Purpose of this program:
To support research and evaluations, demonstration projects, research networks, and multidisciplinary centers and to disseminate information on health care and on systems for the delivery of such care involving: (1) The quality, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness and value of health care services; (2) quality measurement and improvement; (3) the outcomes, cost, cost-effectiveness, and use of health care services and access to such services; (4) clinical practice, including primary care and practice-oriented research; (5) health care technologies, facilities and equipment; (6) health care costs, productivity, organization, and market forces; (7) health promotion and disease prevention, including clinical preventive services; (8) health statistics, surveys, database development, and epidemiology; and (9) medical liability. In support of this research, the Agency has a special interest in health care and its delivery in the inner city, in rural areas, and for priority populations (low-income groups, minority groups, women, children, the elderly, and individuals with special health care needs).