The Joint Commission, National Quality Forum Announce 2020 Eisenberg Award Recipients

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Joint Commission and National Quality Forum (NQF), two of the nation’s leading organizations in health care quality and patient safety, today announced the recipients of the 2020 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards.

This year, The Joint Commission and NQF recognize and honor the Veterans Health Administration Rapid Naloxone Initiative for national innovation in patient safety and quality; the Northwestern Academy for Quality and Safety Improvement for local innovation in patient safety and quality; and Dr. David M. Gaba, staff anesthesiologist and director of the Patient Simulation Center of Innovation at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California, for individual achievement.

“Improving the safety and quality of health care delivery through the rigorous application of measurement science has been a priority for NQF since its very inception. The Eisenberg Awards serve as an annual celebration of Dr. John Eisenberg’s legacy by inspiring others in the health care ecosystem to continue making significant and lasting contributions in pursuit of this goal and I’m delighted to congratulate this year’s award recipients,” said Chris Queram, interim president and chief executive officer, National Quality Forum.

“This year’s Eisenberg Award recipients represent the best of the best in health care quality and safety improvement,” said David W. Baker, MD, MPH, FACP, executive vice president, Division of Health Care Quality Evaluation, The Joint Commission. “Their visionary thinking, dedication, and bold initiatives have significantly improved patient care and saved lives.”

Launched in 2002, the patient safety awards program honors the late John M. Eisenberg, MD, MBA, former administrator of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), an impassioned advocate for health care quality improvement. For more information or to register for the award ceremony at the NQF Annual Conference on July 20, 2021 at 1-2 p.m. ET, visit The Joint Commission and NQF websites or registration page.

Visit this link for the full announcement and list of recipients.

About The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

About National Quality Forum

The National Quality Forum (NQF) works with members of the healthcare community to drive measurable health improvements together. NQF is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization that gives all healthcare stakeholders a voice in advancing quality measures and improvement strategies that lead to better outcomes and greater value. Learn more at www.qualityforum.org.