About the Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics
(CERTs) Since 1992, the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ) has funded studies focused on patient outcomes
associated with pharmaceutical therapy. These studies have
addressed many important questions regarding the management of
drug prescribing. The concept of the Centers for Education and
Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) grew out of the recognition
that, while pharmaceuticals and other medical products improve
the lives of many patients, underuse, overuse, adverse events,
and medical errors may cause serious impairment to patient
health. Today, the CERTs program conducts research and provides
education to advance the optimal use of therapeutics (i.e.,
drugs, medical devices, and biological products) in order to
address the limited comparative information on the risks,
benefits, and interactions of new and older agents and to
provide guidance to health professionals on the appropriate and
cost-effective use of therapeutics. The CERTs