HSR Information Central

Key Organizations

Federal Agencies

• Administration on Aging (AoA) - Part of DHHS, AoA's mission is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of long-term care that helps elderly individuals to maintain their dignity in their homes and communities.

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) - The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. AHRQ supports health services research that will improve the quality of health care and promote evidence-based decision making.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is one of the operating components of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC's mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS))  - Administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with the States to administer Medicaid, the State Children's health insurance Program (SCHIP), and health insurance portability standards.

• Department of Defense (DOD) - The DOD funds health services research studies, e.g., impact of discrimination on medical care and quality of life for breast cancer survivors; quality of care indicators for early-stage prostate cancer.

• Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) - DHSS is the government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.

• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) - HRSA works to improve and extend life for people living with HIV/AIDS, provide primary health care to medically underserved people, serve women and children through state programs, and train a health workforce that is both diverse and motivated to work in underserved communities.

• Indian Health Service (IHS) - Part of DHHS, IHS provides health services to 1.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives of more than 560 federally recognized tribes. Has supported health services research projects such as cost-effectiveness studies of rural telemedicine consultation services, the effects of fluoridation, etc.

• Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) - Established in 1997 by the merger of the Physician Payment Review Commission (PPRC) and the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission (ProPAC). Created by congressional mandate (Public Law 105-33), the 15-member nonpartisan Commission advises the Congress on Medicare Payment policies.

• National Cancer Institute Support and Resources - (National Cancer Institute, NIH (NCI))  - Provides general support information for those with cancer, lists support organizations, details information about finances and insurance, and offers information about hospices and home care, and support for children with cancer.

• National Center for Health Statistics - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC))  - Looks at outcomes, access, literature synthesis, public reporting, underserved, quality, data collection methods, etc.

• National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR) - The 1993 NIH Revitalization Acts created NICHSR at the National Library of Medicine to improve "...the collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and dissemination of information on health services research, clinical practice guidelines, and on health care technology, including the assessment of such technology."

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Part of DHHS, NIH is the world's premiere medical research organization. A number of its Centers and Institutes conduct health services research, e.g., outcomes, patient safety, data sources, epidemiology, health disparities, access to care, quality of care, pharmacogenetics, data sources, implementation research, research diffusion, research dissemination.

• National Science Foundation - An independent agency to promote the progress of science; advance national health, prosperity, and welfare, and secure national defense. Supports health service research projects, for example, ensuring security and privacy for electronic records, theory and implementation of scheduling patients, econometric models, etc.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) - Part of DHHS, SAMHSA's mission is focused on building resilience and facilitating recovery for people with or at risk for mental or substance use disorders. Has funded health services research projects.

• United States Department of Agriculture - The USDA has funded a number of health services research projects, e.g., assessing outcomes of childhood overweight prevention, providing health services in rural America, etc.

• VA Health Services Research and Development Service - (Health Services Research and Development Service, Veterans Administration (HSR&D))  - VA's Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D), works to identify and evaluate innovative strategies that lead to accessible, high quality, cost-effective care for veterans and the nation.

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Associations and Organizations

• AARP - Formerly American Association of Retired Persons. A non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50 and over improve the quality of their lives.

• AcademyHealth - The professional home for health services researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners and a non-partisan resource for health research and policy.

• Alliance Healthcare Foundation - Promotes quality healthcare with special emphasis on the medically underserved.

• America's Health Insurance Plan Foundation - The Foundation strives to create, support, and enhance programs in health insurance plans which will improve quality, effectiveness, and value in health care through research, education, information sharing, and other activities.

• American Cancer Society - ACS is committed to fighting cancer through balanced programs of research, education, patient service, advocacy, and rehabilitation. Supports health services research.

• The American Health Quality Association (AHQA) - Represents Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) and professionals working to improve the quality of health care in communities across America. QIOs share information about best practices with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and others.

• American Medical Association (AMA) - The AMA's mission is to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.

• American Public Health Association (APHA) - APHA is an Association of individuals and organizations working to improve the public's health and to achieve equity in health status for all. We promote the scientific and professional foundation of public health practice and policy, advocate the conditions for a healthy global society, emphasize prevention and enhance the ability of members to promote and protect environmental and community health.

• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) - Founded in 1876, conducts research and compiles and disseminates data on medical schools, students, faculty members, and teaching hospitals. A variety of publications are also available. It is "a nonprofit association of medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic societies" whose purpose is to "improve the nation's health by enhancing the effectiveness of academic medicine."

• Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) - The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) is the only national organization representing the deans, faculty and students of the accredited member schools of public health and other programs seeking accreditation as schools of public health.

• Center for Healthcare Srategies, Inc. - A nonprofit health policy resource center dedicated to improving the quality and cost effectiveness of health care services for low-income populations and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

• Center for Mental Health Services Research Listserv - (University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMASS) USA)  - Electronic listserv of the Center. The mission of the Center for Mental Health Services Research is to be an internationally recognized academic center that conducts research on the nature, structure, effectiveness, and regulation of services for individuals with mental health conditions, and develops and disseminates knowledge to improve the lives of these individuals, their families, and other community members.

• Commonwealth Fund - A philanthropic foundation established in 1918 by Anna M. Harkness with the broad charge to enhance the common good. The Fund carries out this mandate through its efforts to help Americans live healthy and productive lives and to assist specific groups with serious and neglected problems. It supports independent research on health and social issues and makes grants to improve health care practice and policy.

• Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine - Mission is to help transform medicine and healthcare through rigorous scientific studies, new models of clinical care, and innovative educational programs that integrate biomedicine, the complexity of human beings, the intrinsic nature of healing and the rich diversity of therapeutic systems. Conducts health services research.

• ECRI - An independent, nonprofit health services research agency that works to improve the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of patient care. Provides a wide range of services dealing with healthcare technology, including research, evaluation, assessment, publications, and databases. Other areas of interest include: healthcare risk and quality management, and healthcare environmental management.

• Families USA - A national nonprofit working for the consumer in national and state health policy debates.

• HandsNet - 5000 public interest and human services groups working on health issues

• Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) - Focuses uniquely on health technology assessment (HTA) and provides the key forum for all those from the worlds of health care, academia and business interested in the science, development and application of HTA. Health technology assessment (HTA) offers "supporting evidence based decision making in health care policy and practice".

• Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation - An independent philanthropy focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation. The Foundation is an independent voice and source of facts analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public.

• Institute of Medicine - (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IOM))  - Established in 1970 for the purpose of advancing and protecting the health of the public. The Institute is charged with the examination of policy matters that affect the health of the public.

• International Health Economics Association (iHEA) - Formed to increase communication among health economists, foster a high standard of debate in the application of economics to health and health care systems, and assist young researchers at the start of their careers.

• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) - Accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.

• National Academy of Social Insurance - Nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of the nation's leading experts on social insurance. Its mission is to promote understanding of how social insurance contributes to economic security and a vibrant economy.

• National Association of Health Data Organizations (NAHDO) - National, not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to improving health care through the collection, analysis, dissemination, public availability, and use of health data.

• National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) - The NPSF's vision is to be the indispensable resource for individuals and organizations committed to improving the safety of patients.

• Pew Charitable Trusts - Seeks to promote nonpartisan policy solutions for pressing and emerging health-care problems that affect the American public and the global community.

• Population Association of America (PAA) - A nonprofit, scientific, professional organization established to promote the improvement, advancement and progress of the human race through research of problems related to human population.

• Public Health Systems and Services Research - (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF))  - PHSSR is a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designed to build awareness of this new field focused on the organization, financing, delivery and impact of public health services.

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - RWJF's mission is to improve the health and health care of all Americans.

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