AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange, 55214-55216 [07-4771]

Download as PDF 55214 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 188 / Friday, September 28, 2007 / Notices either the United States or the FTC, alleging any violation of the order. The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the proposed order. It is not intended to constitute an official interpretation of the proposed order or to modify in any way its terms. By direction of the Commission. Compensation Analysis and Support, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS C–46, Cincinnati, OH 45226, Telephone 513– 533–6800 (this is not a toll-free number). Information requests can also be submitted by e-mail to OCAS@CDC.GOV. Donald S. Clark, Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–19159 Filed 9–27–07: 8:45 am] Dated: September 24, 2007. John Howard, Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. [FR Doc. E7–19297 Filed 9–27–07; 8:45 am] Billing Code: 6750–01–S BILLING CODE 4160–17–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Sheet metal workers, physical plant maintenance and associated support staff (including all maintenance shop personnel), and supervisory staff who were monitored or should have been monitored for potential internal radiation exposures associated with the maintenance and renovation activities of the thorium production areas in Wilhelm Hall (a.k.a. the Metallurgy Building or ‘‘Old’’ Metallurgy Building) at the Ames Laboratory from January 1, 1955, through December 31, 1970, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort. This designation will become effective on October 12, 2007, unless Congress provides otherwise prior to the effective date. After this effective date, HHS will publish a notice in the Federal Register reporting the addition of this class to the SEC or the result of any provision by Congress regarding the decision by HHS to add the class to the SEC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Elliott, Director, Office of Jkt 211001 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Designation of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure Cohort National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gives notice of a decision to designate a class of employees at the Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, as an addition to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. On September 12, 2007, the Secretary of HHS designated the following class of employees as an addition to the SEC: 17:12 Sep 27, 2007 Dated: September 24, 2007. John Howard, Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. [FR Doc. E7–19243 Filed 9–27–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160–17–P National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Designation of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure Cohort VerDate Aug<31>2005 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Elliott, Director, Office of Compensation Analysis and Support, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, MS C–46, Cincinnati, OH 45226, Telephone 513– 533–6800 (this is not a toll-free number). Information requests can also be submitted by e-mail to OCAS@CDC.GOV. SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gives notice of a decision to designate a class of employees at the Hanford Engineer Works, Richland, Washington, as an addition to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. On September 12, 2007, the Secretary of HHS designated the following class of employees as an addition to the SEC: Employees of the Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies, or DOE contractors or subcontractors who were monitored or should have been monitored for internal radiological exposures while working at the Hanford Engineer Works in: the 300 Area fuel fabrication and research facilities from October 1, 1943 through August 31, 1946; the 200 Area plutonium separation facilities from November 1, 1944 through August 31, 1946; or the 100 B, D, and F reactor areas from September 1, 1944 through August 31, 1946; for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort. This designation will become effective on October 12, 2007, unless Congress provides otherwise prior to the effective date. After this effective date, HHS will publish a notice in the Federal Register reporting the addition of this class to the SEC or the result of any provision by Congress regarding the decision by HHS to add the class to the SEC. PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS. ACTION: Notice of Submission of Innovations. AGENCY: SUMMARY: To support its objective of accelerating the diffusion and adoption of innovative health care delivery changes, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently launched version 1.0 of the AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange (HCIE) Web site, https:// www.innovations.ahrq.gov. The HCIE is a new initiative designed to support health care professionals in sharing and adopting innovations that improve health care quality. Version 1.0 of the Web site is focused on stimulating creativity and innovation and will serve as a virtual place to which innovators will be encouraged to submit their innovations and experiences from which potential adopters can begin learning about the nuances of implementation. In Spring 2008, AHRQ will deploy version 2.0 of its Health Care Innovations Exchange site making hundreds of profiles of health care service innovations of varying degrees of novelty and scientific rigor accessible to the public. Version 2.0 will also offer expert commentary; stories; tools; lessons learned; ‘‘change packages’’— sets of innovations implemented simultaneously; expanded content on implementation; and opportunities to learn and network. To build the database of innovations profiles, AHRQ invites submissions of E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 188 / Friday, September 28, 2007 / Notices health service innovations to its Health Care Innovations Exchange. The AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange database will cover the broad spectrum of health care settings, systems, and providers. Public health priority diseases/conditions, priority populations, and efforts to reduce disparities in quality will be highlighted. The AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange is seeking a broad range of novel health care strategies, activities, and tools. AHRQ invites participation in its Health Care Innovations Exchange by submitting descriptions of innovative efforts to improve the delivery of health care services. DATES: There is no deadline for submission. It is a continuous submission and review process. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Special Incentive To Submit AHRQ will provide early submitters (those who submit by January 15, 2008) and opportunity to preview and comment on version 2.0 of the Health Care Innovations Exchange Web site via a secure mechanism. In this preview, an opportunity will be given to browse and search the innovations profiled up to that point. ADDRESSES: Submit to info@innovations.ahrq.gov. How To Submit To submit a health care innovation for possible posting, send a description of the innovation that would include the health care setting and patient population it is our could be used for and any results that have been documented, to the Health Care Innovations Exchange at info@innovations.ahrq.gov. Please use the words ‘‘Innovation Submission’’ in the subject line. If you prefer, you can fax information about your innovation to 301–610–4950. You may also mail information to Mary Nix, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850. Detailed information on submitting can be obtained from the AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange Web page titled ‘‘Share Your Innovations’’, https:// www.innovations.ahrq.gov/share/ share.aspx. Supporting documents may be sent with the submission. Once AHRQ has reviewed your submission and identified it as a priority item for posting, AHRQ will contact the submitter to discuss the details regarding what will be included in standardized postings. Copyright or other intellectual property issues, if any, will be addressed at that time. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:12 Sep 27, 2007 Jkt 211001 55215 If the innovation is accepted for inclusion, AHRQ will develop a detailed profile and send it to the submitter to review for accuracy and completeness. The innovation will then be ready for publication in Version 2.0 of the Health Care Innovations Exchange scheduled for public release in Spring 2008. safety, and timeliness. The measurable quality indicators do not have to come from an established measure set, but they must be clearly defined and relevant to the quality issue the innovation addresses. In addition, the innovation must not contradict established standards of evidence-based care. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: There is reason to believe that the innovation will be effective Evidence that the innovation is likely to achieve its goals must be provided. Ideally, quantitative or qualitative support for a link between the innovation and improved performance on the defined quality indicator should be offered. However, if data are unavailable, limited, or lacking methodological rigor, the design or theoretical foundation of the innovative activity may serve as sufficient support. Explore: https://www.innovations. ahrq.gov; And/Or Contact: Mary P. Nix, MS, MT(ASCP)SBB, Health Scientist Administrator, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, phone: 301–427– 1624, e-mail: Mary.Nix@ahrq.hhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Inclusion Criteria To be considered for inclusion, health are innovations have to meet six criteria with respect to the nature of the activity, the level of documentation, and the participation of the innovator. These are minimum requirements. The ultimate decision to publish a detailed profile of an innovation (an Innovation Profile) will depend on several factors, including an evaluation by AHRQ, AHRQ’s priorities (see below), and the number of similar ideas in the Health Care Innovations Exchange. Innovations that do not qualify for an Innovation Profile may qualify as Innovation Briefs (short descriptions of intriguing activities that either do not meet the minimum requirements or are not regarded as high priority) or Innovation Attempts (descriptions of projects that did not succeed as planned). Criteria to be considered are: The innovation is a patient care services activity The innovation does not have to involve direct patient care or direct contact with health care consumers. However, it must have important implications for the delivery of patient care—whether preventative, emergent, chronic, acute, rehabilitative, long-term, or end-of-life. Innovations that are devices, tools, technology, software, curricula, policies, procedures, and changes to the physical environment will generally be excluded unless they are tied to a specific and associated change in the health care delivery process when implemented. The innovation intends to improve one or more domains of health care quality The innovation must be designed to address one or more specific measurable indicators of quality in one or more of the following domains: effectiveness, efficiency, equity, patient-centeredness, PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The activity is truly innovative in a given context For the purposes of the Health Care Innovation Exchange, innovations are activities that are generally perceived as new in a particular context or setting relative to the usual care processes. In addition to brand new ideas, this includes activities adapted from other industries to health care, transferred from one health care setting or market segment to another, drawn from settings in other countries, or applied to a new or different patient population. A description of how the innovation differs from what was regarded as standard practice in the setting in which it was implemented must be supplied. Information about the innovation is publicly available Innovators must be willing to make enough information freely available to enable a user of the Health Care Innovations Exchange to understand the elements of the innovation and, if desired, adopt the innovation. This requirement does not exclude innovations that incorporate commercial products or other materials for which there may be a fee or licensing requirements. It is not necessary for all information about the innovation to be publicly available, but AHRQ will need access to information with sufficient detail to produce a full profile. The innovator (or a representative) is willing and able to participate in the Health Care Innovations Exchange A knowledgeable contact person must be available as a resource for potential adopters of the innovation for at least one year. To minimize the burden on innovators, the Health Care Innovations E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1 55216 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 188 / Friday, September 28, 2007 / Notices Exchange staff will facilitate communication among users and developers of innovations. However, the participation of the innovator is essential to the ability of the Health Care Innovations Exchange to foster and promote the diffusion of innovations through social learning, a central goal of this program. The level of participation can vary according to innovator interest and schedules. Innovators will be expected to respond to occasional inquiries and to join a Health Care Innovations Exchange community of practice related to the innovator’s particular innovation, so that ideas can be shared in an organized instructional fashion or setting. AHRQ’s Priorities • Specific populations. AHRQ is interested in identifying innovations that will help to reduce disparities in health care and health status. Populations of interest to AHRQ are low-income groups, minority groups, women, children, the elderly, and individuals with special health care needs. • Potential for high impact. The Health Care Innovations Exchange will give publication or dissemination priority to innovations that are likely to have a significant effect on the overall value of health care. Impact may be defined in different ways, e.g., the innovation may affect a broad population, address a critical health issue, or demonstrate large cost savings. • Innovator interest in participating. All else being equal, AHRQ will give priority to innovators who express a strong interest in becoming involved in other activities of the Health Care Innovations Exchange, such as participating in learning networks and providing commentaries. • AHRQ-funded innovations. The Health Care Innovations Exchange will aim to include effective innovations that are or were funded by the Agency. Dated: September 18, 2007. Carolyn M. Clancy, Director. [FR Doc. 07–4771 Filed 9–27–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160–90–M DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Availability of Draft Public Health Service (PHS) Clinical Practice Guideline Update on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS. ACTION: Notice for pre-publication review and comment. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announces the availability of a draft Public Health Service clinical practice guideline Update on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence for pre-publication review. This PHS guideline update is being produced by a multidisciplinary private-sector panel of experts convened by the agencies of the Public Health Service. The expert panel will not respond to individual comments but will consider all comments in determining revisions to the guideline. DATES: Comments must be postmarked by October 26, 2007. Request for Draft PHS Guideline Update To receive a copy of the draft guideline update, requests must include: Requester’s name; Affiliation (business or organization); Address (including zip code); Telephone and Fax numbers. This is a draft document. Since changes are likely to be made to the draft guideline update during the review process this draft document should not be used as a clinical practice guideline until final publication. It is anticipated that the final guideline update will be made available to the public in the spring of 2008. You will be mailed a printed DRAFT copy of the draft guideline update and sent by e-mail: (1) An electronic form to submit any comments and (2) a short conflict of interest form to be completed by those submitting comments. ADDRESSES: Written requests, including your e-mail address, should be mailed to: David Fraser, Assistant Director for Research Administration, University of Wisconsin-Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, 1930 Monroe Street, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53711–2027. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Automated Review Process A computerized guideline review process enables comments to be entered on a special form designed for typed entry, documentation and consideration of all comments. The form will be sent VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:12 Sep 27, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 by e-mail, with instructions, to those requesting the draft guideline update. To facilitate the review process, it is strongly recommended that reviewers use the computer form to record their comments. For technical assistance or questions regarding this input process, please follow the directions in the materials you receive. For information on the PHS Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline Update, please contact: CAPT Ernestine Murray, Project Officer, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Center for Outcomes and Evidence, 540 Gaither Road, Room 6337, Rockville, MD 20850, Telephone: 301–427–1630, E-mail Address: ernestine.murray@ahrq.hhs.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: In July 2006 a private-sector panel of experts was convened by the Agencies of the Public Health Service to update the PHS Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline to improve the effectiveness of smoking cessation activities. A public meeting was also held in June 2007 for the panel to receive comments and information relevant to the update of the PHS guideline. The panel also reviewed and synthesized the literature on the topic and drafted a set of conclusions and recommendations based on the best available scientific data and expert judgments. A draft of these conclusions and recommendations is now undergoing peer review by a substantial number of individuals and groups who are knowledgeable about clinical treatment of tobacco dependence. With this notice, the panel and the PHS are also making the draft guideline available to other individuals who wish to provide written review comments. After review and evaluation of the comments received, the panel will make appropriate revisions to the current draft PHS guideline update and prepare the clinical practice guideline update on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Potential reviewers should note that the PHS may disclose the names of the guideline reviewers at the same time the guideline is published. The PHS may also release review comments after the guideline is published. Generally, comments will not be attributed to specific reviewers. However, attribution may be necessary or useful to indicate the validity or reliability of particularly important comments. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM 28SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 188 (Friday, September 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55214-55216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4771]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Submission of Innovations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: To support its objective of accelerating the diffusion and 
adoption of innovative health care delivery changes, the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently launched version 1.0 of 
the AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange (HCIE) Web site, https://
www.innovations.ahrq.gov. The HCIE is a new initiative designed to 
support health care professionals in sharing and adopting innovations 
that improve health care quality. Version 1.0 of the Web site is 
focused on stimulating creativity and innovation and will serve as a 
virtual place to which innovators will be encouraged to submit their 
innovations and experiences from which potential adopters can begin 
learning about the nuances of implementation.
    In Spring 2008, AHRQ will deploy version 2.0 of its Health Care 
Innovations Exchange site making hundreds of profiles of health care 
service innovations of varying degrees of novelty and scientific rigor 
accessible to the public. Version 2.0 will also offer expert 
commentary; stories; tools; lessons learned; ``change packages''--sets 
of innovations implemented simultaneously; expanded content on 
implementation; and opportunities to learn and network.
    To build the database of innovations profiles, AHRQ invites 
submissions of

[[Page 55215]]

health service innovations to its Health Care Innovations Exchange. The 
AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange database will cover the broad 
spectrum of health care settings, systems, and providers. Public health 
priority diseases/conditions, priority populations, and efforts to 
reduce disparities in quality will be highlighted.
    The AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange is seeking a broad range 
of novel health care strategies, activities, and tools. AHRQ invites 
participation in its Health Care Innovations Exchange by submitting 
descriptions of innovative efforts to improve the delivery of health 
care services.

DATES: There is no deadline for submission. It is a continuous 
submission and review process.

Special Incentive To Submit

    AHRQ will provide early submitters (those who submit by January 15, 
2008) and opportunity to preview and comment on version 2.0 of the 
Health Care Innovations Exchange Web site via a secure mechanism. In 
this preview, an opportunity will be given to browse and search the 
innovations profiled up to that point.

ADDRESSES: Submit to info@innovations.ahrq.gov.

How To Submit

    To submit a health care innovation for possible posting, send a 
description of the innovation that would include the health care 
setting and patient population it is our could be used for and any 
results that have been documented, to the Health Care Innovations 
Exchange at info@innovations.ahrq.gov. Please use the words 
``Innovation Submission'' in the subject line. If you prefer, you can 
fax information about your innovation to 301-610-4950. You may also 
mail information to Mary Nix, Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, 
MD 20850. Detailed information on submitting can be obtained from the 
AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange Web page titled ``Share Your 
Innovations'', https://www.innovations.ahrq.gov/share/share.aspx.
    Supporting documents may be sent with the submission. Once AHRQ has 
reviewed your submission and identified it as a priority item for 
posting, AHRQ will contact the submitter to discuss the details 
regarding what will be included in standardized postings. Copyright or 
other intellectual property issues, if any, will be addressed at that 
time.
    If the innovation is accepted for inclusion, AHRQ will develop a 
detailed profile and send it to the submitter to review for accuracy 
and completeness. The innovation will then be ready for publication in 
Version 2.0 of the Health Care Innovations Exchange scheduled for 
public release in Spring 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Explore: https://www.innovations.
ahrq.gov; And/Or Contact: Mary P. Nix, MS, MT(ASCP)SBB, Health 
Scientist Administrator, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 
540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, phone: 301-427-1624, e-mail: 
Mary.Nix@ahrq.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Inclusion Criteria

    To be considered for inclusion, health are innovations have to meet 
six criteria with respect to the nature of the activity, the level of 
documentation, and the participation of the innovator. These are 
minimum requirements. The ultimate decision to publish a detailed 
profile of an innovation (an Innovation Profile) will depend on several 
factors, including an evaluation by AHRQ, AHRQ's priorities (see 
below), and the number of similar ideas in the Health Care Innovations 
Exchange. Innovations that do not qualify for an Innovation Profile may 
qualify as Innovation Briefs (short descriptions of intriguing 
activities that either do not meet the minimum requirements or are not 
regarded as high priority) or Innovation Attempts (descriptions of 
projects that did not succeed as planned). Criteria to be considered 
are:

The innovation is a patient care services activity

    The innovation does not have to involve direct patient care or 
direct contact with health care consumers. However, it must have 
important implications for the delivery of patient care--whether 
preventative, emergent, chronic, acute, rehabilitative, long-term, or 
end-of-life. Innovations that are devices, tools, technology, software, 
curricula, policies, procedures, and changes to the physical 
environment will generally be excluded unless they are tied to a 
specific and associated change in the health care delivery process when 
implemented.

The innovation intends to improve one or more domains of health care 
quality

    The innovation must be designed to address one or more specific 
measurable indicators of quality in one or more of the following 
domains: effectiveness, efficiency, equity, patient-centeredness, 
safety, and timeliness. The measurable quality indicators do not have 
to come from an established measure set, but they must be clearly 
defined and relevant to the quality issue the innovation addresses. In 
addition, the innovation must not contradict established standards of 
evidence-based care.

There is reason to believe that the innovation will be effective

    Evidence that the innovation is likely to achieve its goals must be 
provided. Ideally, quantitative or qualitative support for a link 
between the innovation and improved performance on the defined quality 
indicator should be offered. However, if data are unavailable, limited, 
or lacking methodological rigor, the design or theoretical foundation 
of the innovative activity may serve as sufficient support.

The activity is truly innovative in a given context

    For the purposes of the Health Care Innovation Exchange, 
innovations are activities that are generally perceived as new in a 
particular context or setting relative to the usual care processes. In 
addition to brand new ideas, this includes activities adapted from 
other industries to health care, transferred from one health care 
setting or market segment to another, drawn from settings in other 
countries, or applied to a new or different patient population. A 
description of how the innovation differs from what was regarded as 
standard practice in the setting in which it was implemented must be 
supplied.

Information about the innovation is publicly available

    Innovators must be willing to make enough information freely 
available to enable a user of the Health Care Innovations Exchange to 
understand the elements of the innovation and, if desired, adopt the 
innovation. This requirement does not exclude innovations that 
incorporate commercial products or other materials for which there may 
be a fee or licensing requirements. It is not necessary for all 
information about the innovation to be publicly available, but AHRQ 
will need access to information with sufficient detail to produce a 
full profile.

The innovator (or a representative) is willing and able to participate 
in the Health Care Innovations Exchange

    A knowledgeable contact person must be available as a resource for 
potential adopters of the innovation for at least one year. To minimize 
the burden on innovators, the Health Care Innovations

[[Page 55216]]

Exchange staff will facilitate communication among users and developers 
of innovations. However, the participation of the innovator is 
essential to the ability of the Health Care Innovations Exchange to 
foster and promote the diffusion of innovations through social 
learning, a central goal of this program. The level of participation 
can vary according to innovator interest and schedules. Innovators will 
be expected to respond to occasional inquiries and to join a Health 
Care Innovations Exchange community of practice related to the 
innovator's particular innovation, so that ideas can be shared in an 
organized instructional fashion or setting.

AHRQ's Priorities

     Specific populations. AHRQ is interested in identifying 
innovations that will help to reduce disparities in health care and 
health status. Populations of interest to AHRQ are low-income groups, 
minority groups, women, children, the elderly, and individuals with 
special health care needs.
     Potential for high impact. The Health Care Innovations 
Exchange will give publication or dissemination priority to innovations 
that are likely to have a significant effect on the overall value of 
health care. Impact may be defined in different ways, e.g., the 
innovation may affect a broad population, address a critical health 
issue, or demonstrate large cost savings.
     Innovator interest in participating. All else being equal, 
AHRQ will give priority to innovators who express a strong interest in 
becoming involved in other activities of the Health Care Innovations 
Exchange, such as participating in learning networks and providing 
commentaries.
     AHRQ-funded innovations. The Health Care Innovations 
Exchange will aim to include effective innovations that are or were 
funded by the Agency.

    Dated: September 18, 2007.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 07-4771 Filed 9-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
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