Joint Commission, National Quality Forum Seek Applicants for 2004 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Awards 3/8/2004
From: Charlene D. Hill of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 630-792-5175 or chill@jcaho.org; Philip Dunn of the National Quality Forum, 202-783-0206 or pdunn@qualityforum.org OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., March 8 -- The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Quality Forum (NQF) are accepting applications for the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Awards, which recognize individuals and health care organizations that are making significant contributions to improving patient safety. Nomination forms for the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Awards are available at http://www.jcaho.org and http://www.qualityforum.org, or from JCAHO's Customer Service Center by calling 630-792-5800 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT, weekdays. The deadline for nominations is May 27, 2004. The awards are named in memory of a highly respected national leader in health care, a physician who dedicated his career to ensuring that health care is based on a strong foundation of research and that services provided reflect the needs and perspectives of patients. Dr. Eisenberg, who died March 10, 2002, spearheaded government efforts to reduce medical errors and improve patient safety as director of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). "John Eisenberg made a lasting impression on health care in his commitment to improving the quality and safety of care delivered to patients. The John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Awards is our tribute to his life's work," said Kenneth W. Kizer, M.D., M.P.H., president and chief executive officer, NQF. "John Eisenberg recognized both the urgency of addressing the patient safety issue and the need to assure an evidence base for the actions that are eventually taken," said Dennis S. O'Leary, M.D., president, JCAHO. "These Awards are about identifying achievements that fulfill his vision." Up to four John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety Awards are presented each year, in the categories of individual achievement, system innovation (both at the national and local level), and research. Awards are not necessarily given in each category every year. An expert panel will select the recipients. To be eligible for the individual achievement award, nominees must have demonstrated exceptional leadership in patient safety during their careers. Nominees for initiative/project-related achievement may be individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to patient safety through: -- System innovation -- successful system changes or interventions that make the environment of care safer by addressing issues such as technology, procedures, education, or organizational culture; or -- Research -- scholarly or scientific investigation of patient safety-related issues, including systems theory, technology or data analyses. In 2002 and 2003, the Joint Commission's Journal on Quality and Safety featured articles describing the achievements of the winners. The previous award recipients were: -- 2003 Award Recipients -- Individual Achievement: Jeffrey Cooper, Ph.D., Boston, MA Advocacy: -- The Leapfrog Group, Washington, DC -- Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, Allentown, PA System Innovation: Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA -- 2002 Award Recipients -- Individual Achievement: -- Julianne Morath, R.N., M.S., Children's Hospitals and Clinics, Minneapolis, MN System Innovation: -- Concord Hospital, Concord, NH -- Veterans Health Administration National Center for Patient Safety, Ann Arbor, MI Advocacy: -- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY Research: -- David W. Bates, M.D., M.Sc., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA Completed nomination forms may be mailed to Linda Hanold, research director, JCAHO, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. The 2004 awards will be presented at the NQF Annual Meeting on Oct. 6-7, 2004, in Washington, DC. ------ Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of healthcare accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in healthcare organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 17,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, including approximately 9,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and 8,000 other healthcare organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral healthcare, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. ------ The NQF is a private, not-for-profit public benefit corporation created in 1999 to develop and implement a national strategy for healthcare quality measurement and reporting. Conceived at the recommendation of the President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Healthcare Industry, the NQF represents all aspects of the healthcare industry. Dr. Eisenberg was one of the key architects in the establishment of the NQF and served on its Board of Directors. |