In September 2002, RAND contracted with the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to serve as the evaluation center for its national patient safety initiative. This report assesses the context and goals that were the foundation for the initiative, documents the baseline status of the activities being undertaken, and identifies priorities the researchers believe will have the strongest positive impact on the future of AHRQ's patient safety initiative.

Recommendations for improving the maternal and child health care system in the Pittsburgh region. An overview of a family-centered, community-based approach to improving the maternal and child health care system in the Pittsburgh region. Based on a review of best practices in maternal and child health care and an assessment of strengths, weaknesses, and barriers to improvement in the current system, targets for local policy reform are identified and a vision, strategy, and action plan for achieving systemwide improvements in maternal and child health care processes and outcomes are outlined.