The mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is to support, conduct, and disseminate research that improves access to care and the outcomes, quality, cost, and utilization of health care services. The research sponsored and conducted by the Agency provides better information that enables better decisions about health care. AHCPR was created specifically to respond to the Nation's need for knowledge about the health care system. The legislation that established the Agency in 1989 states: "The purpose of the Agency is to enhance the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care services, and access to such services, through the establishment of a broad base of scientific research and through the promotion of improvements in clinical practice and in the organization, financing, and delivery of health care services."�

BREAST CANCER, DEMENTIA, DRUG SAFETY, HEALTH CARE ACCESS, HEALTH CARE DELIVERY, HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, HEALTH INSURANCE, MAMMOGRAMS AND MAMMOGRAPHY, MANAGED CARE, PEDIATRIC AIDS, POLICY, PRIMARY CARE, RESEARCH, SICKLE CELL ANEMIA, SMOKING, SURGERY, TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS, PHYSICIAN REFERRALS, HEALTH PLANS, HOSPITAL, HEALTH CARE, CHIROPRACTIC