Utilizing Health Information Technology (IT) to Improve Health Care Quality (R18) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled "Utilizing Health Information Technology (IT) to Improve Health Care Quality (R18)" and its Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 08-270.

Which agency runs this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary research grant run by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The central aim is to fund practical, real-world demonstration projects that test how health information technology can be implemented and used successfully to improve health care quality. The emphasis is on what works in everyday clinical environments and on producing lessons that other organizations can use.

Is this grant focused on research in the abstract, or on real-world implementation?

It is focused on real-world implementation and evaluation. The FOA prioritizes projects that both implement (or optimize) a health IT solution and rigorously evaluate the implementation process alongside clinical and operational outcomes.

What care settings are especially emphasized?

The FOA emphasizes ambulatory (outpatient) care settings and transitions of care (handoffs) when patients move between settings, such as hospital to primary care, primary care to home health, or referral to specialists.

Why does the FOA emphasize ambulatory care and transitions of care?

AHRQ notes that while health IT has shown benefits in large, integrated health systems, it has not spread as widely or been evaluated as thoroughly in smaller, more fragmented outpatient settings and during transitions of care. These environments are where communication gaps, medication errors, duplicative testing, and follow-up failures often occur, so the FOA targets projects that can demonstrate how health IT can close those gaps.

What kinds of improvements is AHRQ looking for projects to demonstrate?

Projects are expected to show measurable improvements in health care quality, including quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency, through better use of health IT.

Does the FOA require measurable outcomes?

Yes. The FOA describes an expectation of measurable improvements (for example in quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency) and emphasizes rigorous evaluation of both implementation and outcomes.

What does AHRQ mean by "implementation-plus-evaluation"?

In this FOA, projects should not only deploy or refine a health IT solution, but also evaluate how and why implementation succeeds or fails in practice, including the factors that influence adoption and sustained use, and the resulting clinical and operational outcomes.

Is simply purchasing or deploying software enough to meet the FOA intent?

No. The FOA states that supported projects must do more than simply purchase or deploy new software. Applications are expected to demonstrate optimization, implementation in new settings/populations, and/or sustainability over time, with a rigorous evaluation component.

What types of project aims does the FOA explicitly call for?

The application must clearly aim to demonstrate at least one of the following: (1) how to optimize the functionality of existing health IT, (2) how to implement health IT in new settings or among new provider groups or patient populations, and/or (3) how to demonstrate sustainability of health IT over time.

What does "optimize the functionality of existing health IT" mean in this FOA?

The FOA gives examples such as improving use of an existing EHR through better decision support, redesigning order sets, or enhancing interoperability.

What does "implement health IT in new settings or among new groups" mean here?

The FOA frames this as expanding tools into new environments or groups, such as community clinics or underserved populations, or introducing the technology to new provider groups or patient populations that have not previously used it.

How does the FOA define or describe sustainability?

Sustainability is described as the solution continuing to be used effectively after initial rollout and not falling apart once pilot funding ends.

What implementation factors does the FOA expect applicants to evaluate?

The FOA expects applicants to identify and measure facilitators and barriers that shape implementation outcomes. Specifically highlighted examples include engagement and training quality, care setting characteristics, organizational processes, workflow fit, implementation plan realism, technical support availability and responsiveness, and integration with existing systems to avoid duplicative work or data silos.

Whose engagement and training are specifically mentioned as important?

The FOA specifically highlights engagement and training for clinicians, staff, patients, and families.

What care setting characteristics are mentioned as potentially influencing success?

The FOA mentions factors such as size, staffing model, patient mix, and resource constraints as examples of setting characteristics that can influence implementation outcomes.

Why does workflow fit matter under this FOA?

The FOA explicitly calls out workflow fit and how well the technology integrates into day-to-day tasks as a factor that can support or undermine successful adoption and sustained use.

How important is technical support in this grant opportunity?

Technical support is explicitly identified as an implementation factor, including the availability and responsiveness of technical support.

Does the FOA address integration with existing systems?

Yes. It highlights the importance of integrating new tools with pre-existing systems and avoiding duplicative work or data silos.

Does the FOA allow applicants to consider other implementation factors beyond the examples listed?

Yes. The FOA leaves room for other relevant factors and encourages applicants to be comprehensive and realistic about what it takes to make health IT work in practice.

What is the grant mechanism and funding instrument?

The funding instrument is a grant, and the mechanism is R18.

What activity category is listed for this opportunity?

The activity category is Health.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number listed is 93.226 (Research on Healthcare Costs, Quality and Outcomes).

When was this funding opportunity posted, and what were the closing dates?

It was posted on October 3, 2008. The original and final closing date was May 7, 2011.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. It has an archive date of June 7, 2011, meaning it is no longer open for applications.

If it is archived, why might the FOA still be useful?

The content can still serve as a blueprint for the kinds of implementation science and applied health IT evaluation that AHRQ has historically prioritized, particularly in ambulatory care and transitions of care.

Who is eligible to apply according to the FOA?

Eligibility is broad and includes state governments, county governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and other tribal organizations. It also lists certain federal government agencies and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Does the FOA indicate an intent to reach diverse outpatient care organizations?

Yes. The inclusion of faith-based and community-based organizations, along with multiple government and tribal entities, reflects an interest in reaching diverse types of organizations that deliver or support outpatient care.

Where was the full announcement linked from?

The full announcement was provided through the NIH grants guide.

Where were technical access issues directed?

Technical access issues were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact.