Appendix 2. Changes and Improvements Over Previous Year

Summary

The basic structure of the AHRQ Fiscal Year 2002 performance plan for Fiscal Year 2002 is unchanged. The titles for Goals 5 and 6 were revised to simplify the presentation, but the program objectives represented under each goal remain the same.

The indicators presented under each objective were updated to reflect where Agency programs are expected to be in Fiscal Year 2002. That resulted in output and outcome measures being added, particularly in Goals 3 and 4, for programs and research initiatives that are expected to come to fruition during that period. Additionally, the details of some indicators have changed based on results received in Fiscal Year 1999.

Detailed Presentation of Goals and Objectives

Indicators can be seen in detail in section 1.4 of this report.

Goal 1: Establish Research Needs Based on User's Needs

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 1.1: Define direction of Fiscal Year project funding priorities, in large part, by needs assessment activities.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 1.1: Define direction of Fiscal Year project funding priorities, in large part, by needs assessment activities.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 1.1: Define direction of Fiscal Year project funding priorities, in large part, by needs assessment activities.
Comments: None

Goal 2: Make significant contributions to the effective functioning of the US health care system through the creation of new knowledge.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 2.1: Determine annually the salient findings from research in each of the three areas (outcomes; quality; and cost, access, and use) and develop plan for next steps translation and dissemination.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 2.1: Determine annually the salient findings from research in each of the three areas (outcomes; quality; and cost, access, and use) and develop plan for next steps translation and dissemination.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 2.1: Determine annually the salient findings from research in each of the three areas (outcomes; quality; and cost, access, and use) and develop plan for next steps translation and dissemination.
Comments: None

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 2:2: Achieve significant findings from AHRQ sponsored and conducted research.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 2:2: Achieve significant findings from AHRQ sponsored and conducted research.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 2:2: Achieve significant findings from AHRQ sponsored and conducted research.
Comments: None

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 2.3: Implement Fiscal Year 2000 priority (1) "New Research on Priority Health Issues."
2001 Performance Objective:
Initiate Fiscal Year Research Initiatives.
2002 Performance Objective:
Initiate Fiscal Year Research Initiatives.
Comments: The wording changes slightly to make applicable across years.

Goal 3: Foster translation of new knowledge into practice by developing and providing information, products, and tools on outcomes, quality, and access, cost, and use of care.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 3.1: Promote distribution of AHRQ publications, products, and tools through intermediary organizations.
Objective 3.2: Maximize dissemination of information, tools, and products developed from research results for use in practice settings.
2001 Performance Objective:
Maximize dissemination of information, tools, and products developed from research results for use in practice settings.
2002 Performance Objective:
Maximize dissemination of information, tools, and products developed from research results for use in practice settings.
Comments: The Fiscal Year 2000 Objectives 3.1 and 3.2 were consolidated in Fiscal Year 2001 to reduce redundancy.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 3.3: Develop and facilitate the use of new tools, talent, products, and implementation methodologies stemming from research portfolio.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 3.2: Develop and facilitate the use of new tools, talent, products, and implementation methodologies stemming from research portfolio.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 3.2: Develop and facilitate the use of new tools, talent, products, and implementation methodologies stemming from research portfolio.
Comments: We have maintained this objective with a different number.

Goal 4: Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of AHRQ research and associated activities.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 4.1: Evaluate the impact of AHRQ sponsored products in advancing methods to measure and improve health care.
2001 Performance Objective:
Evaluate the impact of AHRQ sponsored products in advancing methods to measure and improve health care outcomes and quality.
2002 Performance Objective:
Evaluate the impact of AHRQ sponsored products in advancing methods to measure and improve health care outcomes and quality.
Comments: Objectives 4.1 and 4.2 have been consolidated in the Fiscal Year 2001 plan. The Fiscal Year 2000 plan inadvertently had two objectives of the same title. That redundancy has been removed. With that exception, the objectives remain the same as Fiscal Year 2000.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 4.2: Evaluate the impact of AHRQ sponsored products in advancing methods to measure and improve health care outcomes and quality.
2001 Performance Objective:
Evaluate the impact of MEPS data and associated products on policymaking and research products.
2002 Performance Objective:
Evaluate the impact of MEPS data and associated products on policymaking and research products.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 4.3: Evaluate the impact of MEPS data and associated products on policymaking and research projects.
2001 Performance Objective:
Not applicable.
2002 Performance Objective:
Not applicable.

Goal 5: Support initiative to improve health care quality through leadership and research.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.1: Conduct research to help to measure the current status health care quality in the Nation.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.1: Conduct research to help to measure the current status health care quality in the Nation.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.1: Conduct research to help to measure the current status health care quality in the Nation.
Comments: None

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.2: Facilitate use of quality information to improve health care in the Nation.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.2: Facilitate use of quality information to improve health care in the Nation.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.2: Facilitate use of quality information to improve health care in the Nation.
Comments: None

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.3: Improve quality measurement.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.3: Improve quality measurement.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 5.3: Improve quality measurement.
Comments: None

Goal 6: Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 6.1: Release and disseminate MEPS data and information products in timely manner for use by researchers, policy makers, purchasers, and plans.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 6.1: Release and disseminate MEPS data and information products in timely manner for use by researchers, policy makers, purchasers, and plans.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 6.1: Release and disseminate MEPS data and information products in timely manner for use by researchers, policy makers, purchasers, and plans.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 6.2: Facilitate use of MEPS data and associated products as tools by extramural researchers, policy makers, purchasers, and plans.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 6.2: Facilitate use of MEPS data and associated products as tools by extramural researchers, policy makers, purchasers, and plans.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 6.2: Facilitate use of MEPS data and associated products as tools by extramural researchers, policy makers, purchasers, and plans.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 6.3: Modify and enhance MEPS to enable reporting on the quality of health care in America as part of Fiscal Year 2000 Priority (3), "New Tools for a New Century."
2001 Performance Objective:
Modify MEPS to support annual reporting on quality, health care disparities, and research on long-term care in adults and children with special needs.
2002 Performance Objective:
Modify MEPS to support annual reporting on quality, health care disparities, and research on long-term care in adults and children with special needs.
Comments: The name changed slightly to make the objective more generic from year to year. This objective is where the Agency will note the ongoing and important role that MEPS is playing in measuring national quality.

Goal 7: Support the overall direction and management of AHRQ.
Budget line: Program Support

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 7.1 is mandatory (Capital Assets) but not applicable to AHRQ.
2001 Performance Objective
Not Applicable.
2002 Performance Objective
Not Applicable.
Comments: The measures for objectives 7.1,7.2, and 7.3 are for internal management and do not warrant being reported outside AHRQ.
The measures for 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 also remain in place internally in the Office of Management Operations Plan and employee performance plans for the managers and staff.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 7.2: Maintain acquisition performance management system to ensure: (1) timely completion of transactions, (2) vendor and customer satisfaction, and (3) efficient and effective use of resources.
2000 Performance Objective:
Discontinued.
2000 Performance Objective:
Discontinued.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 7.3: Continued enhancement and expansion of Agency intranet site to ensure staff have immediate access to all current information.
2001 Performance Objective:
Discontinued.
2002 Performance Objective:
Discontinued.

2000 Performance Objective:
Objective 7.4: Establish and maintain a secure Agency computer network infrastructure.
2001 Performance Objective:
Objective 7.4: Establish and maintain a secure Agency computer network infrastructure.
2002 Performance Objective:
Objective 7.4: Establish and maintain a secure Agency computer network infrastructure.

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