AHRQ Improving Diagnostic Safety in Ambulatory Care: Strategies and Interventions (R18) | PA 23 290

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 23 290

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity called "AHRQ Improving Diagnostic Safety in Ambulatory Care: Strategies and Interventions (R18)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-23-290). The overall aim is to fund practical, applied research and implementation projects that develop, test, and evaluate strategies or interventions that make diagnosis safer in ambulatory care settings. The emphasis on ambulatory care matters because outpatient environments are highly varied, ranging from small primary care offices and community clinics to large multispecialty practices and outpatient departments, and diagnostic processes in these settings can be fragmented across people, sites, and time.

Projects supported under this announcement are expected to focus on improving diagnostic safety and diagnostic quality through real-world activities in ambulatory care. In plain terms, AHRQ is looking for work that goes beyond identifying problems and instead builds or strengthens solutions, then evaluates whether those solutions actually reduce diagnostic errors, delays, or breakdowns that can harm patients. The R18 mechanism generally aligns with demonstration and evaluation approaches, which fits the notice's interest in developing, testing, and assessing interventions in practice settings.

The opportunity falls under the Health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.226. The award ceiling is listed as $500,000, meaning proposed budgets should be designed with that upper limit in mind. The listing shows an original closing date of 2028-05-26, indicating a long open period for submission cycles tied to this program announcement, though applicants still need to follow the specific application due dates and instructions referenced in the full notice and any NIH/AHRQ submission policies that apply to that cycle.

A wide range of applicants are eligible. Eligible entities include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). At the same time, there are important restrictions: U.S. territories or possessions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

In summary, this grant opportunity is designed for organizations that can partner with or operate within outpatient care environments to design and rigorously evaluate interventions that improve diagnostic safety. AHRQ is signaling interest in actionable, testable approaches that can strengthen diagnostic processes across the diverse reality of ambulatory care, with funding available up to $500,000 per award under the R18 grant mechanism.

• The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AHRQ Improving Diagnostic Safety in Ambulatory Care: Strategies and Interventions (R18)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.226.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-05-26.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

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