Eisenberg Award

The 2012 application cycle is closed. Updated information and application forms will be on this website mid to late summer 2013.

The Eisenberg Award recognizes major achievements of individuals and organizations in improving patient safety and health care quality, consistent with the aims of the National Quality Strategy - better care, healthy people and communities and affordable care. Better care in particular focuses on improving the overall quality by making health care patient-centered, reliable, accessible, and safe.
In 2013, awards will be given in the following categories:

Individual Achievement
National – System Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality
Local – System Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality

ABOUT THE AWARDS

The John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards were established in 2002 by the National Quality Forum (NQF) and The Joint Commission in memory of John M. Eisenberg, MD, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a member of the founding Board of Directors of the NQF and an impassioned advocate for healthcare quality improvement. These annual awards perpetuate the enduring contributions of this health care and community leader by recognizing the achievements of individuals who have made significant contributions to improving patient safety and health care quality, and organizations who, through a specific initiative or project, have made an important contribution to patient safety and health care quality.

NOTE: The Eisenberg awards are presented annually at the NQF’s annual conference. The 2013 annual conference is scheduled for spring of 2013 in Washington, DC. All award recipients must be available to attend the NQF conference to receive the award.

ELIGIBILITY

The accomplishments of award nominees/applicants should be clearly linked to the principles that Dr. Eisenberg promoted throughout his career. These include:

dedication to improving the quality of health care and patient safety
leadership in advancing methods for measuring and reporting health care quality
expanding the public’s capacity to evaluate the quality and safety of health care
promoting health care choices based upon information about safety and quality

Eligible organizations include integrated health systems, individual hospitals, hospital systems, multispecialty group practices, and chronic care programs and unit or business lines within an organization engaged in patient safety initiatives. Organizations that can be accredited by The Joint Commission must be accredited in order to be eligible for consideration.

Self nominations are welcome.

EVALUATION

An Award Panel comprised of nationally recognized patient safety and health care quality experts identified by The Joint Commission and NQF will evaluate award submissions and identify award recipients. The Award Panel decisions are final. All materials become the property of The Joint Commission and NQF and will not be returned. The Award Panel will not consider incomplete nominations/applications.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE AWARDS

The following provides a brief summary of key award nomination/application information. More detailed information can be obtained by following related links.

Award submissions will be due to The Joint Commission by close of business September 24, 2012.
An application fee of $350 must be submitted with your nomination/application. Payment should be made by check to the National Quality Forum.
Organizations that can be accredited by The Joint Commission must be accredited to be eligible for the award.
Applicants not selected for an award in any given year are invited to re-submit in subsequent years.
An email confirming receipt of your nomination/application will be sent to the identified contact person within 10 business days of receipt of the nomination/application.
Award recipients will be notified of the Award Panel’s decision no later than February 1, 2013.
The award recipient must attend the ceremony to receive the award.
The 2012 Awards will be presented at NQF’s annual conference in Washington, DC scheduled for spring 2013.
No information about the outcome of Award Panel decisions can be provided prior to the official notification of the award recipients.
Application-specific feedback will not be provided.

AWARD CATEGORIES

The Eisenberg Award recognizes major achievements of individuals and organizations in improving patient safety and health care quality, consistent with the aims of the National Quality Strategy - better care, healthy people and communities and affordable care. Better care focuses on improving the overall quality by making health care patient-centered, reliable, accessible, and safe.

Review each of the award categories below and select the one that most appropriately describes your contemplated award submission. Click on the associated link to access the submission requirements and application form for that award category.

Individual Achievement - Nominees must be able to demonstrate how their body of work contributed to one or more of the following:

Sustainable changes to practices or programs
Creating/fostering a culture of safety and patient engagement
Improving safety in care delivery systems
Fostering new leaders in patient safety
Enhancing the body of research that underlies innovative patient safety efforts

Self nominations are welcome. View Nomination Information and Form

National - Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality - Eligible applications must be able to demonstrate a specific and significant contribution to patient safety and health care quality. Original projects or initiatives involve successful system changes or interventions that make the environment of care safer or that advocate on the patient’s behalf are eligible for an award. These innovative projects or initiatives may include:

Using new technologies
Implementation of protocols and procedures
Promoting and dissemination of best practices
Transformation of organization culture
Outreach (legislation, media, etc)
Promoting patient advocacy

The focus of the project or initiative extends beyond local areas to achieve national or regional (e.g., statewide) impact. View Application Information and Form

Local - Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality - Same as above, but focuses on projects or initiatives at the local, community or organizational level (i.e., not national or regional in scope and impact). View Application Information and Form

*Please note: Awards may be given, but need not be given, in each category every year.