The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the safety and quality of America’s healthcare system. AHRQ develops the knowledge, tools and data needed to improve the healthcare system and help Americans, healthcare professionals and policymakers make informed health decisions. AHRQ works with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies and other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used in an effort to achieve the Triple Aim goals of better care, smarter spending of healthcare dollars and healthier people.

In 1999, an Institute of Medicine report, “To Err Is Human,” documented serious patient safety problems in our healthcare system. Since then, AHRQ has led the nation in responding to those issues and improving the safety of healthcare. Using AHRQ’s research and how-to tools, the U.S. healthcare system prevented 1.3 million errors, saved 50,000 lives and avoided $12 billion in wasteful spending from 2010–2013. Despite these successes, safety is far from optimal. AHRQ continues to research and implement strategies to improve healthcare safety.

Contracted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve healthcare quality in the states of Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, atom Alliance is part of a broad national effort comprised of several national partners, including AHRQ. Our goals serve to advance the Triple Aim:

Better Care

• Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections
• Reducing Healthcare-Acquired Conditions
• Reducing Hospital Readmissions Through Coordination of Care

Smarter Spending

• Prevention Coordination Through Meaningful Use
• Assisting with Value-Based Payment, Quality Reporting & Physician Feedback

Healthier People

• Improving Cardiac Health & Reducing Disparities
• Reducing Disparities in Diabetes Care
• Improving Immunization Rates
• Improving Behavioral Health Integration

We thank our national partners for providing the dedicated leadership needed to improve healthcare quality and equity for older Americans and look forward to continued advancements and success.
Learn more at www.atomAlliance.org and get involved in the national and local healthcare quality improvement efforts near you.