IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH-CARE FOR CHILDREN - IMPLEMENTING THE RESULTS OF THE AHSR RESEARCH AGENDA CONFERENCE

Objective. To describe the rationale, development, content, and result s of the AHSR-sponsored conference on developing a research agenda foc used on improving the quality of care for children. Data Sources and M ethods. Planning documents, background papers, and conference proceedi ngs. Principal Findings. The conference developed the research agenda focused on (1) monitoring the health of children; (2) evaluating the e fficacy and effectiveness of health services for children; (3) assessi ng the quality of healthcare provided to children; (4) improving the q uality of healthcare within health systems; (5) assessing the performa nce of community systems for children; (6) exploring the impact of dif ferent financial incentives on the provision of pediatric healthcare; and (7) developing and disseminating clinical practice guidelines and other information to physicians, families, and consumers. Specific iss ues and research questions in each area are also presented. Strategies for implementing the research agenda are presented and include: (1) e xpanding the child health services research workforce; (2) developing child healthcare quality improvement research centers; (3) conducting research in specific high-priority areas; (4) focusing research on imp roving the health of vulnerable populations; (5) improving child healt h data and collection systems at the national level; (6) developing be tter community health monitoring for children; (7) building and suppor ting research networks and a consortium of research users; and (8) dev eloping a coordinated interagency federal effort to advance this agend a and to provide accountability for its completion. Conclusion. The pr oposed research agenda should be a national priority so that all Ameri cans can be assured that children are receiving the best quality of ca re that the United States can provide.