Named for the physician regarded in health care as the father of outcomes measurement, the Ernest Amory. Codman Award is presented to health care organizations for achievement in the use of process and outcomes measures to improve organization performance and, ultimately, the quality of care provided to the public.
What kind of initiative qualifies for a Codman award?
Both clinical and administrative initiatives qualify. The inclusion of data, analyses, data interpretation and the action taken in response to the intervention is critical to a successful application. Performance improvement results must demonstrate sustained improvement. It is important to understand that the award is given for improvement, not for having reached a target or become the best benchmark in the country.
Can community outreach initiatives be considered for a Codman Award?
Yes. An initiative that involves an accredited health care organization (i.e. hospital) that partners with a community based facility (i.e. school, social service agency) to improve the quality of health for a targeted patient population would also qualify as a suitable initiative. The initiative is not required to affect only the patients that are solely within the confines of an accredited organization. However, the initiative must follow the performance improvement measurement model and be associated with a Joint Commission accredited organization. Refer to the St. John's Riverside Hospital, School Based Asthma Program initiative, 2001 Codman recipients, as well as past Ernest Amory Codman Award Recipients.
Is there a common thread that runs through all the Codman recipients?
The recipients presented sufficient data to demonstrate that the initiative was performance measure based and sustained over time. The applications demonstrated a positive impact to patients or patient care processes, with significant involvement from the organization's leadership. Also, organizations that have used innovative approaches to improving patient care usually stand out in the evaluation process. This is especially true when the creative approaches to patient care may be duplicated in similar facilities.
Why was the Codman award established?
The Ernest Amory Codman Award was created in 1996 to showcase the effective use of performance measures, thereby enhancing the knowledge and encouraging the use of performance measurement to improve the quality and safety of health care.
How is the Codman Award different from the Eisenberg Award?
Both of these awards recognize healthcare organizations and individuals for their achievements in improving safety and quality.
The Codman Award recognizes achievement by organizations and individuals in the use of process and outcomes measures to improve organization performance and quality of care.
The Eisenberg Award recognizes major achievements of individuals and organizations in improving patient safety and quality. The annual Eisenberg Awards also include an individual lifetime achievement award and awards in the categories of system innovation (local and national) or research.
There is a lot of focus on performance measurement data, how many years of data are considered sufficient?
Most of the Codman recipients submitted a minimum of two years of data and show sustained improvement in the year(s) that follow.
Is it difficult for small organizations to receive the award?
Codman recipients come in all shapes and sizes, from small long term care organizations to multi-site health care networks. Since 1997, 48 organizations have received the award. All Joint Commission accredited and disease-specific care certified programs are eligible to apply.
Does an organization have to be accredited by the Joint Commission to apply for the Codman award?
Applications are accepted only from Joint Commission accredited organizations or disease-specific care certified programs.
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Is there an application fee?
The application fee for Joint Commission accredited organizations are: $350 for non-hospital programs; $500 for hospitals and disease-specific care certified programs and; $650 for multiple organizations. Payment can be made by check or credit card.
What are some of the benefits as a result of winning the award?
According to previous recipients, there are both internal and external benefits to winning the award;
External benefits:
- Increased recognition within the community and peer institutions.
- Increased exposure with peer organizations through speaking engagements and presenting the winning performance improvement initiative.
- In some cases, indirect financial benefits due to an increase in referrals to their facility.
- The organization has improved stature as a quality leader in their community.
Internal benefits
- Improved staff moral among all levels of staff within the organization.
- The team building that occurred as a result of the initiative coupled with winning the award has led to other performance improvement initiatives.
- Winning the award is reflected as a merit badge on the organization's Joint Commission Quality Report.
Advice from previous Codman recipients:
To those organizations that may be hesitant to submit an initiative - just do it! One of the previous recipients said that they wouldn't have considered it, but a surveyor urged them to apply. Organizations should focus on whether or not they have made improvements to care that resulted from measuring some aspect of care, implementing changes, and then re-measuring to determine the effect of the intervention. Where there is a positive effect, there is the seed of a Codman application.
Words from Previous Recipients
- It's important to understand that the award is given for improvement, not for having reached a target or become the best benchmark in the country.
- Make the application easy to read. It's like writing a grant. Write what is necessary for the reviewer to make a judgment.
- If you know there's a weakness in your data, say it. Acknowledge the limitations.
- Work out a schedule that allows for time to complete the application and internal review.
- Keep up with data collection as you go along, so you're not trying to recreate what's been done.
- Put together a committee to critique the application. Involve all the critical administrative, clinical and performance improvement personnel.
- Make staff aware of the time and resources it will take to complete an application.
- Don't get worked up about the site visit by the Codman review team. It is not a survey. We found it to be a positive experience.
- Don't be afraid to try again. If at first you don't succeed continue to collect data and re-submit your initiative.
- Just do it. Don't be scared from the data analysis component.
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Tips for organizations contemplating applying
- Review past recipients at the Joint Commission Codman website.
- Present key data to support the improvement initiative.
- Use the sample application on the web site as a example not necessarily as a guide and follow the instructions provided in the application.
- Make the application easy to read. Write what is necessary for the reviewers to make a judgment.
- Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria and include an abstract summary of the performance improvement initiative and what it was intended to accomplish.
You can also receive an application by calling the Customer Service Department at (630) 792-5800. If you have questions about the application, contact Teena Wilson at twilson@jointcommission.org or (630) 792-5562.