Health Services Research

Health systems research, also known as health policy and systems research (HPSR), is an interdisciplinary scientific discipline that studies how people obtain health care practitioners and services, how much treatment costs, and what happens to patients as a result of that care. The primary objectives of health services research are to determine the most efficient ways to organize, manage, finance, and deliver high-quality treatment, as well as to reduce medical errors and increase patient safety. To ask questions of the healthcare system, Health Services Research employs a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. It focuses on the efficiency, and effectiveness of health-care services as they relate to individual and population health concerns.

• Organization of health care services
• Access to healthcare services