Welcome to NQMC. Skip directly to: Search Box, Navigation, Content.
Help > FAQ
QualityTools, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides responses to frequently asked questions (FAQ). We will add to the QualityTools FAQ as we further develop this Web site. If you have any suggestions, comments, or other questions that are not listed in the FAQ, send an e-mail to info@qualitytools.ahrq.gov.
1. How can I find tools on a specific topic?
Go to QualityTools' How to Search and How to Browse pages to learn useful tips on how to search and browse the QualityTools database for tools of interest.
You can type your search term in the Search box accessible on all QualityTools Web pages to quickly search the database.
You can also use QualityTools' Detailed Search feature to perform very specific and refined searches of the QualityTools database. This feature allows you to filter your search by one or more tool attributes, including Audience, Developer, Tool Format, etc.
Use QualityTools Audience Browse buttons to browse the QualityTools database by end-user. The Browse buttons allow you to locate tools related to: Providers, Policymakers, Patients and Consumers, and Payers and Purchasers. The graphical Browse buttons are accessible at the top of every page on the QualityTools Web site.
2. Is the QualityTools search engine case sensitive?
No, QualityTools searches do not recognize the difference between upper and lower case letters.
For more information on searching tools, see the QualityTools Search Help.
It is possible that a search may not find any tools matching the criteria you specified. This can happen for several reasons:
For more information on searching tools, see QualityTools Search Help.
4. When I enter my search term, what is QualityTools searching?
QualityTools searches the contents of the Tool summary for any tool. QualityTools also searches the contents of the tool provided at the developer's external Web site. This is done through a Web Crawl feature.
5. What are the Audience Browse buttons?
The Audience Browse buttons are the graphical buttons located at the top of every page on the QualityTools Web site. These buttons are used to browse tools by end-users. You can browse tools for Providers, Policymakers, Patients and Consumers, and Payers and Purchasers. For more information, visit the How to Browse pages.
Use the QualityTools Audience Browse buttons to browse tools by the following end-users: Providers, Policymakers, Patients and Consumers, and Payers and Purchasers. The Browse buttons allow you to locate tools for one or all of these user groups. The graphical Browse buttons are accessible at the top of every page on the QualityTools Web site.
The suggested citation format for a QualityTools Tool Summary is:
Example: QualityTools. Tool summary: Child Health Guide (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). In: QualityTools [Web site]. Rockville (MD): [cited 2000 Jul 31]. Available: http://www.qualitytools.ahrq.gov.
8. How can another health-related Web site establish a link to QualityTools?
QualityTools welcomes appropriate Web sites to establish links from their pages to www.qualitytools.ahrq.gov. For more information, see the Linking to QualityTools page.
9. What browsers work with the QualityTools site?
QualityTools recommends using the current versions of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. View our Compatible Browsers page for a full list of browsers tested with QualityTools.
10. How do I return to the QualityTools Home page?
Clicking on the QualityTools logo, located in the top left corner of the banner, will link back to the QualityTools Home page. There is also a text link labeled "Home" at the top of each page.
11. What is the contact information for QualityTools?
As QualityTools is an Internet resource, it is appropriate to list the contact information to include the QualityTools Web address, http://www.qualitytools.ahrq.gov, and the general e-mail, info@qualitytools.ahrq.gov, rather than a mailing address, telephone and fax number. For more information, please see the Contact Us page.
12. How can I find out about new tools that are published to the QualityTools Web site?
You can register for the QualityTools Update E-mail Service to receive notices of weekly additions and updates posted to the Web site. Go to the QualityTools Subscription page to register for this service.
You can also manage your own subscription (change your e-mail address or unsubscribe from the service) using the QualityTools Subscription page. Enter the e-mail address that you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe, and click on the "Get subscriptions for this e-mail address" button.
This page also allows users to choose the format (HTML or Text) of the e-mail that they receive.
13. How can I subscribe to the What's New Weekly e-mail or modify my existing subscription?
Users can subscribe, unsubscribe, or modify their subscription to the QualityTools Weekly E-mail service using the QualityTools Subscription Management utility.
14. What are QualityTools' criteria for inclusion?
Please see our Inclusion Criteria page.
This problem is related to your Internet browser settings, particularly if you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). You may be able to resolve this issue by changing your browser settings:
16. Are there any requirements for disseminating the tools located on the QualityTools Web site?
The tools contained on the QualityTools Web site are freely available via the Internet. However, not all of the tools published in QualityTools are in the public domain and available for distribution. Tools developed by the U.S. Federal Government are in the public domain and not protected by copyright; therefore, they may be disseminated. Tools developed by non-Federal (private) developers may or may not be in the public domain. Tools not in the public domain are protected by copyright and require the developer's permission prior to dissemination.
17. How do I know if a tool has been developed by a U.S. Federal Government Agency?
The Tool Summary lists the Developer in the section entitled Identifying Information. Tools developed by agencies or departments within the U.S. Federal Government will include the annotation, "Federal Government Agency [U.S.]."
