United States Health Care Resources
AHRQ's mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. As one of 12 agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, AHRQ supports research to improve the quality of health care services and help people make more informed decisions.
CMS, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. CMS provides information for health professionals, regional governments, and the public.
The IOM is an independent, nonprofit organization that offers unbiased and authoritative advice to decisionmakers and the
public. As the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, the IOM helps the government and the private sector make informed health decisions by providing objective studies and straightforward advice.
The Joint Commission is an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized as a symbol of safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization that seeks to elevate the issue of health care quality to the top of the national agenda. NCQA helps drive improvement in health care quality and works with employers, policymakers, doctors, patients, and health plans to reach consensus and transform the U.S. health care system.
Part of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, NGC is a public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. This site documents the practice guidelines of many U.S. health care organizations, including Kaiser Permanente.
Updated January 2011
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International Resources
The Commonwealth Fund supports independent research on health care issues and makes grants to improve health care practice and policy. An international program in health policy is designed to stimulate innovative policies and practices in the United States and other industrialized countries.
The chart above shows a comparison of selected European countries' health care systems relative to the United States (updated January 2010).
The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies supports and promotes evidence-based health policymaking through comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the dynamics of health care systems in Europe.
Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP) compares the health care systems of 35 countries, including all EU member states as well as Canada. HCP provides guidance for patients and citizens, reality checks for governments, and marketing opportunities for sponsors.
HCP's health care benchmarks inspire better transparency and consumer empowerment in times of EU integration and growing cross-border patient mobility.
The mission of the OECD is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The OECD provides a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences, seek solutions to common problems, and understand what drives economic, social and environmental change.
The World Bank provides development assistance for the world's poorest countries. Strengthening health systems is at the center of the Bank's strategy for health, nutrition, and population. These pages of Bank's site explore how changing health systems can impact development.
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Vendor Resources
Archimedes has developed a full-scale simulation model of human physiology, diseases, behaviors, interventions, and health care systems. The Archimedes Model uses advanced methods of mathematics, computing, and data systems to run clinically realistic virtual trials on any population and create compelling evidence for use in health and economic outcomes research, policy creation, clinical trial design, and performance improvement.
A key provider of Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect,™ Epic makes software for mid-size and large medical groups, hospitals, and integrated health care organizations. Epic software spans clinical, access, and revenue functions and extends into the home.
Healthwise is a nonprofit organization that develops health content and patient education solutions for leading health plans, care management companies, hospitals, and consumer health portals. The Healthwise Handbook provides a wealth of reliable, practical health care information for use at home. Kaiser Permanente members can receive copies of the Healthwise Handbook in English or Spanish. Healthwise also provides much of the patient health care content found at kp.org.
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