IHI reposted this
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is our country’s steward and engine for patient safety-a trusted federal agency that the health care organizations and the broader community turn to for practical, evidence-based resources and tools to translate important patient safety research into practice. The care and caring that every one of us receives and provides today is safer and better because of AHRQ, yet much more work remains to eliminate preventable harm for everyone who receives and delivers care. The cuts to AHRQ and the merger with ASPE raise urgent questions and concerns about the preservation and continuation of key taxpayer-funded initiatives and resources that are vital lifelines for patient safety, such as AHRQ’s Surveys of Patient Safety Culture and CHAPS, CANDOR, PSOs, and research. Their practical tools and resources are deeply embedded and woven into the daily work of organizations across the continuum of care and are anchors for assessing, improving and sharing learnings that advance safety and the experience of patients, families, and the workforce. AHRQ’s work and value naturally align with the administration’s publicly asserted promise to champion initiatives aimed at “improving the health and well-being of Americans” and any cuts will have monumental cascading impacts to the on-the-ground work and efficiencies of health care organizations that depend on AHRQ’s offerings, especially impacting those that are already at risk of financial sustainability. The administration should not pull back on our nation’s commitment and investment to protect patients or rest on any laurels of past progress. Safety is a real-time system property that requires constancy of purpose and commitment of everyone, including our federal leaders. Instead of gutting the agency that is the lifeline for safe, reliliable, and person-centered care, we should accelerate investment in AHRQ to realize the quality care that every person deserves. #patientsafety David Newman-Toker Carol McLay https://lnkd.in/egafe73U
I have been mourning the loss of public health understanding, appreciation, and support by the American public and by the GOP. The dismantling of our medical research, science, public health as well as all our other institutions is not about saving money, nor is it about making America stronger and greater. It's about Project 2025's goals of dismantling the power of the federal government completely and replacing it with church, state, and local authorities. Our focus now needs to be on how we replace federal funding to support necessary public health efforts. Perhaps states will partner to create their own HHS efforts but only their own constituents will benefit. I fear for the citizens in red states whose leadership support the dismantling of all public health as well as Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security.
Sadly the abuses in the past by Congress has created this scenario. Total lack of financial discipline and handing out taxpayer dollars to idiotic programs both outside and inside this country has created this mess. As a resident of MA, you can clearly see it at the state level as well. Thankfully we have a new administration that fully understands this issue. Monies need to be carefully aligned to critical programs but we need to fix decades of insane funding that has gone against our true needs. Blame Senators and Representatives and the people that have voted them in and allowed them to stay.
The AHRQ is one of the few agencies in the federal government that evidence a return on investment with tangible outcomes. This is one of the cases where I strongly reject the administration's attempt to reduce funding and to eliminate staff.
Patricia McGaffigan - there is no doubt that how we move forward with patient safety initiatives will change. Will we look to other non-government organizations to strengthen collaborative bonds for a more cohesive collective effort or will independent states and organizations create their own incubators for learning?
Greta Rosler
1w
This is a grave moment in the history of healthcare quality and safety. Regardless of political affiliations and beliefs, we should all take note of the implications of this on our generation and especially those that follow, should we have this gap in science from AHRQ. This is not about parties - it is about people's lives.
President at Battles Consulting
4dI agree