GME Quality Improvement Awards

Resident/faculty teams can apply for one of up to seven awards for projects designed to improve patient safety by measuring outcomes and using quality improvement methods.

UBGMDE prioritizes projects that focus on health disparities, high value care, patient satisfaction and communication, patient safety and individual hospital outpatient and inpatient quality improvement issues. 

Proposals should also consider how the project addresses the six dimensions for quality improvement proposed by the Institute of Medicine: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency and equity.

• Projects must be developed and conducted by research teams of residents or fellows in collaboration with faculty.
• The team leader must be an active resident for the entire duration of the award.

Timeline for QI Awards for the 2017/18 Academic Year:

• Call for Grant Applications: February 1, 2017
• Notification of monetary award and project commences: July 1, 2017
• Poster presentation at Scholarly Exchange Day in April, 2018

Judging will take place at Scholarly Exchange Day in April, 2018 on the basis of the quality improvement focus outlined in our QI Proposal Review Tool. Factors include:

• definition of the problem
• identification of key stakeholders
• evidence of root cause analysis
• choice of quality improvement project
• potential interventions
• proposed intervention
• implementation and evaluation of the intervention

We also consider prior experience of the faculty mentor and team leader.

Up to $1000 will be distributed to the university department in support of activities related to the project. The exact method of disbursement will be determined with the department chair. These funds may be used to cover costs associated with project design and implementation. Such costs may include, but are not limited to:

• purchase of supplies or materials
• conference presentation or presentation expenses
• outside consulting services such as statistical analyses, technical assistance
• patient education tools
• support of protected time for faculty

Payment will be made to the university department in two installments: 75 percent at the start of the project and the remainder upon the project’s completion and our receipt of the final report.

Up to $2000 will be available for one resident or fellow team member to present findings at a national or regional conference. These funds will be accessible through the GME office, following standard UB reimbursement practices. Preapproval should be sought to ensure compliance with guidelines. Original receipts, confirmations and other documentation will be required.

You must create a single PDF document package, which should not exceed a total of 10 pages. Be sure to include these four elements:

• completed application form
• narrative proposal: a narrative document that addresses all components described on our QI Proposal Review Tool
• faculty mentor’s one- or two-page CV or NIH Biosketch showing evidence of or potential for QI project mentoring
• letters of support from quality improvement officers of clinical facilities where projects will occur

Send your complete PDF application package to: