Has your team implemented an initiative that made a positive difference to patient experience? Health Quality Alberta invites submissions to the 2027 Patient Experience Awards starting Oct. 1.
The awards recognize the great work of teams across the province that have improved how patients and families access or receive healthcare services. Patient advisors and staff with expertise in health system improvement judge the submissions. Winners receive a high-quality professional video showcasing their project, a $2,000 education grant, an etched-glass trophy, and personalized certificates for their team members. Meet past recipients.
A well-prepared submission that fully addresses the award criteria can give your project the best chance of succeeding. The following tips can help.
- 1. Don’t apply before you’ve implemented your initiative. The award criteria require evidence of successful implementation. Your submission should describe how you know the changes you made measurably improved the experiences of patients and families.
- 2. Get familiar with how we define ‘patient experience’ and quality. Read the user guide ahead of time, which defines the four domains of patient experience. Understand the lens Health Quality Alberta uses to assess quality by reading the Alberta Quality Dimensions for Health.
- 3. Review the criteria. The user guide describes the criteria, including point for point what the judges will look for in a submission. Use that information to structure your submission.
- 4. Clearly describe how the patient/family voice directed or influenced the work. Explain how you knew patients wanted or needed the changes you made, and how you included the patient voice throughout – or if not, why not.
- 5. Be descriptive. You have only 500 words to summarize your initiative. Avoid jargon and try to paint a picture in the judges’ minds of the change you made and why you made it. If the judges can’t fully understand your project, they can’t assess it properly. Provide facts and examples.
- 6. Include an objective statement of support. Ensure at least one of your two statements is from a patient who experienced the change you made. Only one of your statements can come from a patient advisor on your team, if you had one. If the patient population you serve makes it difficult to obtain statements of support, contact us at info@hqa.ca to talk about options.
- 7. Read the exemplars to see successful submissions from the past. Review a few of them for a well-rounded picture of how different teams have followed the criteria to describe their initiatives.
- 8. Think broadly about your evidence of success. Consider a range of evidence, such as quantitative and qualitative metrics and anecdotal lived experience.
- 9. Apply early. The best submissions rarely come together at the last minute. Give yourself enough time to review and confirm your submission meets all requirements. By starting early, you’ll also have time to contact us with any questions and make any needed revisions by the deadline. Before your submission is accepted, we review it for eligibility and completeness, and this sometimes requires applicants to revise and resubmit. Late submissions cannot be accepted.
- 10. Contact at us if you have questions. If you’re unsure about any aspect of the criteria, including the eligibility of your project, your success measures, or your items of support, reach out. We’re here to help and can answer your questions. Contact us at info@hqa.ca.