5944017; Fax: (301) 5944027; Email: jbestema@ahrq.gov