Stroke Program QI Awards Information

See below for information about this year's QI Awards. When you are ready to begin your application, click the "Continue to Application" button at the bottom of this page.

2024 Stroke Quality Improvement Award Overview

Background

A successful and effective hospital stroke program requires a commitment to continuous quality improvement. These efforts drive the quality of care delivered to stroke patients, which leads to better outcomes. The Minnesota Stroke System includes 11 comprehensive stroke centers, 12 primary stroke centers, and 96 designated acute stroke ready hospitals. The monitoring of program metrics and identification of opportunities for improvement are required for all levels of designation.

Purpose

The award program's primary purpose is to recognize and showcase successful quality improvement (QI) initiatives throughout Minnesota Stroke System participating hospitals. The program also aims to:

Provide an opportunity for hospitals to share and discuss their QI projects
Further a culture of peer-to-peer learning and collaboration
Encourage creative and innovative approaches to QI
Highlight hospitals that have begun embedding health equity in their QI work

What's new in 2024?

After completing four rounds of the Stroke QI Award Program, we applied lessons learned and feedback received to make necessary updates to the application:

The submission process will now be completed in REDCap ensuring applications are submitted in a standardized and consistent format for scoring.
The new REDCap application includes required prompts. Over the last four years, we noticed applications were occasionally missing information and therefore might receive a lower score as a result. The required prompts will ensure a complete and successful submission to the QI Awards program!

Application Process & Due Date

Applications will be collected via REDCap. Click the "continue to application" button below to begin an application. You may save and return to your application as needed.

Applications are due by 4:30pm CT on Friday, August 30th.

Questions?

Refer to the list of frequently asked questions below. Please contact health.stroke@state.mn.us with any additional questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

New! How do I apply?

As long as your hospital is participating in the Minnesota Stroke System, you can apply. Fill out and complete the 2024 Stroke Quality Improvement Award application in REDCap. You are still able to work on the application gradually and save your progress in REDCap. Save and return later by entering your email address to receive a link to your working application. Once you submit it in REDCap, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your completed application.

When is this due?

Applications will be accepted until 4:30 pm CT on Friday, August 30^th.

How will the award recipients be recognized?

We plan to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the award winners on our Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Stroke Program website as well as during either a webinar and/or in person opportunity. Award recipients will also receive an award plaque to recognize this achievement.

How many awards will be given?

Last year, there were seven recipients awarded in four categories: Continuous Impact, Operational Excellence, Outstanding Achievement, and Community Champion. This is subject to change based on the number and quality of applications we receive.

Can we apply again if we were not selected last year?

Yes! We welcome you to apply again using the new application in REDCap.

Can we apply again if we won an award last year?

Yes! As long as this year's application is about a new QI initiative, you are welcome to apply.

When will award winners be notified?

Applicants will receive an email notification if their application has been selected for an award no later than October 2024.

How do you score applications?

We have an internal review committee that independently evaluates each application. After each reviewer completes their scoring, all score cards are collated, and the reviewers meet to discuss the results. Applications will be scored based on:

Clarity of the narratives
Completeness of the answers
Quality of plan design and implementation
Display of results
Incorporation of health equity

Where can I find more information on my hospital's setting?

We suggest reaching out to your hospital administration and/or quality department about the characteristics listed in the "setting" section of the application. This is information they usually have available to describe your hospital's service area. Additionally, you could draw from your hospital's designation site visit opening presentation.

Why are health equity questions required?

The Minnesota Stroke Program is committed to continuous quality improvement. Health equity is an important part of this commitment to ensure all Minnesotans are receiving the best stroke care possible.

I want every single patient to have the best, how do I know the care provided was equitable?

One way to start incorporating health equity into your work is collecting and breaking down your data by patient characteristics, such as race/ethnicity, housing status, or insurance. This is one way to do an "equity check" to see if all patients are benefitting equitably from your improvement efforts. Stratifying by patient characteristics can provide insight into whether the issue is affecting everyone equally, or if it is affecting one group more than others. Digging deeper into your data can help you focus your work and better inform your QI initiative.

How can I incorporate health equity into my application?

We have added prompts in each section of the application to help incorporate health equity into your narratives. Depending on where you are in your project, there are a few options. If you are just embarking on your project and have identified the issue or performance measure you want to address, disaggregate your data from the beginning and tailor your approach based on what you discover. If you have already started your initiative, then you can focus on discussing health equity as it applies to your results and next steps.

Please feel free to send any additional questions to health.stroke@state.mn.us

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