[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 7653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2064]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part E, Chapter E (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), of 
the Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority 
for the Department of Health and Human Services (61 FR 15955-58, April 
10, 1996, most recently amended 65 FR 16395, March 28, 2000) is further 
amended to reflect recent organizational changes. Specifically, AHRQ is 
re-titling its Center for Quality Measurement and Improvement as the 
Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQuIPS, pronounced 
``see quips'') to reflect the Center's additional functional 
responsibilities for patient safety. The specific changes are as 
follows:
    1. Under Section E-10, Organization, replace ``I. Center for 
Quality Measurement and Improvement'' with ``I. Center for Quality 
Improvement and Patient Safety''.
    2. Under Section E-20, Functions, delete the title and statement 
for the Center for Quality Measurement and Improvement (EL) in its 
entirety and insert the following:

Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (EL)

    Conducts and supports research on the measurement and improvement 
of the quality of health care and enhancement of patient safety. 
Specifically, (1) Conducts and supports research, demonstrations, and 
evaluations of the quality of health care and patient safety; (2) 
conducts and supports research on the measurement of healthcare quality 
and promotes the use of these measures; (3) conducts and supports 
research on effective ways to improve the quality of healthcare and 
participates in the dissemination of this knowledge; (4) evaluates 
methods for identifying and preventing medical errors; (5) supports 
dissemination and communication activities to improve quality of care 
and patient safety; (6) designs, conducts, and supports surveys to 
assess the quality of and satisfaction with health care services and 
systems; (7) develops and tests measures and methods for evaluating the 
quality of care and enhancing patient safety; (8) provides technical 
assistance and gathers information on the use of quality measures, 
consumer and patient information, and reporting on patient safety and 
the resulting effects; (9) develops and disseminates an annual report 
on healthcare quality in general and patient safety specifically; and 
(10) represents the Agency in meetings with domestic and international 
experts and organizations concerned with measuring and evaluating the 
quality of care and enhancing patient safety.
    These changes are effective upon date of signature.

    Dated: January 17, 2001.
John M. Eisenberg,
Director.
[FR Doc. 01-2064 Filed 1-23-01; 8:45 am]
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