This year the National Quality Center is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for its 2012 Quality of Care Awards.  NQC has been recognizing the efforts of Ryan White Program grantees since 2008 who have made exceptional improvements in their quality of HIV care in any of the following categories:

Award for Performance Measurement– this Award honors grantees that have significantly strengthened their ability to measure the quality of HIV care and/or services. Those who have demonstrated a strong ability to collect and share data across Parts in their region will be given strong consideration. This Award may be given to an individual grantee or a group of grantees.

Award for Quality Improvement Activities- this Award recognizes grantees that have conceptualized and carried out a particular project that led to significant improvement in patient care (i.e., annual pap tests, retention rates, etc.) In order to qualify for this Award, applicants must provide data showing the improvement and maintenance of high performance rates, as well as a description of efforts made to sustain improvements made. This Award may be given to an individual grantee or a group of grantees working on the same quality improvement project.

Award for Quality Management Infrastructure Development- one of the most essential aspects of quality improvement is the development of a sustainable quality management infrastructure. This Award honors organizations that have shown commitment to substantial infrastructural change to effectively support and sustain quality improvement initiatives. This Award may be given to an individual grantee or a network of grantees.

Award for Leadership in Quality– these Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated effective leadership and championed quality improvement at a regional or national level. Two Awards are available in this category one for a consumer that has shown demonstrable leadership in advancing quality improvement practice within a grantee and one for an individual employed by a grantee who has shown similar leadership in advancing quality improvement practice within a grantee.

Award for Consumer Involvement in Quality Improvement - this Award is to recognize outstanding efforts to involve consumers in quality improvement. This Award may be given to an individual grantee or a network of grantees.

To apply or recommend an individual and/or organization, simply fill out the application form and email it to Kevin@NationalQualityCenter.org.  Award nominations must be received at NQC no later than Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 5:00 PM (ET) or, if mailed via USPS, postmarked no later than the date and time shown. The Awards are reviewed by NQC staff in collaboration with HAB. The Award recipients are notified in August and invited to the NQC Steering Committee meeting in September.

To apply for a 2012 NQC Award, use the provided forms on this page.