Agency for Healthcare Resource and Quality

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is one of twelve agencies within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is headquartered in North Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C.. It was established as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in 1989 as a constituent unit of the Public Health Service to enhance the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care services and access to care by conducting and supporting research, demonstration projects, and evaluations; developing guidelines; and disseminating information on health care services and delivery systems.