AHRQ, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is charged with supporting research to improve the quality of healthcare, reduce its cost, improve patient safety, decrease medical errors, and broaden access to essential sevices. AHRQ sponsors and conducts research that provides evidence-based information on healthcare outcomes, quality, and cost, use, and access. The information helps healthcare decision-makers, patients and clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers make more informed decisions and improve the quality of healthcare services.