2024 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards Recognize Healthcare Innovators

According to a May 12 press release, The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum (NQF) have announced the recipients of the 2024 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. These awards recognize individuals and organizations making significant strides in improving healthcare quality and patient safety through innovative and measurable approaches. As Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission, noted, “CommonSpirit Health, Parkland Health and Dr. Elliott K. Main are proving what’s possible when a commitment to patient safety and quality is applied to new, innovative ways of approaching challenges that are facing our industry.” The awards are given in three categories: National Innovation, Local Innovation, and Individual Achievement.

In the National Level Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality category, CommonSpirit Health, based in Chicago, was recognized for its forward-thinking strategies to improve clinical outcomes. The health system focused on three critical areas: heart failure, maternal hypertension, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Their eight-step quality improvement model, supported by advanced technology and a virtually integrated care model, significantly reduced hospital mortality and disparities in care. With virtual nurses embedded into care teams, the system mentored staff, managed transitions, and improved collaboration, ultimately enhancing care for over 409,000 patients and preventing 2,700 harm events across 99 hospitals.

Parkland Health in Dallas received the Local Level Innovation award for its work in identifying and addressing missed diagnostic opportunities. Initially centered on delayed imaging findings, their program expanded to include six high-risk diagnostic scenarios using a centralized digital health center. Among its innovations were an AI language model with 97.2% accuracy and bilingual staff trained in motivational interviewing. These advancements led to a 91% completion rate of follow-up studies for abnormal imaging, with 4.3% resulting in cancer diagnoses and 3% requiring surgery. They also reduced overdue imaging delays from 17% to 9% and improved follow-up rates for mammograms and tumor markers.

Elliott K. Main, MD, received the Individual Achievement award for his work in maternal safety. A clinical professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Main has been a driving force behind maternal health improvement efforts nationwide. He co-founded the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, which became the blueprint for maternal health initiatives across the U.S. and led the creation of perinatal quality collaboratives in 49 states. He also played a crucial role in developing national maternal care metrics and quality improvement toolkits that have shaped standards in obstetric care.

“These three outstanding Eisenberg Awards recipients have demonstrated innovative thinking and commitment to continuous improvement of care and patient safety worthy of Dr. Eisenberg’s legacy,” said Dana Gelb Safran, ScD, president and CEO of NQF. She emphasized that each winner harnessed data, technology, and clinical insight to address complex challenges in unique and effective ways. Their collective work continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare quality improvement.