Evidence-based Practice Centers Synthesizing scientific evidence to improve quality and effectiveness in health care

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Under the Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) Program of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (formerly the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research—AHCPR), 5-year contracts are awarded to institutions in the United States and Canada to serve as EPCs. The EPCs review all relevant scientific literature on clinical, behavioral, and organization and financing topics to produce evidence reports and technology assessments. These reports are used for informing and developing coverage decisions, quality measures, educational materials and tools, guidelines, and research agendas. The EPCs also conduct research on methodology of systematic reviews.

Overview / Centers / Report Development / Additional Information

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Overview

In 1997 the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), now known as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), launched its initiative to promote evidence-based practice in everyday care through establishment of 12 Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs). The EPCs develop evidence reports and technology assessments on topics relevant to clinical, social science/behavioral, economic, and other health care organization and delivery issues—specifically those that are common, expensive, and/or significant for the Medicare and Medicaid populations. With this program, AHRQ became a "science partner" with private and public organizations in their efforts to improve the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care by synthesizing the evidence and facilitating the translation of evidence-based research findings. Topics are nominated by non-federal partners such as professional societies, health plans, insurers, employers, and patient groups. Go to http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc/epctopicn.htm for topic nomination procedures. Federal partners often request evidence reports and should contact the EPC Program Director for more information.

For details on the EPC program for current and potential partner organizations, go to the EPC Partner's Guide.

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Centers

In October 2007, AHRQ announced the third award of 5-year contracts for EPC-III to 14 Evidence-based Practice Centers to continue and expand the work performed by the previous group of EPCs. Most of the third group of EPCs were part of the initial set. However, EPC-III brings in two new institutions to the program-the University of Connecticut and Vanderbilt University--while Stanford has concluded its contract as one of the original EPCs.

Five of the EPCs specialize in conducting technology assessments for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/techix.htm for more information.

One EPC concentrates on supporting the work of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfix.htm for more information.

The current EPCs are located at:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Technology Evaluation Center. .
• Duke University.¹
• ECRI Institute.¹
• Johns Hopkins University.
• McMaster University.
• Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center.
• Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center.²
• RTI International—University of North Carolina.
• Southern California.
• Stanford University—University of California, San Francisco.
• Tufts—New England Medical Center.¹
• University of Alberta.¹
• University of Connecticut.
• University of Ottawa.
• Vanderbilt University.

^1. EPCs that focus on technology assessments for CMS.
^2. EPC that focuses on evidence reports for the USPSTF.

For contacts and additional information about the current participating EPCs, go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc/epcenters.htm.

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Report Development

The EPCs review all relevant scientific literature on clinical, behavioral, and organization and financing topics to produce evidence reports, technical reviews (covering nonclinical methodological topics), and technology assessments.

These reports, reviews, and technology assessments are based on rigorous, comprehensive syntheses and analyses of the scientific literature on topics relevant to clinical, social science/behavioral, economic, and other health care organization and delivery issues. EPC reports and assessments emphasize explicit and detailed documentation of methods, rationale, and assumptions. These scientific syntheses may include meta-analyses and cost analyses. All EPCs collaborate with other medical and research organizations so that a broad range of experts is included in the development process.

The resulting evidence reports and technology assessments are used by Federal and State agencies, private sector professional societies, health delivery systems, providers, payers, and others committed to evidence-based health care.

For a list of available reports by clinical categories and topics, go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcindex.htm

For a numerical list of titles in the Evidence Report Series, go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc/epcseries.htm

In addition, the EPCs will:

• Provide technical assistance to professional organizations, employers, providers, policymakers, etc. to facilitate translation of the reports into quality improvement tools, evidence-based curricula, and reimbursement policies.
• Undertake methods research.
• Update prior evidence reports.

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Additional Information

AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence (COE) oversees the Evidence-based Practice Centers Program. For more information about the program contact:

Beth Collins Sharp, Ph.D., R.N.
Director, EPC Program
Center for Outcomes and Evidence
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
540 Gaither Road, Suite 6000
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (301) 427-1503
Fax: (301) 427-1520
E-mail: Beth.Collinssharp@ahrq.hhs.gov

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Current as of November 2007

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Internet Citation:

Evidence-based Practice Centers Overview. November 2007. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc/

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